Savage Hills Ballroom

Savage Hills Ballroom is the third and final studio album by Boise, Idaho-based musician Trevor Powers' Youth Lagoon project. The album was recorded in Bristol, England, and released on September 25, 2015 by Fat Possum Records.

Savage Hills Ballroom
Studio album by
Youth Lagoon
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2015 (2015-09-25)
Genre
Length36:47
LabelFat Possum
ProducerTrevor Powers, Ali Chant
Youth Lagoon chronology
Wondrous Bughouse
(2013)		 Savage Hills Ballroom
(2015)
Singles from Savage Hills Ballroom
  1. "The Knower"
    Released: July 13, 2015
  2. "Highway Patrol Stun Gun"
    Released: August 10, 2015
  3. "Rotten Human"
    Released: September 8, 2015

Background

Powers alluded to the fact that the album addressed breaking down barriers and acknowledging personal flaws.[1] He stated in an interview that the album was not named for an actual ballroom: “It’s a mystical place. I think of things in mental images, and while I was working on the album, I pictured this [ballroom]…a place that’s ominous but still inviting. And I needed an appropriate name for that, and ‘Savage Hills Ballroom’ fit," he said.[2]

Release

On July 13, 2015, "The Knower" became the first track to be distributed prior to the album's release; it was issued as a free single-sided 7" single. "Highway Patrol Stun Gun" was subsequently released on August 10 as a music video.[3]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Consequence of SoundB-[6]
DIY[7]
NOW[8]
Pitchfork7.2/10[9]
Q
Slant[10]
Uncut
Under the Radar7.5/10

Savage Hills Ballroom received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on 10 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[11]

Ian Cohen of Pitchfork Media gave the album a positive review, stating, "Regardless of the subject matter or the production or the arrangements, the most truly self-searching Youth Lagoon album has Powers realizing he perhaps knew his position of strength all along—the inner child set adrift in the adult world, left to figure it out on his own."[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Trevor Powers.

No.TitleLength
1."Officer Telephone"3:02
2."Highway Patrol Stun Gun"4:10
3."The Knower"3:26
4."No One Can Tell"3:51
5."Doll's Estate"3:53
6."Rotten Human"4:28
7."Kerry"3:55
8."Again"3:45
9."Free Me"3:35
10."X-Ray"2:42
Total length:36:47

References
  1. Gordon, Jeremy. "Youth Lagoon Details Savage Hills Ballroom, Shares "The Knower"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. Marketti, Anna. "Interview: Trevor Powers of Youth Lagoon". Sound of Boston. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. Sacher, Andrew. "Youth Lagoon shares new song; Yvette added to Rough Trade". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. "Critic Reviews for Savage Hills Ballroom". Metacritic. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  5. James Christopher Monger (2015-09-25). "Savage Hills Ballroom - Youth Lagoon | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  6. Henry, Dusty (2015-09-21). "Youth Lagoon – Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  7. "Youth Lagoon - Savage Hills Ballroom | DIY". Diymag.com. 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  8. Edwards, Samantha (2015-09-16). "Youth Lagoon - Savage Hills Ballroom". Nowtoronto.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  9. "Youth Lagoon: Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  10. "Youth Lagoon: Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Review". Slant Magazine. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  11. "Savage Hills Ballroom – Youth Lagoon". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
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