Love Is Magic

Love Is Magic is the fourth studio album by former the Czars frontman John Grant. It was released on October 12, 2018 under Bella Union.[2]

Love Is Magic
Studio album by
John Grant
ReleasedOctober 12, 2018 (2018-10-12)
StudioEcho Lab, Denton, Texas
Meme Tune Studio, London, England
Genre
Length57:43
LabelBella Union
Producer
  • John Grant
  • Paul Alexander
  • Craig Silvey
John Grant chronology
Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
(2015)		 Love Is Magic
(2018)
Singles from Love Is Magic
  1. "Love Is Magic"
    Released: July 10, 2018
  2. "He’s Got His Mothers Hips"
    Released: August 28, 2018
  3. "Touch & Go"
    Released: August 28, 2018
  4. "Is He Strange"
    Released: October 3, 2018

Release

On July 10, 2018, Grant announced the release of his fourth album, alongside the title track "Love Is Magic".[2] Grant said of the album: "Each record I make is more of an amalgamation of who I am. The more I do this, the more I trust myself, and the closer I get to making what I imagine in my head."[3]

On August 28, 2018, two new singles – "He’s Got His Mothers Hips" and "Touch & Go" – were released.[4][5]

The fourth single "Is He Strange" was released on October 3, 2018.[6]

Tour

In support of the album, a tour was announced for the UK in October 2018 through to February 2019.[7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
The 4057/10[9]
AllMusic[10]
Clash6/10[11]
DIY[12]
Drowned in Sound9/10[13]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[14]
MusicOMH[15]
NME[16]
PopMatters7/10[17]
Under the Radar8/10[18]

Love Is Magic was met with "generally favorable" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 78, based on 18 reviews.[8] Aggregator Album of the Year gave the release a 77 out of 100 based on a critical consensus of 22 reviews.[1]

Michael Cyrs from The 405 said the album is Grant's "most consistent and enjoyable work yet." and it "still showcases his trademark unpredictability. Soft love songs still turn sexual. Robotic voices are paired with Grant’s prettiest singing."[9] Anna Byrne from The Line of Best Fit said the album is Grant's "fourth solo record released exactly three years after the last, and you experience his customary level of brutal honesty, irresistible vulnerability and wit – but with the electronics dialled way up. The specificity of the lyrics and the boldness of the electronic orchestration should theoretically preclude this – but Grant lets the emotions that drive them show through enough that you can’t help but connect."[14]

Chart performance

The album charted at number 17 on the UK Official Albums Chart on October 25, 2018,[19] and number 9 on the Scottish Albums Chart.[20]

Accolades
Accolades for Love is Magic
Publication Accolade Rank
The Independent The Independent's Top 40 Albums of 2018
16[21]
Under the Radar Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2018
21[22]

Track listing
Love Is Magic track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Metamorphosis"5:41
2."Love Is Magic"6:21
3."Tempest"6:31
4."Preppy Boy"4:46
5."Smug Cunt"6:23
6."He's Got His Mother's Hips"3:39
7."Diet Gum"7:25
8."Is He Strange"5:17
9."The Common Snipe"6:37
10."Touch and Go"5:03

Personnel

Charts
Chart performance for Love is Magic
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[23] 122
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[24] 192
Scottish Albums (OCC)[20] 9
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[25] 93
UK Albums (OCC)[19] 17
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[26] 1

References
  2. Murray, Robin (July 10, 2018). "John Grant Launches New Album 'Love Is Magic'". Clash. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  3. Kenneally, Cerys (July 10, 2018). "John Grant announces new album Love Is Magic, shares title track". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  4. Murray, Robin (August 28, 2018). "Listen: John Grant Shares Two Startling New Songs". Clash. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  5. "John Grant Shares Two New Songs". DIY. August 28, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  6. Kenneally, Cerys (October 3, 2018). "John Grant shares new love ballad "Is He Strange"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  7. "John Grant Schedules UK Tour". DIY. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  8. "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  9. Cyrs, Michael (October 16, 2018). "John Grant revels in electropop candor on fourth solo album Love is Magic". The 405. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  10. Phares, Heather. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  11. James, Gareth (October 10, 2018). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  12. Owens, Dan. "DIY Magazine Review". DIY. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  13. Adcock, Lee (October 10, 2018). "Drowned in Sound Review". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  14. Byrne, Anna (October 6, 2018). "John Grant returns with the brave, compelling Love Is Magic". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  15. Ashton-Smith, Alan (October 10, 2018). "MusicOMH Review". MusicOMH. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  16. Hunt, El (October 9, 2018). "NME Review". NME. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  17. Lathan, Ryan (October 16, 2018). "John Grant's 'Love Is Magic' Shows Off Exquisite Ballads and Irksome Electro Excursions". PopMatters. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  18. Mayne, Stephen (October 16, 2018). "Under the Radar Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  19. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  20. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  21. "The 40 best albums of 2018: From Arctic Monkeys to Christine and the Queens, Kendrick Lamar to Janelle Monae". The Independent. December 19, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  22. "Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2018". Under the Radar. December 30, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  23. "Ultratop.be – John Grant – Love Is Magic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  24. "Dutchcharts.nl – John Grant – Love Is Magic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  25. "Spanishcharts.com – John Grant – Love Is Magic". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  26. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
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