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Hozier's great trick is how he hangs suspended between past and present, drawing upon old forms without sounding traditional. This gift is what fueled "Take Me to Church," a bit of protest neo-gospel that became an unexpected international blockbuster in 2014 -- a success so great, the Irish singer/songwriter was in no need to hurry up with a sequel. He certainly took his time to release Wasteland, Baby!, a sophomore set delivered nearly a half-decade after his debut. Given that lengthy gap, it's appropriate that Wasteland, Baby! feels considered, its every move telegraphing a deliberate decision. That's as true of Hozier's lyrics -- which use Nina Simone and Duke Ellington as signifiers, tying him to a heritage that's not quite his own -- as it is of the ruminative music, which feels contemplative even when the tempo quickens. Hozier may be moody but he doesn't dodge happiness, nor does he avoid modern accouterments. These two trends culminate on "Nobody," a lightly rolling piece of pop-soul that seems nearly ebullient in this context, but even his melancholy moments feel open-hearted. Much of this draws from the same well as "Take Me to Church" -- there's more than a hint of soul and gospel, tempered with arty arena rock that's drawn equally from U2 and Peter Gabriel -- but the overall feeling isn't anguished, it's consoling. It's a subtle but notable shift that lends emotional gravity to a singer/songwriter who already favored weighty topics.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Booker T. Jones, Organ - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Mavis Staples, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Mike Crossey, Mixing Engineer - Markus Dravs, Producer, Recording Engineer, Bass, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer - Paul Clarvis, Tambourine, Shaker - Priscilla Jones-Campbell, Background Vocal - Jim Caroll, Assistant Engineer - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Berryman, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, AdditionalStudioProducer - Lurine Cato, Background Vocal - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Nathaniel Graham, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Piano, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Sesso, Assistant Engineer - Rachel Blum, Assistant Engineer - Hozier feat. Mavis Staples, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 2018 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Booker T. Jones, Organ - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Markus Dravs, Producer - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer - Shawn Everett, Mixing Engineer - Paul Clarvis, Tambourine - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Berryman, Recording Engineer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Castanets, Guitar, Piano, Shaker, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Castanets, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Nathaniel Graham, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Castanets, Keyboards, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ivan Wayman, Assistant Engineer
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Booker T. Jones, Organ - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Mixing Engineer - Markus Dravs, Producer, Programmer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer - Paul Clarvis, Bells, Shaker - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Berryman, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Nathaniel Graham, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Piano, Bass, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 2018 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Markus Dravs, Producer, Programmer - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer - Shawn Everett, Mixing Engineer - Paul Clarvis, Shaker - Nell Catchpole, Violin - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Berryman, Recording Engineer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Drums - Nathaniel Graham, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Keyboards, Piano, Bass, Synthesizer - Ivan Wayman, Assistant Engineer
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - DAVE SCHIFFMAN, Recording Engineer - Ariel Rechtshaid, Producer - Nick Rowe, Editor - Shawn Everett, Mixing Engineer - Matt Bauder, Cornet, Baritone Saxophone - Chris Kasych, Assistant Engineer - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Buddy Ross, Keyboards, Organ, Celeste, AssociatedPerformer - Aaron Redfield, Drums - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocal - Alex Ryan, Bass - John DeBold, Assistant Engineer - Ivan Wayman, Assistant Engineer - Kate Urcioli, Trombone
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - DAVE SCHIFFMAN, Recording Engineer - Lynn Mabry, Background Vocal - Judith Hill, Background Vocal - Ariel Rechtshaid, Producer, Mixing Engineer - Nick Rowe, Editor - Chris Kasych, Assistant Engineer - Jackie Gouche Farris, Background Vocal - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Buddy Ross, Orchestra, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocal - Alex Ryan, Bass - John DeBold, Assistant Engineer
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rob Kirwan, Producer - Andrew Scheps, Mixing Engineer - Ben Tolliday, Recording Engineer - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Vocal - Misha Hercules, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Composer, Lyricist, Keyboards, Piano, Bass, Synthesizer - Sarah Lynch, Violin - PJ Ronan, Assistant Engineer
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rob Kirwan, Producer - Andrew Scheps, Mixing Engineer - Ben Tolliday, Recording Engineer - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Percussion, Synthesizer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Percussion - Misha Hercules, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Keyboards, Percussion, Bass - Sarah Lynch, Violin - PJ Ronan, Assistant Engineer
(P) 2018 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Mixing Engineer - Markus Dravs, Producer, Programmer - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Berryman, Recording Engineer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Bells, Castanets, Guitar, Organ, Percussion, Shaker, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Drums - Nathaniel Graham, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Keyboards, Piano, Bass, Synthesizer
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Booker T. Jones, Organ - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Mixing Engineer - Markus Dravs, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer - Paul Clarvis, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Priscilla Jones-Campbell, Background Vocal - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Berryman, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer - Lurine Cato, Background Vocal - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Shaker, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Nathaniel Graham, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Piano, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rob Kirwan, Producer - Andrew Scheps, Mixing Engineer - Ben Tolliday, Recording Engineer - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Misha Hercules, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Bass, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - PJ Ronan, Assistant Engineer
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Mixing Engineer - Markus Dravs, Producer, Drums, Programmer, Bass - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Berryman, Recording Engineer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Tambourine, Bongos, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Drums, Percussion, Tambourine - Nathaniel Graham, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Tambourine, Bass
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Booker T. Jones, Organ - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Mixing Engineer - Markus Dravs, Producer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer - Paul Clarvis, Shaker - Priscilla Jones-Campbell, Background Vocal - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Berryman, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer - Lurine Cato, Background Vocal - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Rory Doyle, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Nathaniel Graham, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Piano, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Mixing Engineer - Markus Dravs, Producer - Robbie Nelson, Recording Engineer - Hozier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Berryman, Recording Engineer - Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Organ, Synthesizer, Vocal - Nathaniel Graham, Assistant Engineer - Alex Ryan, Keyboards
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
Hozier's great trick is how he hangs suspended between past and present, drawing upon old forms without sounding traditional. This gift is what fueled "Take Me to Church," a bit of protest neo-gospel that became an unexpected international blockbuster in 2014 -- a success so great, the Irish singer/songwriter was in no need to hurry up with a sequel. He certainly took his time to release Wasteland, Baby!, a sophomore set delivered nearly a half-decade after his debut. Given that lengthy gap, it's appropriate that Wasteland, Baby! feels considered, its every move telegraphing a deliberate decision. That's as true of Hozier's lyrics -- which use Nina Simone and Duke Ellington as signifiers, tying him to a heritage that's not quite his own -- as it is of the ruminative music, which feels contemplative even when the tempo quickens. Hozier may be moody but he doesn't dodge happiness, nor does he avoid modern accouterments. These two trends culminate on "Nobody," a lightly rolling piece of pop-soul that seems nearly ebullient in this context, but even his melancholy moments feel open-hearted. Much of this draws from the same well as "Take Me to Church" -- there's more than a hint of soul and gospel, tempered with arty arena rock that's drawn equally from U2 and Peter Gabriel -- but the overall feeling isn't anguished, it's consoling. It's a subtle but notable shift that lends emotional gravity to a singer/songwriter who already favored weighty topics.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:57:21
- Main artists: Hozier
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
(P) 2019 Rubyworks Ltd., under license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
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