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Soft Sounds from Another Planet is the second studio album by American indie pop band Japanese Breakfast. The album was released by Dead Oceans on July 14, 2017.

"Road Head" redirects here. For the settlement in England, see Roadhead.

Soft Sounds from Another Planet
Studio album by
Japanese Breakfast
ReleasedJuly 14, 2017
Recorded2016
Genre
  • Shoegaze
  • indie rock
Length37:10
LabelDead Oceans
Producer
  • Craig Hendrix
  • Michelle Zauner
Japanese Breakfast chronology
Psychopomp
(2016)		 Soft Sounds from Another Planet
(2017)		 Jubilee
(2021)
Singles from Soft Sounds from Another Planet
  1. "Machinist"
    Released: May 4, 2017[1]
  2. "Boyish"
    Released: June 7, 2017[2]
  3. "Road Head"
    Released: July 6, 2017[3]

Background


In 2016, Japanese Breakfast released the band's debut album, Psychopomp, whose songs largely reflect lead singer Michelle Zauner's grief over her mother's death. Psychopomp received unexpected critical and commercial success, rejuvenating Zauner's efforts to make music a career.[4][5] But she found herself "reliving traumatic memories" when giving interviews about the album, and said she began writing Soft Sounds from Another Planet to help leave her trauma behind.[4]


Release and promotion



Singles


On May 4, 2017, Japanese Breakfast released the album's lead single, "Machinist" to positive reviews from critics.[6][7] It debuted alongside a music video depicting a woman who dismantles her spaceship when she tries to build a body for her robot lover. The video was directed by Zauner and Adam Kolodny.[8] A second single, "Boyish", was released on June 7, 2017,[9] followed by its own video on February 13, 2018, which Zauner later described as her "magnum opus".[10][11] A third and final single, "Road Head", was released on July 6, 2017, alongside another music video directed by Zauner, who drew inspiration from Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai's film Fallen Angels and television series Twin Peaks.[12]


Video game


To promote the album, Japanese Breakfast released a video game, "Japanese BreakQuest". Players guide "J-Brekkie", a character named for the band's Twitter handle,[13] to gather a band and fight an alien invasion. It was developed by Zauner and video game developer Elaine Fath and features songs from the album as 8-bit MIDI tracks by Peter Bradley. [14]


Composition


Soft Sounds from Another Planet has been described as an indie rock, shoegaze and electronica album. It primarily deals with themes of loss,[15]science fiction[16] and perseverance.[17]


Critical reception


Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.8/10[18]
Metacritic83/100[19]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
The A.V. ClubA−[21]
Consequence of SoundB+[22]
Drowned in Sound8/10[23]
Exclaim!7/10[24]
The Guardian[25]
Pitchfork8.0/10[26]
PopMatters8/10[27]
Q[28]
Uncut8/10[29]

Soft Sounds from Another Planet received a weighted score of 83 out of 100 from review aggregate website Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim", based on 20 reviews from music critics.[30] Nathan Reese of Pitchfork wrote, "Inspired by the cosmos, Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner addresses life on Earth. Her voice shines over melancholic arrangements, evoking Pacific Northwest indie rock as much as shoegaze."[31] Tim Sendra of AllMusic wrote, "Much slicker and less wonky (than Psychopomp), the songs have a spacious, expansive sound that envelops the listener in warmth (even when the synths get a little chilly.)"[32] Brian Shultz of The A.V. Club said, "And while everything on Japanese Breakfast's proper sophomore effort isn't entirely fresh, and its structure is somewhat loose, there's a confidence and crispness to Soft Sounds that shows just how fully realized Zauner's formerly homemade experiments have become."[33] Exclaim!'s Ian Gormely wrote, "In trying to put a wall between herself and her audience, she's opened a new, far more revealing side to her music and herself."[34]


Accolades


Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Under the Radar The 100 Best Albums of 2017
10
[35]
Uproxx The 50 Best Albums of 2017
15
[36]
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2017
17
[37]
Paste The 50 Best Albums of 2017
37
[38]
Rolling Stone The 50 Best Albums of 2017
39
[39]

Track listing


All tracks are written by Michelle Zauner.

No.TitleLength
1."Diving Woman"6:32
2."Road Head"3:15
3."Machinist"3:37
4."Planetary Ambience"1:17
5."Soft Sounds from Another Planet"3:20
6."Boyish"3:33
7."12 Steps"2:36
8."Jimmy Fallon Big!"2:35
9."The Body Is a Blade"3:40
10."Till Death"2:57
11."This House"3:02
12."Here Come the Tubular Bells"0:40
Total length:37:10

Personnel


Adapted from AllMusic.[40]


Charts


Chart (2017) Peak
position
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[41] 9
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[42] 9
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[43] 18

References


  1. caroline (May 4, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast Announces New Album, 'Soft Sounds From Another Planet', Out July 14th". Dead Oceans. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  2. caroline (June 7, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast Releases "Boyish," On Tour Now". Dead Oceans. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  3. Gotrich, Lars (July 6, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast's 'Road Head' Hits That State Between Wired And Zoned Out". NPR. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  4. "Soft Sounds From Another Planet". Dead Oceans. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  5. Rhoades, Lindsey (July 26, 2016). "Great Big Feeling: Japanese Breakfast's Quiet Intensity". Brooklyn Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  6. Berman, Judy (April 5, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: "Machinist" Track Review". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 11, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. Gotrich, Lars (May 4, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast's 'Machinist' Is A Melancholy Story Of Sci-Fi Love: All Songs Considered: NPR". NPR. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  8. Rettig, James (May 4, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast – "Machinist" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved August 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. Moreland, Quinn (June 8, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: "Boyish"". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. Rettig, James (February 13, 2018). "Japanese Breakfast – "Boyish" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  11. Fine, Gabe (March 21, 2019). "Japanese Breakfast Takes the Director's Seat". SPIN. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  12. Rettig, James (July 6, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast – "Road Head" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved August 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. Frank, Allegra (September 14, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast's free, online RPG was a long time coming". Polygon. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  14. Gaca, Anna (September 14, 2017). "Play Japanese Breakfast's New Browser Game, Japanese BreakQuest". Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  15. Simpson, Dave (July 13, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from Another Planet review – dreamlike and existential". the Guardian. Retrieved July 21, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. Boilen, Bob (July 14, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast Explains 'Soft Sounds From Another Planet,' Track By Track". NPR. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  17. Thompson, Erik (July 13, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast serve up celestial solace". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 21, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. "Soft Sounds From Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  19. "Reviews and Tracks for Soft Sounds From Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast". Metacritic. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  20. Sendra, Tim. "Soft Sounds from Another Planet – Japanese Breakfast". AllMusic. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  21. Shultz, Brian (July 14, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast masks internal strife and insecurities with artfully upbeat experiments". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  22. Nelson, Geoff (July 5, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast – Soft Sounds from Another Planet". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  23. Peirson-Hagger, Ellen (July 17, 2017). "Album Review: Japanese Breakfast – Soft Sounds from Another Planet". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  24. Gormely, Ian (July 14, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from Another Planet". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  25. Simpson, Dave (July 13, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from Another Planet review – dreamlike and existential". The Guardian. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  26. Reese, Nathan (July 14, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds From Another Planet". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  27. Smith, Tanner (July 20, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds From Another Planet". PopMatters. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  28. Solomon, Kate (September 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from Another Planet". Q (376): 110.
  29. Watts, Peter (August 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from Another Planet". Uncut (243): 32.
  30. "Reviews and Tracks for Soft Sounds From Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast". Metacritic. CBS Interactive.
  31. Reese, Nathan (July 14, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds From Another Planet". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 11, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. Sendra, Tim. Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds from Another Planet Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved August 11, 2022
  33. Shultz, Brian (July 14, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast, The Dears, Sheer Mag, and more in this week's music reviews". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 11, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. Gormely, Ian (July 14, 2017). "Japanese Breakfast Soft Sounds from Another Planet | Exclaim!". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 11, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. Under the Radar Staff (December 4, 2017). "The 100 Best Albums of 2017". Under the Radar. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  36. Uproxx Staff (December 4, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Uproxx. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  37. Stereogum Staff (December 5, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  38. Paste Magazine Staff (November 27, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Paste Magazine. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  39. Rolling Stone Staff (November 27, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  40. "Soft Sounds from Another Planet – Japanese Breakfast (Credits)". AllMusic. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  41. "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 24, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  42. "Japanese Breakfast Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  43. "Japanese Breakfast Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2018.

На других языках

- [en] Soft Sounds from Another Planet

[ru] Soft Sounds from Another Planet

Soft Sounds from Another Planet — второй студийный альбом американской рок-группы Japanese Breakfast, вышедший 14 июля 2017 года на лейбле Dead Oceans[13]. Диск получил положительные отзывы музыкальных критиков.


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