Sparkle Hard

Sparkle Hard is the seventh studio album by American rock band Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, released on May 18, 2018 by Matador Records and Domino Records.[1]

Sparkle Hard
Studio album by
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
ReleasedMay 18, 2018
StudioHalfling Studios, Portland, Oregon
Length43:41
Label
ProducerChris Funk
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks chronology
Wig Out at Jagbags
(2014)		 Sparkle Hard
(2018)
Singles from Sparkle Hard
  1. "Middle America"
    Released: February 7, 2018
  2. "Shiggy"
    Released: March 26, 2018
  3. "Refute"
    Released: April 25, 2018

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[2]
Metacritic84/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
The A.V. ClubB+[5]
Financial Times[6]
The Guardian[7]
Mojo[8]
The Observer[9]
Pitchfork8.0/10[10]
Q[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
Uncut8/10[13]

Sparkle Hard has received acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on 26 reviews.[3] Jem Aswad of Variety said, "With nary a weak track, Sparkle Hard finds Malkmus hitting a new peak nearly 30 years into his career."[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Stephen Malkmus.

No.TitleLength
1."Cast Off"2:54
2."Future Suite"2:43
3."Solid Silk"4:37
4."Bike Lane"3:34
5."Middle America"3:31
6."Rattler"3:08
7."Shiggy"3:16
8."Kite"6:40
9."Brethren"2:51
10."Refute"3:24
11."Difficulties / Let Them Eat Vowels"7:03
Total length:43:41

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.[15]

  • Stephen Malkmus – vocals, songwriting, guitar, mellotron, piano, Memorymoog, bass
  • Joanna Bolme – bass, backing vocals
  • Mike Clark – keyboards, JUNO synthesizer
  • Jake Morris – drums, backing vocals, percussion
  • Chris Funk – production, acoustic slide guitar (10)
  • Kim Gordon – vocals (10)
  • Kyleen King – strings (3, 9)
  • Luke Price – fiddle (10)
  • JJ Golden – lacquer cut
  • Adam Lee – recording, mixing
  • Orion Landau – design
  • James Rexroad – photography

References
  1. Cook-Wilson, Winston (March 26, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Announce New Album Sparkle Hard, Release "Shiggy"". Spin. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  2. "Sparkle Hard by Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  3. "Sparkle Hard by Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  4. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sparkle Hard – Stephen Malkmus / Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  5. Williams, Matt (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Sparkle Hard". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  6. Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (May 25, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks: Sparkle Hard — 'disheveled rock songs'". Financial Times. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  7. Simpson, Dave (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard review – fuzzy logic and killer tunes". The Guardian. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  8. Cameron, Keith (June 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Sparkle Hard". Mojo. No. 295. p. 94.
  9. Mardles, Paul (May 20, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard review – a reanimated rock eccentric". The Observer. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  10. Rytlewski, Evan (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  11. Oldham, James (July 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Sparkle Hard". Q. No. 386. p. 115.
  12. Dolan, Jon (May 17, 2018). "Review: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks' 'Sparkle Hard' Is Full of Golden Guitars and Warm Vibes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  13. Anderson, Jason (May 25, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Sparkle Hard". Uncut. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  14. Aswad, Jem (May 18, 2018). "Album Review: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks' 'Sparkle Hard'". Variety. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  15. Sparkle Hard (Liner notes). Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. Matador Records. 2018. OLE-1328-1.CS1 maint: others (link)
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