Only in Dreams | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 27, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2011 | |||
Length | 36:30 | |||
Label | Sub Pop | |||
Producer | Richard Gottehrer and Sune Rose Wagner | |||
Dum Dum Girls chronology | ||||
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Singles from Only in Dreams | ||||
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Only in Dreams is the second album by Dum Dum Girls,[1] released on September 27, 2011 by Sub Pop.
Two singles were released from the album. "Coming Down" was issued for streaming on July 19, 2011, and then a 7" was given away with pre-orders and first pressings of the album, on September 27.[2][3]
"Bedroom Eyes" was issued for streaming on August 30, 2011,[4][5] followed by a promo single distributed on September 26.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Consequence of Sound | [7] |
The Guardian | [8] |
musicOMH | [9] |
New York Times | Positive[10] |
NME | [11] |
Pitchfork | 7.6/10[12] |
PopMatters | [13] |
Rolling Stone | [14] |
Spin | [15] |
The album received generally positive reviews upon its release. 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 26 reviews, which indicates "Generally favorable reviews".[16]
Spin awarded the album a rating of 8 out of 10, writing, "Gundred's richer-than-you-expect voice is the key to these jagged little pillows, whether dryly noting that a guy's 'Just a Creep,' soaring on 'Coming Down,' or lacing her echoes with sorrow on 'Hold Your Hand,' a reflection on her mother's death."[15] In Lindsay Zoladz's 7.6-out-of-10 review, Pitchfork lauded the album's melodic risks within the genre of garage rock revival, "Only in Dreams isn't a perfect record, but a little while down the line it might end up looking like the beginning of something-- the first steps forward for the band, or perhaps a raising of the bar for this entire revival. I wouldn't put it past Dee Dee to be the leader of the pack."[12] The New York Times echoed this viewpoint in Jon Caramanica's positive review, which stated, "Only in Dreams ... seethes with a beautiful, raging confidence, louder and fuller than anything they’ve done before, and better than the onetime peers they’re leaving behind."[10] musicOMH's Gareth Ware's 4-out-of-5 review also agreed that "[Only in Dreams] showcases a remarkably assured collection of songs."[9]
AllMusic was more critical of the Dum Dum Girls' new direction: "All this realness could be a deal breaker especially since Only in Dreams isn’t a fun and immediately enjoyable album like I Will Be was."[6] PopMatters wasn't impressed with the overall sound of the album, saying, "Everything is layered and burnished into an eardrum-blasting sameness. There are no standouts or outright bombs, just 10 Dum Dum Girls songs; no more, no less.".[13] Joe Marvilli from Consequence of Sound, in a negative review, felt that Only in Dreams needed more variety, stating, "You can only take so many variations of the same theme."[7]
All tracks are written by Dee Dee
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Always Looking" | 2:21 |
2. | "Bedroom Eyes" | 3:58 |
3. | "Just a Creep" | 2:56 |
4. | "In My Head" | 3:48 |
5. | "Heartbeat (Take It Away)" | 2:51 |
6. | "Caught in One" | 3:44 |
7. | "Coming Down" | 6:28 |
8. | "Wasted Away" | 3:39 |
9. | "Teardrops on My Pillow" | 2:49 |
10. | "Hold Your Hand" | 3:56 |
Total length: | 36:30 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Crystal Baby" | 2:22 |
Total length: | 38:52 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Down" (Edit) | 3:56 |
2. | "Crystal Baby" | 2:22 |
Total length: | 6:18 |
Engineered by Alonzo Vargas, with assistance from Justin Smith. Mixed by Alonzo Vargas. Mastered by Joe LaPorta.
Country | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | September 26, 2011 | CD, digital download, LP record | Sub Pop |
Canada | September 27, 2011 | ||
United States |
The first 1,900 copies of the LP version of the album were released on light pink vinyl as a "Loser Edition".[19]