In These Times (Makaya McCraven album)

In These Times
A photo of a line of trees with white leaves in a small circle inside an off-white background. The album's name is type in block letters at the top-middle, and the artist's is at the bottom-middle.
Studio album by
Makaya McCraven
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2022 (2022-09-23)
GenreJazz
Length41:12
Labels
Makaya McCraven chronology
Deciphering the Message
(2021)		 In These Times
(2022)		 Off the Record
(2025)
Singles from In These Times
  1. "Seventh String"
    Released: June 21, 2022[1]
  2. "Dream Another"
    Released: July 19, 2022[2]
  3. "The Fours"
    Released: September 13, 2022[3]

In These Times is the sixth studio album by American musician Makaya McCraven. It was released on September 23, 2022, by International Anthem Recording Company, Nonesuch Records, and XL Recordings.[4] The release features collaborations with Jeff Parker, Brandee Younger, Macie Stewart, Junius Paul, Marta Sofia Honer, and Lia Kohl.[5]

Production

The album tracks were completed over a period of seven years, and constructed in five different studios and four live performance spaces.[6][1]

Background

On June 23, 2022, Makaya McCraven announced the release of the new album.[6] The first single "Seventh String" was released alongside the announcement.[1]

The second single "Dream Another" was released on July 19, 2022.[2] The music video for the single, which is directed by Nik Arthur, features photographic animations in the style of a zoopraxiscope.[7]

McCraven released the third single "The Fours" on September 13, 2022.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[8]
Metacritic87/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star[10]
Clash8/10[11]
Exclaim!9/10[12]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[13]
Pitchfork8/10[14]
Sputnikmusic4.1/5[15]

In These Times was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 87, based on 11 reviews.[9] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the release a 7.9 out of 10 based on a critical consensus of 7 reviews.[8]

Thom Jurek of AllMusic described the album as its "own jazz labyrinth, and as such is destined for repeated listening and startling discovery."[10] At Clash, Robin Murray wrote: "A challenging yet continually beautiful project, In These Times contains a terrific sense of unity, one that belies the lengthy manner of its gestation."[11]

Stereogum made the album as their "Album of the Week" on September 20, 2022.[16]

Accolades

Publications' year-end list appearances for In These Times
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref
Loud and Quiet Loud and Quiet's Top 40 Albums of 2022 14 [17]
Norman Records Norman Records' Top 50 Albums of 2022 12 [18]
NPR Music NPR Music's Top 50 Albums of 2022 7 [19]
Passion of the Weiss Passion of the Weiss' Top 50 Albums of 2022 3 [20]
Stereogum Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2022 37 [21]
Stereogum's Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2022 1 [22]

Commercial performance

In These Times ranked at number 85 in Scotland,[23] number 56 in Germany,[24] and number 92 in Switzerland.[25]

Track listing

In These Times track listing
No.TitleLength
1."In These Times"7:09
2."The Fours"3:26
3."High Fives"3:39
4."Dream Another"3:12
5."Lullaby"3:33
6."This Place That Place"3:56
7."The Calling"1:47
8."Seventh String"3:05
9."So Ubuji"3:01
10."The Knew Untitled"4:27
11."The Title"3:57
Total length:41:12

Charts

Chart performance for In These Times
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26]74
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24]56
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[27]48
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[23]85
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25]92
UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[28]23

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kenneally, Cerys (June 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven announces new album". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Kenneally, Cerys (July 19, 2022). "Makaya McCraven shares new cut 'Dream Another'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Rettig, James (September 13, 2022). "Makaya McCraven – The Fours". Stereogum. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ Slingerland, Calum (June 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven Returns with New Album 'In These Times'". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ Hussey, Allison (June 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven Announces New Album, Shares New Song "Seventh String"". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Makaya McCraven Launches New Album". Clash. June 23, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Makaya McCraven Releases "Dream Another," From Upcoming Album, 'In These Times'". Nonesuch Records. July 19, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "AnyDecentMusic? Review". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Jurek, Thom. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Murray, Robin (October 6, 2022). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ Ranta, Alan (September 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven's Illuminating 'In These Times' Is a Crate Digger's Paradise". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  13. ↑ Lily, Evan (October 7, 2022). "The Line of Best Fit Review". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  14. ↑ Cush, Andy (September 27, 2022). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Sputnikmusic Review". Sputnikmusic. October 30, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  16. ↑ Leas, Ryan (September 20, 2022). "Makaya McCraven is Album of the Week". Stereogum. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Loud and Quiet Albums of the Year". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Norman Records' Best Albums". Norman Records. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  19. ↑ "NPR Music's 50 Best Albums of 2022". NPR Music. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  20. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2022". Passion of the Weiss. December 29, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Best Albums of 2022". Stereogum. December 6, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  22. ↑ Freeman, Phil (December 13, 2022). "Best Jazz Albums of 2022". Stereogum. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  23. 1 2 "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 30/9/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  24. 1 2 "Offiziellecharts.de – Makaya McCraven – In These Times" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  25. 1 2 "Swisscharts.com – Makaya McCraven – In These Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Makaya McCraven – In These Times" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Makaya McCraven – In These Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 30/9/2022 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
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