Hello Cruel World (Sole and the Skyrider Band album)

Hello Cruel World
Studio album by
Sole and the Skyrider Band
ReleasedJuly 19, 2011 (2011-07-19)
GenreHip hop
Length52:58
LabelFake Four Inc.
Producer
  • Bud Berning
  • John Wagner
Sole and the Skyrider Band chronology
Plastique
(2009) 		Hello Cruel World
(2011)

Hello Cruel World is the third studio album by Sole and the Skyrider Band. It was released on Fake Four Inc. on July 19, 2011.[1][2] Music videos were created for the following songs: "Napoleon",[3] "D.I.Y.",[4] "Hello Cruel World",[5] "Bad Captain Swag",[6] and "Immortality".[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic66/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Exclaim!favorable[10]
Pitchfork6.1/10[11]
Potholes in My Blog[12]
The Skinny[13]
Westwordfavorable[14]

At Metacritic, a platform that collects music reviews from leading mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 66, based on 6 reviews, indicating a "generally favorable review".[8]

Tom Briehan of Pitchfork gave the album a rating of 6.1 out of 10, stating that "Sole has largely curbed his frantic, out-of-control, sometimes-arrhythmic rap style, going for a measured and controlled thing instead."[11] David Jeffries of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, writing, "the album's title references Sole's desire to bring the underground angst to the masses, injecting a little ugliness and art into your everyday programming."[9] Thomas Quinlan of Exclaim! said, "While it's unlikely Hello Cruel World will reach far beyond Sole's current fan base, it should continue to impress those who are already fans, offering a slightly different perspective on the unorthodox MC."[10]

Westword included it on the "Denver's Best Music Releases of 2011" list.[15]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Napoleon" (featuring Xiu Xiu)4:16
2."D.I.Y."3:47
3."Hello Cruel World"4:28
4."Fire"2:51
5."Bad Captain Swag" (featuring Lil B and Pictureplane)5:01
6."We Will Not Be Moved" (featuring Ceschi and Noah23)4:58
7."Possimism"3:14
8."Home Ain't Shit" (written by Pedestrian)4:18
9."Formal Designation 134340"3:45
10."Immortality"4:25
11."Progress Trap" (featuring Sage Francis)3:54
12."Vaya Con el Diablo" (featuring Ceschi, Isaiah Toothtaker, and Mestizo)4:15
13."Villon"3:44
Total length:52:58

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Sole and the Skyrider Band

  • Tim Holland – vocals, lyrics
  • Bud Berning – programming, production, arrangement
  • William Ryan Fritch – instrumentation, vocals, arrangement
  • John Wagner – drum programming, production

Additional musicians

Technical personnel

  • Jesse O'Brien – mixing
  • Tom Capek – mastering
  • Lando – cover art
  • Michael Crigler – art direction, design
  • The Raincoat Man – vinyl layout

References

  1. ^ Fallon, Patric (April 15, 2011). "Sole to Release New Album Featuring Xiu Xiu, Pictureplane, Lil B, and More". XLR8R. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  2. ^ Breihan, Tom (July 15, 2011). "News in Brief: Prurient, Sole and the Skyrider Band, Serengeti, Soft Metals". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  3. ^ Ferner, Matt (November 2, 2011). "Sole, Denver-Based Hip-Hop Artist And Member Of #OccupyDenver, Talks Music And Life As An Occupier (Video)". HuffPost. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  4. ^ Ferner, Matt (March 23, 2012). "Sole And The Skyrider Band Release Dystopian 'DIY' Music Video: World Premiere (Video)". HuffPost. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  5. ^ Gilkeson, Kyle (May 25, 2011). "Video Premiere: Sole & The Skyrider Band's "Hello Cruel World"". Alarm. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  6. ^ Rodgers, Patrick (February 7, 2012). "A first look at Sole and the Skyrider Band's "Bad Captain Swag"". Westword. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  7. ^ Healey, John (August 8, 2011). "Sole and The Skyrider Band – "Immortality" (Video)". Potholes in My Blog. Retrieved June 22, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ a b "Hello Cruel World by Sole and the Skyrider Band". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Jeffries, David. "Hello Cruel World - Sole and the Skyrider Band". AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Quinlan, Thomas (July 19, 2011). "Sole and the Skyrider Band - Hello Cruel World". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (July 18, 2011). "Sole and the Skyrider Band: Hello Cruel World". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  12. ^ Bosman, Chris (July 24, 2011). "Sole And The Skyrider Band – Hello Cruel World". Potholes in My Blog. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  13. ^ Maloney, Ali (July 27, 2011). "Sole and The Skyrider Band – Hello Cruel World". The Skinny. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  14. ^ Murphy, Tom (July 13, 2011). "Sole & the Skyrider Band - Hello Cruel World - Fake Four Inc". Westword. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  15. ^ "Denver's best music releases of 2011". Westword. December 20, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2018.