''History'' is the fourth studio album by Swedish singer-songwriter

Molly Nilsson Molly Lilly Maria Nilsson (born December 14, 1984) is a Swedish singer-songwriter and musician. She is the owner of an independent record label, Dark Skies Association, founded in 2009. As of 2004, Nilsson resides in Berlin. Early life Nilsso ...

, released on 14 December 2011. It was Nilsson's final album to be entirely self-released, as she started collaborating with Night School Records afterwards. ''History'' has been cited as Nilsson's "breakout" album, including by herself.

Background

Regarding the album's concept and title, Nilsson explained:

Release

''History'' was originally self-released through Nilsson's own label Dark Skies Association. The CD version was released on 14 December 2011 and the vinyl version followed in April 2012. In association with Night School Records, ''History'' was then released as a digital download on 31 January 2019, while reissues of the CD and vinyl versions followed on 29 March 2019. It was again reissued on vinyl on 29 September 2023.

Critical reception

''History'' received positive reviews. Emilie Friedlander of ''

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'', in a positive review, said that the album is "carried by the commanding, almost

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-like ominousness of ilsson'svoice". Tim Sendra, writing for

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, praised Nilsson's "wonderfully idiosyncratic music" and noted its emotional impact. In a positive review for German ''Éclat'' magazine, Marlena Julia Dorniak described Nilsson's music as "morbid", "melancholic", and "magical". "I Hope You Die" was positively highlighted as a standout song by several writers. Friedlander noted that it demonstrates the "over-the-topness of Nilsson's aesthetic most forcefully". Sendra praised it for its "heartbreakingly honest" lyrics, while Dorniak commended its combination of a "danceable beat" with "tragically romantic" lyrics. The song also quickly became a "fan favorite".

Track listing

References

{{reflist 2011 albums Molly Nilsson albums