Angel Miners & the Lightning Riders
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2020) |
| Angel Miners & the Lightning Riders | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 24, 2020 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:18 | |||
| Label | Better Noise | |||
| Producer | Aaron Bruno[3] | |||
| Awolnation chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Angel Miners & the Lightning Riders | ||||
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| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AOTY | 73/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Deadpress |   [1] |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.2/5[2] |
| The Young Folks | 7.5/10[5] |
Angel Miners & the Lightning Riders is the fourth studio album by American rock band Awolnation, and their first release since Here Come the Runts in 2018. It is also their first release under Better Noise Music. It was released on April 24, 2020.
Writing and Background
In 2018 while on the Bandito Tour with Twenty One Pilots, Aaron Bruno's home studio, as well as a large portion of his property, burned to the ground in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. Shortly after finishing off the tour and recuperating from the fire was when writing for the album began.
In a social media post by Aaron after release of "The Best" as a single, he says: "Looking back on it, I can tell you that this (the fire) was the start of these new songs and a new direction in my life in general. It inspired me to create an alternate reality for these tunes and ideas to live in. At times it was unbearable, but at others, my wife and I found a certain kind of beauty and peace after it all settled. A year later, the aftermath and scars are still very much visible, but we are stronger because of it, and more inspired than ever." [6]
On November 4, 2019, Awolnation released the first single from the album, "The Best", along with a music video for it. In a behind the scenes video posted to social media, Aaron says he wrote "The Best" "about finding and discovering the best version of yourself" with the hopes to motivate the listener to "be the best" at whatever they are trying to achieve.[7]
On November 29, they released the second single, called "California Halo Blue", a tribute song to the wildfires in southern California, plus a cover of "Drive", originally by the Cars. In a post on social media, Aaron bluntly states: "This song is written about and dedicated to everyone affected by the Woolsey fire, as well as all California fires and disasters happening around the world."[8] In another behind the scenes clip, Aaron mentions the song acts as a diary entry the night he was talking with his wife who decided to evacuate the property, not knowing if they would come back to a house or not.[9]
On February 4, 2020, the album was officially announced, with a release date of April 24, 2020. The third single "Mayday!!! Fiesta Fever", featuring Alex Ebert of the band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, was released on the same day.[10] The fourth single "Slam (Angel Miners)" was released on March 13, 2020.[11]
According to frontman Aaron Bruno, the album features songs "inspired by some of the most difficult events I have experienced. I'm excited for us all to enter this new world together & share these stories."[10] After the album's release, the band will begin The Lightning Riders Tour with Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and The Beaches.[12]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Aaron Bruno and Awolnation
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Best" | 3:43 |
| 2. | "Slam (Angel Miners)" | 4:48 |
| 3. | "Mayday!!! Fiesta Fever" (featuring Alex Ebert) | 3:42 |
| 4. | "Lightning Riders" | 3:50 |
| 5. | "California Halo Blue" | 3:53 |
| 6. | "Radical" | 3:38 |
| 7. | "Battered, Black, & Blue (Hole in My Heart)" | 3:15 |
| 8. | "Pacific Coast Highway in the Movies" (featuring Rivers Cuomo of Weezer) | 3:55 |
| 9. | "Half Italian" | 4:23 |
| 10. | "I'm a Wreck" | 4:11 |
| Total length: | 39:18 | |
Personnel
- Aaron Bruno (AWOL) – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Isaac Carpenter – drums, backing vocals
- Zach Irons – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Daniel Saslow – programming, keyboards
- Michael Goldman – bass, backing vocals
Charts
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[13] | 42 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] | 64 |
References
- ^ a b Paige Barrett (April 26, 2020). "Album review: Awolnation – Angel Miners & The Lightning Riders". Deadpress. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c Raul Stanciu (April 27, 2020). "Awolnation – Angel Miners and the Lightning Riders". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ a b Neil Z. Yeung. "Awolnation Angel Miners & The Lightning Riders". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ "Awolnation - Angel Miners & the Lightning Riders - Reviews". Album of the Year. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ Brittany Menjivar (May 2, 2020). "Album Review: Awolnation sound energetic and reinvigorated on "Angel Miners & The Lightning Riders"". The Young Folks. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/B4pqgx6pEGv/
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/B45TBV2pD86/
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/B5dKRo2gqKo/
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/B6BVwyzJd-L/
- ^ a b "Awolnation officially announce new album, 'Angel Miners & the Lightning Riders' - SONiC 102.9". sonic1029.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ "Awolnation is teasing his new album with 'Slam (Angel Miners)'". Upset. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- ^ "Awolnation". Awolnation. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Awolnation – Angel Miners and the Lightning Riders" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Awolnation – Angel Miners and the Lightning Riders". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
