Public Strain
Public Strain is the second and final album by Canadian rock band Women. The album was produced by Chad VanGaalen.[1] It was released in 2010 on VanGaalen's Flemish Eye record label in Canada, and on Jagjaguwar in the United States.
Public Strain | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 28, 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:18 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Chad VanGaalen | |||
Women chronology | ||||
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Two songs on the album are direct references to the artist Ray Johnson: "Locust Valley" is the name of the town where Johnson lived in New York. "Venice Lockjaw" is a phrase Johnson incorporated in pins that he gave away at the 1990 Venice Biennale. Johnson was also referenced on Women's 2008 self-titled album; "Sag Harbour Bridge" refers to the location where Johnson committed suicide in 1995.
Reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.8/10[2] |
Metacritic | 81/100[3] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
The Boston Phoenix | |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10[6] |
Mojo | |
NME | 8/10[8] |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10[9] |
PopMatters | 9/10[10] |
The Skinny | |
Spin | 8/10[12] |
Uncut |
Public Strain was released to critical acclaim.[3]
Exclaim! placed Public Strain at number 10 on its list of the best Pop & Rock Albums of 2010, with critic Brock Thiessen writing that "Public Strain showed that rock'n'roll can still offer shock and awe."[14] Pitchfork placed it at number 47 on its list of The Top 50 Albums of 2010.[15] . The album was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.[16]
Gorilla vs. Bear and Tiny Mix Tapes ranked it the 31st and 77th best album of the decade respectively.[17][18]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Can't You See" | 3:41 |
2. | "Heat Distraction" | 4:05 |
3. | "Narrow With the Hall" | 2:37 |
4. | "Penal Colony" | 2:39 |
5. | "Bells" | 3:22 |
6. | "China Steps" | 4:22 |
7. | "Untogether" | 3:09 |
8. | "Drag Open" | 4:53 |
9. | "Locust Valley" | 4:15 |
10. | "Venice Lockjaw" | 2:48 |
11. | "Eyesore" | 6:25 |
Total length: | 42:18 |
References
- Breihan, Tom (June 10, 2010). "Women Announce Second Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- "Public Strain by Women reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- "Reviews for Public Strain by Women". Metacritic. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Lymangrover, Jason. "Public Strain – Women". AllMusic. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Grimes, Michael (September 30, 2010). "Women | Public Strain". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Lukowski, Andrzej (August 27, 2010). "Album Review: Women – Public Strain". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- "Women: Public Strain". Mojo (202): 96. September 2010.
- Wright, Lisa (August 23, 2010). "Album review: Women – 'Public Strain' (Jagjaguwar)". NME. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Leitko, Aaron (September 30, 2010). "Women: Public Strain". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Kloke, Joshua (November 23, 2010). "Women: Public Strain". PopMatters. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Buckle, Chris (July 26, 2010). "Women – Public Strain". The Skinny. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Cohen, Ian (November 3, 2010). "Women, 'Public Strain' (Jagjaguwar)". Spin. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- "Women: Public Strain". Uncut (161): 114. October 2010.
- "Pop & Rock Year in Review". Exclaim!.
- "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2010 | Features". Pitchfork. 2010-12-16. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
- "2011 Polaris Music Prize Long List announced" Archived 2015-10-02 at the Wayback Machine. aux.tv, June 16, 2011.