Jesus at the Gay Bar
Studio album by
Cub Sport
Released7 April 2023
Length36:50
Label
  • Cub Sport
  • Believe
Producer
Cub Sport chronology
Like Nirvana
(2020)		 Jesus at the Gay Bar
(2023)
Singles from Jesus at the Gay Bar
  1. "Always Got the Love"
    Released: 14 June 2022[1]
  2. "Replay"
    Released: 11 November 2022[2]
  3. "Keep Me Safe"
    Released: 19 January 2023[3]
  4. "Songs About It"
    Released: 3 March 2023[4]

Jesus at the Gay Bar is the fifth studio album by Australian pop group Cub Sport, released on 7 April 2023.[5][6] The album was announced on 19 January 2023, alongside the album's third single "Keep Me Safe".[3] The album title stems from Jay Hulme's poem published in his 2021 book The Backwater Sermons, that envisions Jesus Christ visiting a gay bar and being approached by a boy who "beg[s] to be healed", only to be told that "there is nothing in this heart of yours that ever needs to be healed".[7]

Tim Nelson said "This is definitely our most dance-forward, party-centric album".[7]

At the 2023 ARIA Music Awards, the album was nominated for Best Group, Best Independent Release and Best Cover Art.[8]

Promotion

Singles

"Always Got the Love" was released on 14 June 2022. Upon release, Nelson said, "I've always felt like the songs that people can cry to are important but I think being able to celebrate and move is equally important and that's kind of where I'm at right now. I wanna make music that makes people feel uplifted."[1]

"Replay" was released on 11 November 2022 and was described by Alex Gallagher from NME as "a club-ready, house-influenced cut that marks the group's biggest venture yet into full-blown dance music."[2]

The album's third single, "Keep Me Safe" is described as "a postcard to [Nelson's] former self", which he wrote "about a euphoric but complicated time" – when, before coming out as queer in 2017, he and keyboardist Sam Netterfield were forced to keep their relationship a secret.[7]

"Songs About It" was released on 3 March 2023 as the album's fourth single.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME[9]
Retropop[10]
Attitude Magazine[11]

Kristen S. Hé from NME said "Across 10 tracks, they craft a palette of crystalline guitars, melancholy chord progressions, and gentle, propulsive beats that perfectly complement Nelson's voice."[9]

Retropop said "More than 10 years in the making, Cub Sport emerge with their finest body of work yet – an ode to celebrating one's past and looking boldly into the future, without the fear of past demons resurfacing – and finally set themselves up to take their sound global."[10]

Charlotte Manning from Attitude Magazine called it "the band's best work yet" adding, "They manage a no-skips pop record full of reflection and an exciting hint towards the more anthemic sound they’re clearly eyeing up for the future."[11]

Bryget Chrisfield from Beat Magazine said "Jesus at the Gay Bar finds Cub Sport proudly celebrating queer joy – spiritual shackles, begone! – and more comfortable in their own skin than ever before."[12]

Track listing

Jesus at the Gay Bar track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Always Got the Love"
  • Lam
  • Nelson
3:27
2."Replay"
3:23
3."High for the Summer" (featuring Shamir)
  • Nelson
  • Byrne
  • Styalz Fuego
3:31
4."Keep Me Safe"
  • Nelson
  • Behr
Styalz Fuego4:22
5."Zoom"NelsonNelson3:29
6."Songs About It"
  • Nelson
  • Behr
  • Dunn
Styalz Fuego3:40
7."Beg U"NelsonNelson2:53
8."Hold"
  • Nelson
  • Behr
  • Dunn
  • Lam
  • Nelson
  • Styalz Fuego
3:05
9."Yaya" (featuring Mallrat)
  • Nelson
  • Lam
  • Styalz Fuego
4:52
10."Magic in U"
  • Nelson
  • Behr
  • Nelson
  • Styalz Fuego
4:08
Total length:36:50

Charts

Chart performance for Jesus at the Gay Bar
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 1

Release history

Release history and formats for Jesus at the Gay Bar
Region Date Format Label Catalogue Ref.
Australia 7 April 2023
Cub Sport / Believe CUB008CD / CUB008LP1 [14][5][15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Cub Sport Shine With Release of New Single, "Always Got the Love"". Music Feeds. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 Alex Gallagher (11 November 2022). "Listen to Cub Sport's new club-ready banger 'Replay'". NME. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 Varvaris, Mary (19 January 2023). "Cub Sport To Drop New Album 'Jesus At The Gay Bar' On Good Friday". The Music. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Cub Sport Release New Single 'Songs About It". DIY. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Jesus At The Gay Bar (JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive Translucent Orange Vinyl)". JB HiFi. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Cub Sport Announce New Album 'Jesus at the Gay Bar'". BroadwayWorld. January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Ellie Robinson (18 January 2023). "Cub Sport's Tim Nelson talks new album 'Jesus At The Gay Bar' and "euphoric but complicated" single 'Keep Me Safe'". NME. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "Nominees Announced for 2023 ARIA Awards". Music Feeds. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  9. 1 2 Kristen S. Hé (11 April 2023). "Cub Sport – 'Jesus at the Gay Bar' review: a deep-dive into divinity on the dancefloor". NME. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Cub Sport – Jesus At The Gay Bar". Retropop. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  11. 1 2 Charlotte Manning (6 April 2023). "Album Review: Cub Sport's 'Jesus At The Gay Bar' marks soothing transition to euphoric pop sound". Attitude Magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Cub Sport's Jesus At The Gay Bar: Spiritual shackles, begone!". Beat Magazine. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Jesus At The Gay Bar (CD)". JB HiFi. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  15. ↑ "Jesus At The Gay Bar". Apple Music. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
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