Norm
Studio album by
Andy Shauf
ReleasedFebruary 10, 2023 (2023-02-10)
Length36:22
LabelAnti-
ProducerAndy Shauf
Andy Shauf chronology
Wilds
(2021)		 Norm
(2023)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Exclaim!9/10[3]
Pitchfork7.6/10[4]

Norm is the eighth studio album by Canadian musician Andy Shauf. It was released on February 10, 2023, under Anti-.

Background

After releasing concept albums such as 2016's The Party, 2020's The Neon Skyline, and 2021's Wilds, Shauf stated that he wanted to write "a normal album ... a collection of songs that aren’t related to each other."[5] As the album was being written, however, songs began to coalesce around a central character, Norm, who is revealed to be a stalker.[6] Shauf has stated that in writing the album, he sought to leave more room for interpretation than his previous album; this decision was inspired by a misunderstanding when he didn't realize his computer screen had frozen for 10 minutes while watching Mulholland Drive.[7][8]

While most of the songs are sung from the perspective of Norm, the album also has two other narrators – God, and a tow truck driver (implied to be an ex of the person Norm is stalking).[6] The album focuses on the story of Norm becoming obsessed with, and eventually kidnapping, an unnamed character. By the end of the album, the perspectives of the three narrators and their similar misunderstandings of love are analogized.[6][7] Shauf has stated: "The album is kind of 'What if God didn’t understand what love was?'"[7]

Critics have commented on the way in which the album's pleasant, mellow sound contrasts with the narrative,[6][9] which Shauf has described as "sinister".[10] Reviews have also noted the album's use of an unreliable narrator.[9][11] Nicholas Olson, a friend of Shauf's who is a writer, worked as a story editor on the album.[6][8]

Release

Shauf originally announced the album in November 2022. At the same time, the first single, "Wasted on You", was released along with a music video, directed by V Haddad.[12] Two other singles, both with music videos, followed: "Catch Your Eye" on December 12,[13] and "Telephone" on January 24, 2023.[14]

Critical response

The album was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.[15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Andy Shauf

Norm track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Wasted on You"3:36
2."Catch Your Eye"2:42
3."Telephone"3:42
4."You Didn't See"2:01
5."Paradise Cinema"3:11
6."Norm"3:09
7."Halloween Store"2:59
8."Sunset"3:23
9."Daylight Dreaming"3:02
10."Long Throw"3:24
11."Don't Let It Get to You"3:26
12."All of My Love"1:41
Total length:36:22

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "Norm by Andy Shauf". Metacritic. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  2. ↑ Norm - Andy Shauf | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved February 15, 2023
  3. ↑ "Andy Shauf's Sinister, Lovesick 'Norm' Will Have You Looking over Your Shoulder | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Andy Shauf: Norm". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ Vanderhoof, Erin (February 14, 2023). "Andy Shauf Infuses True Crime Into Sweet Pop on Norm". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Pappis, Konstantinos (February 10, 2023). "Andy Shauf Breaks Down Every Song on His New Album 'Norm'". Our Culture. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 "The Story Behind Every Song On Andy Shauf's New Album 'Norm'". Stereogum. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Edwards, Samantha (February 21, 2023). "Meet Norm, Andy Shauf's new concept album that almost wasn't". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "'Norm': Andy Shauf's sweet, creepy postmodernist masterpiece - Far Out Magazine". faroutmagazine.co.uk. February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  10. ↑ Hussey, Allison; Corcoran, Nina; Torres, Eric; Monroe, Jazz (February 10, 2023). "10 Albums Out This Week You Should Listen to Now". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ Shanfeld, Ethan (February 10, 2023). "On the Exquisitely Crafted 'Norm,' Andy Shauf Channels God and Tells a Twisted Love Story: Album Review". Variety. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ Corcoran, Nina (November 14, 2022). "Andy Shauf Announces New Album Norm, Shares Video for Song "Wasted on You"". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Andy Shauf Shares New Single "Catch Your Eye": Listen". Stereogum. December 12, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  14. ↑ Miller, Evan (January 24, 2023). "Andy Shauf, 'Telephone'". NPR. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  15. ↑ "2023 Polaris Music Prize long list: Feist, Jessie Reyez and more". CBC Music, June 13, 2023.
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