History (Molly Nilsson album)
| History | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 14 December 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2010–2011 | |||
| Studio | Lighthouse Studios, Berlin | |||
| Genre | Synth-pop | |||
| Length | 41:55 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Molly Nilsson | |||
| Molly Nilsson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from History | ||||
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History is the fourth studio album by Swedish singer-songwriter Molly Nilsson, released on 14 December 2011. It was Nilsson's final album to be entirely self-released, as she started collaborating with Night School Records afterwards. History has been cited as Nilsson's "breakout" album, including by herself.[1][2]
Background[edit]
Regarding the album's concept and title, Nilsson explained:
Each song tells a story, and together they form a narrative. [No one's] life weighs more than another, yet not everyone ends up in the history books. I took this opportunity to feel what it's like to hold the pen that writes history.[3]
Release[edit]
History was originally self-released through Nilsson's own label Dark Skies Association. The CD version was released on 14 December 2011 and the vinyl version followed in April 2012.[4][5] In association with Night School Records, History was then released as a digital download on 31 January 2019,[6] while reissues of the CD and vinyl versions followed on 29 March 2019.[7] It was again reissued on vinyl on 29 September 2023.[8]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [9] |
| Éclat | [10] |
| Pitchfork | 7/10[11] |
History received positive reviews. Emilie Friedlander of Pitchfork, in a positive review, said that the album is "carried by the commanding, almost Nico-like ominousness of [Nilsson's] voice".[11] Tim Sendra, writing for AllMusic, praised Nilsson's "wonderfully idiosyncratic music" and noted its emotional impact.[9] In a positive review for German Éclat magazine, Marlena Julia Dorniak described Nilsson's music as "morbid", "melancholic", and "magical".[10]
"I Hope You Die" was positively highlighted as a standout song by several writers.[11][9][10] Friedlander noted that it demonstrates the "over-the-topness of Nilsson's aesthetic most forcefully".[11] Sendra praised it for its "heartbreakingly honest" lyrics, while Dorniak commended its combination of a "danceable beat" with "tragically romantic" lyrics.[9][10] The song also quickly became a "fan favorite".[1]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Molly Nilsson.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In Real Life" | 4:06 |
| 2. | "You Always Hurt the One You Love" | 3:01 |
| 3. | "I Hope You Die" | 4:28 |
| 4. | "The Bottles of Tomorrow" | 2:03 |
| 5. | "Hiroshima Street" | 3:51 |
| 6. | "Intermezzo: The Party" | 2:55 |
| 7. | "Hotel Home" | 4:49 |
| 8. | "City of Atlantis" | 3:41 |
| 9. | "QWERTY (Censored Version)" | 4:35 |
| 10. | "The Clocks" | 3:31 |
| 11. | "Skybound" | 4:38 |
| Total length: | 41:55 | |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Blair, Ed (24 January 2022). "Where to Start Exploring the Dazzling World of Molly Nilsson". Bandcamp. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Hooligan of the Heart Scarf". Dark Skies Association. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ Ritchie, Kevin (4 October 2012). "Molly Nilsson - Press-shy Swedish songwriter opens up". Now. Archived from the original on 2017-10-01. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Molly Nilsson - History (2011, CDr)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Molly Nilsson - History (2012, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Molly Nilsson - History (2019, File)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Molly Nilsson - History (2019, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "History: LP - Dark Skies Association". Dark Skies Association. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d Sendra, Tim. "History Review by Tim Sendra". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d Dorniak, Marlena Julia (27 April 2012). "Molly Nilsson - History - Rezension des Musikmagazins éclat". Éclat (in German). Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d Friedlander, Emilie (17 April 2012). "Molly Nilsson: History Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 October 2023.