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{{Infobox album
{{Infobox Album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = The Magic City
| name = The Magic City
| Type = Studio album
| type = Studio album
| Artist = [[Helium (band)|Helium]]
| artist = [[Helium (band)|Helium]]
| Cover = Heliummagiccity.jpg
| cover = Heliummagiccity.jpg
| Released = September 9, 1997
| alt =
| Recorded = 1997
| released = September 9, 1997
| recorded = 1997
⚫
| Genre = [[Indie rock]], [[Alternative rock]], [[post-punk]]
| Length = 51:40
| venue =
| Label = [[Matador Records]]
| studio =
⚫
| genre = [[Indie rock]], [[alternative rock]], [[post-punk]], [[noise pop]]
| Producer = [[Mitch Easter]] and Helium
| length = 51:40
⚫
| Last album = ''[[No Guitars]]''<br/>(1997)
| label = [[Matador Records]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://store.matadorrecords.com/the-magic-city|title=The Magic City|website=store.matadorrecords.com}}</ref>
| This album = '''''The Magic City'''''<br/>(1997)
| producer = [[Mitch Easter]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/helium-mn0000956100/biography|title=Helium &#124; Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}</ref><br>Helium
| Next album =
⚫
| prev_title = [[No Guitars]]
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
}}
'''''The Magic City''''' is the second and final [[studio album]] from American [[indie rock]] band [[Helium (band)|Helium]].<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/helium/helium-the-dirt-of-luckthe-magic-city-no-guitars-r/|title=Helium: The Dirt Of Luck/The Magic City + No Guitars reissues/Ends With And Review|date=May 24, 2017|website=pastemagazine.com}}</ref> It was released in 1997 on [[Matador Records]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2017-12-08/helium-the-dirt-of-luck-the-magic-city-ends-with-and/|title=Helium: The Dirt of Luck, The Magic City, Ends With And Album Review|website=www.austinchronicle.com}}</ref><ref name="CL" />
⚫
{{Album ratings

⚫
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
==Production==
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r310957|pure_url=yes}} link]
The album was produced at [[Mitch Easter]]'s Fidelitorium studio, in North Carolina.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=http://magnetmagazine.com/2017/07/31/magnet-classics-the-making-of-heliums-the-magic-city/|title=MAGNET Classics: The Making Of Helium's "The Magic City"|date=July 31, 2017}}</ref> It was recorded in six weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1997/11/21/helium-above-the-crowd/5d754224-cebd-40cf-98d6-bfc2fb32e2a0/|title=HELIUM: ABOVE THE CROWD|first=Joyce|last=Jones|date=November 21, 1997|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> Its sound was influenced by psychedelic and progressive rock,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2017/06/09/mary-timony-feels-pumped-about-helium-revival/|title=Mary Timony feels pumped about Helium revival|date=June 9, 2017}}</ref> notably [[King Crimson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Cam |date=May 5, 2017 |title=Mary Timony Airs Out Helium’s Mystical ’90s Classics |url=https://clrvynt.com/mary-timony-helium-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325231756/https://clrvynt.com/mary-timony-helium-interview/ |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=CLRVYNT}}</ref>
|rev2=[[Pitchfork Media]] |rev2Score=(8.1/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18438/Helium_The_Magic_City link]}}

'''''The Magic City''''' was the final studio album from American [[indie rock]] band [[Helium (band)|Helium]]. It was released in 1997 on [[Matador Records]].
==Critical reception==
[[AllMusic]] called the album "a rich, colorful array of sounds ... that blends lo-fi indie-rock with '70s prog rock."<ref name="auto1" /> ''[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]]'' wrote: "The album is a ''Pet Sounds'' chamber-pop-meets-progressive-rock indie masterpiece, created long before any lo-fi-loving cretin would ever admit to loving Yes’ ''Close To The Edge'', Genesis’ ''Nursery Cryme'' or watching Keith Emerson throw daggers into his eight-foot-high synthesizer."<ref name="auto2" /> ''[[New York Magazine]]'' praised Timony's "loopy, pensive guitar lines, deceptively offbeat song structures, and quirky vocal style."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DOgCAAAAMBAJ&dq=The+Magic+City+Helium+1997&pg=PA163|title=They're a Gas|work=New York Magazine|date=December 1, 1997|publisher=New York Media, LLC|via=Google Books}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
#"Vibrations" - 2:46
| title1 = Vibrations
⚫
#"Leon's Space Song" - 2:59
| length1 = 2:46
⚫
#"Ocean of Wine" - 4:04
⚫
| title2 = Leon's Space Song
#"Aging Astronauts" - 3:08
| length2 = 2:59
#"Medieval People" - 4:08
⚫
| title3 = Ocean of Wine
⚫
#"Lady of the Fire" - 2:19
| length3 = 4:04
⚫
#"Lullaby of the Moths" - 3:09
| title4 = Aging Astronauts
⚫
#"Revolution of Hearts, Pt. 1 & 2" - 8:01
#"Ancient Cryme" - 3:55
| length4 = 3:08
| title5 = Medieval People
#"Cosmic Rays" - 3:58
| length5 = 4:08
#"Devil's Tear" - 2:46
⚫
| title6 = Lady of the Fire
#"Clementine" - 2:31
| length6 = 2:19
⚫
#"Blue Rain Soda" - 1:50
⚫
| title7 = Lullaby of the Moths
#"Walk Away" - 5:59
| length7 = 3:09
⚫
| title8 = Revolution of Hearts, Pt. 1 & 2
| length8 = 8:01
| title9 = Ancient Cryme
| length9 = 3:55
| title10 = Cosmic Rays
| length10 = 3:58
| title11 = Devil's Tear
| length11 = 2:46
| title12 = Clementine
| length12 = 2:31
⚫
| title13 = Blue Rain Soda
| length13 = 1:50
| title14 = Walk Away
| length14 = 5:59
}}
⚫
{{Album ratings
⚫
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-magic-city-mw0000595571|title=The Magic City - Helium &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits &#124; AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
|rev2score = {{rating|2|4}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-10-31-9710310425-story.html|title=HeliumThe Magic City (Matador) (star) (star)Helium leader...|first=Kevin|last=McKeough|website=chicagotribune.com|date=31 October 1997 }}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
|rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="CL">{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=4 |page=227}}</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
|rev4score = A−<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/1997/09/12/magic-city-2/|title=The Magic City|website=EW.com}}</ref>
|rev6=''[[Pitchfork Media]]''
|rev6Score=8.5/10<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23133-ends-with-and-the-dirt-of-luck-the-magic-city-no-guitars/|title=Helium: Ends With And / The Dirt of Luck / The Magic City / No Guitars|website=Pitchfork|date=24 May 2017 }}</ref>
|rev7 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
|rev7score = 8/10<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ogux2DAvNU0C&pg=PA149|title=Reviews|work=SPIN|date=November 16, 1997|publisher=SPIN Media LLC|via=Google Books}}</ref>
}}



==Personnel==
==Personnel==
*[[Mary Timony]] - Guitar, Vocals, [[Chamberlin (music)|Chamberlin]], Keyboards
*[[Mary Timony]] - Guitar, Vocals, [[Chamberlin (music)|Chamberlin]], Keyboards
*[[Ash Bowie]] - Bass, Drums
*[[Ash Bowie]] - Bass, Drums
*[[Shawn King Devlin]] - Drums
*Shawn King Devlin - Drums
*[[Mitch Easter]] - Guitar, Mandolin, Percussion, Pedal Steel, Vocals (background), Producer, Engineer, Slide Guitar, Mixing
*[[Mitch Easter]] - Guitar, Mandolin, Percussion, Pedal Steel, Vocals (background), Producer, Engineer, Slide Guitar, Mixing
*[[Andrew Emmett]] - Violin
*Andrew Emmett - Violin
*Ken Wilmot - Trumpet
*Ken Wilmot - Trumpet
*Chris Stamey - Editing, Pro-Tools
*Chris Stamey - Editing, Pro-Tools

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{Helium (band)}}
{{Helium (band)}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Magic City, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magic City, The}}

Latest revision as of 15:28, 12 October 2023

The Magic City
Studio album by
Helium
ReleasedSeptember 9, 1997
Recorded1997
GenreIndie rock, alternative rock, post-punk, noise pop
Length51:40
LabelMatador Records[1]
ProducerMitch Easter[2]
Helium
Helium chronology
No Guitars
(1997) 		The Magic City
(1997)

The Magic City is the second and final studio album from American indie rock band Helium.[2][3] It was released in 1997 on Matador Records.[4][5]

Production

[edit]

The album was produced at Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium studio, in North Carolina.[6] It was recorded in six weeks.[7] Its sound was influenced by psychedelic and progressive rock,[8] notably King Crimson.[9]

Critical reception

[edit]

AllMusic called the album "a rich, colorful array of sounds ... that blends lo-fi indie-rock with '70s prog rock."[10] Magnet wrote: "The album is a Pet Sounds chamber-pop-meets-progressive-rock indie masterpiece, created long before any lo-fi-loving cretin would ever admit to loving Yes’ Close To The Edge, Genesis’ Nursery Cryme or watching Keith Emerson throw daggers into his eight-foot-high synthesizer."[6] New York Magazine praised Timony's "loopy, pensive guitar lines, deceptively offbeat song structures, and quirky vocal style."[11]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Vibrations"2:46
2."Leon's Space Song"2:59
3."Ocean of Wine"4:04
4."Aging Astronauts"3:08
5."Medieval People"4:08
6."Lady of the Fire"2:19
7."Lullaby of the Moths"3:09
8."Revolution of Hearts, Pt. 1 & 2"8:01
9."Ancient Cryme"3:55
10."Cosmic Rays"3:58
11."Devil's Tear"2:46
12."Clementine"2:31
13."Blue Rain Soda"1:50
14."Walk Away"5:59
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Chicago Tribune[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[5]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[13]
Pitchfork Media8.5/10[14]
Spin8/10[15]


Personnel

[edit]
  • Mary Timony - Guitar, Vocals, Chamberlin, Keyboards
  • Ash Bowie - Bass, Drums
  • Shawn King Devlin - Drums
  • Mitch Easter - Guitar, Mandolin, Percussion, Pedal Steel, Vocals (background), Producer, Engineer, Slide Guitar, Mixing
  • Andrew Emmett - Violin
  • Ken Wilmot - Trumpet
  • Chris Stamey - Editing, Pro-Tools

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Magic City". store.matadorrecords.com.
  2. ^ a b "Helium | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Helium: The Dirt Of Luck/The Magic City + No Guitars reissues/Ends With And Review". pastemagazine.com. May 24, 2017.
  4. ^ "Helium: The Dirt of Luck, The Magic City, Ends With And Album Review". www.austinchronicle.com.
  5. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 227.
  6. ^ a b "MAGNET Classics: The Making Of Helium's "The Magic City"". July 31, 2017.
  7. ^ Jones, Joyce (November 21, 1997). "HELIUM: ABOVE THE CROWD" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  8. ^ "Mary Timony feels pumped about Helium revival". June 9, 2017.
  9. ^ Lindsay, Cam (May 5, 2017). "Mary Timony Airs Out Helium's Mystical '90s Classics". CLRVYNT. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "The Magic City - Helium | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. ^ "They're a Gas". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. December 1, 1997 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ McKeough, Kevin (31 October 1997). "HeliumThe Magic City (Matador) (star) (star)Helium leader..." chicagotribune.com.
  13. ^ "The Magic City". EW.com.
  14. ^ "Helium: Ends With And / The Dirt of Luck / The Magic City / No Guitars". Pitchfork. 24 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Reviews". SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. November 16, 1997 – via Google Books.
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