''Sucker Punch'' is the debut studio album by Norwegian singer
Sigrid
Sigrid is a Scandinavian given name for women from Old Norse ''Sigríðr'',
composed of the elements ''sigr'' "victory" and ''fríðr'' "beautiful".
Common short forms include Siri, Sigga, Sig, and Sigi. An Estonian and Finnish variant is Siir ...
, released on 8 March 2019 through
Island Records
Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...
. It follows the release of Sigrid's 2018 EP ''Raw''. None of the songs featured on ''Raw'' were included on the album; however, two were included from Sigrid's debut EP ''
Don't Kill My Vibe
"Don't Kill My Vibe" is the debut single by Norwegian singer and songwriter Sigrid, released on 10 February 2017 through Island Records and Universal Music Group. The song was written by Sigrid alongside Martin Sjølie, and is included on both ...
'' (2017). Sigrid enlisted collaborators
Martin Sjølie
Martin Sjølie (born April 25, 1979 in Bærum, Norway) is a Norwegian songwriter and record producer, most known for his work with artists Sigrid, Maria Mena and Dotan. Although he is based at his own Studio in the Park, in Oslo, Norway, he m ...
, Odd Martin Skålnes,
Oscar Holter
Oscar Thomas Holter (born 26 February 1986) is a Swedish record producer and songwriter based in the United States. He is best known for his work with record producer and fellow Swede Max Martin and Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd on the ...
,
Askjell Solstrand, Patrik Berger, and Martin Stilling for the album's production. The result was a
pop,
electropop
Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...
, and
synth-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s ...
record described by music critics as exploring both mainstream and
indie pop
Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and sub ...
musical styles.
''Sucker Punch'' was met with positive reviews from music critics, many of whom praised its cohesion and empowering lyrics. Commercially, the album topped the Norwegian albums chart in its first week, while also reaching the top five in Ireland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom, in addition to attaining modest positions on several European charts. The album has been promoted by the singles "
Don't Kill My Vibe
"Don't Kill My Vibe" is the debut single by Norwegian singer and songwriter Sigrid, released on 10 February 2017 through Island Records and Universal Music Group. The song was written by Sigrid alongside Martin Sjølie, and is included on both ...
", "
Strangers
A stranger is a person who is unknown to another person or group. Because of this unknown status, a stranger may be perceived as a threat until their identity (social science), identity and Character structure, character can be ascertained. Differ ...
", "
Sucker Punch
A sucker punch (American English), also known as a dog shot, coward punch, king hit or one-punch attack
(Australian and New Zealand English) or cold-cock (American English), is a punch made without warning or while the recipient is distracted, ...
", "
Don't Feel Like Crying" and "Mine Right Now", as well as the promotional singles "Dynamite" and "Sight of You".
Background
Sigrid rose to international prominence after the release of her hit "Don't Kill My Vibe" in February 2017 and winning the
BBC Music Sound of 2018 award in January 2018. Speaking about the album, she stated, "I figured out early on that it's gonna be difficult for me to try and be anything other than who I am. I always said if I'm gonna do this it's easiest to be myself and look like myself, where I can recognise myself." On 31 January 2019, Sigrid revealed the album's track list via
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
.
Composition
''Sucker Punch'' is a
pop,
electropop
Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...
,
and
synth-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s ...
album that has been described as navigating "the space between Top 40 success and indie pop credibility".
The album opens with the title track, a
power pop
Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ch ...
number that lyrically is about falling in love without realizing it. Kitty Richardson of ''
The Line of Best Fit
''The Line of Best Fit'' is an independent online magazine based in London, concentrating on new music.
It publishes independent music reviews, features, interview, and media. Founded by Richard Thane in February 2007 and currently edited by P ...
'' called the song a "crush" anthem with "fat synths" and a chorus featuring the singer's falsetto.
"Mine Right Now" is a 1980s-inspired
song about living in the moment in a relationship without any future.
"Basic" is an upbeat
dance
Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
number that leads to a stripped-down,
lo-fi
Lo-fi (also typeset as lofi or low-fi; short for low fidelity) is a music or production quality in which elements usually regarded as imperfections in the context of a recording or performance are present, sometimes as a deliberate choice. The ...
bridge containing tender piano chords.
Lyrically, the song explores themes of uncertainty and self-doubt and has been described as a "vulnerable, imperfect peek behind the curtain".
Thomas Smith of
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
described the song as a "knowing-nod to her perceived girl-next-door image".
Second single "Strangers" is a synth-pop song that has musically been compared to the works of
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson (born 12 June 1979), known as Robyn (), is a Swedish pop singer, songwriter, record producer, and DJ. She arrived on the music scene with her 1995 debut album, ''Robyn Is Here'', which produced two Billboard Hot 100, ''Bil ...
. "Don't Feel Like Crying" is a break-up anthem composed of orchestral stabs and slick vocal effects,
which has drawn comparisons to the works of
Carly Rae Jepsen
Carly Rae Jepsen (born November 21, 1985) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After studying musical theatre for most of her school life and while in university, Jepsen garnered mainstream attention after placing third on the fifth season of ...
.
"Level Up" is an
indie pop
Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and sub ...
number that contains a delicate acoustic guitar line, preceded by an introduction of violins and succeeded by an unpredictable melody in the chorus.
"Sight of You" is an anthem driven by a staccato string section that lyrically discusses "the sea of adoration that awaits
igridon stage".
Harriet Linnell, writing for ''
Drowned in Sound
''Drowned in Sound'', sometimes abbreviated to ''DiS'', is a UK-based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway. Founded by editor Sean Adams, the site features reviews, news, interviews, and discussion forums.
History
''D ...
'', labelled the song "a sequel to
ABBA
ABBA ( , , formerly named Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid or Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida) are a Swedish supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's ...
's '
Super Trouper', with similar instrumentation and theme".
"In Vain" begins with a "barebones guitar and vocal approach" before leading to an anthemic climax.
The song features raw vocals from the singer.
"Don't Kill My Vibe" is a pop song
containing "crashing carnival drums, frantic claps and Sigrid's fearless holler".
The song was lyrically inspired by the singer's experiences feeling belittled by producers during a writing session.
"Business Dinners" was written as a response to an experience meeting with labels in London when Sigrid was a teenager.
Musically, the song contains "heavy-handed" production.
"Never Mine" is a synth-led lament about a past relationship.
Kitty Richardson of ''The Line of Best Fit'' referred to it as one of the only "genuinely sad" songs on the album.
The album's closing track, "Dynamite", is an introspective piano ballad
about the "realization that self-worth is more important than a failing relationship".
Singles
"
Don't Kill My Vibe
"Don't Kill My Vibe" is the debut single by Norwegian singer and songwriter Sigrid, released on 10 February 2017 through Island Records and Universal Music Group. The song was written by Sigrid alongside Martin Sjølie, and is included on both ...
" was released as the lead single from the album on 10 February 2017. It was also included on the singer's debut EP of the same name.
Commercially, it reached number 28 in the singer's home country. Outside of Norway, the song reached the top twenty in Scotland.
"
Strangers
A stranger is a person who is unknown to another person or group. Because of this unknown status, a stranger may be perceived as a threat until their identity (social science), identity and Character structure, character can be ascertained. Differ ...
" was released as the second single on 10 November 2017. The song reached number one in Croatia and Scotland, while peaking within the top ten of the charts in Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
The album's
title track
A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title.
Title track may al ...
was released as the third single on 4 October 2018. It reached number 12 in Norway.
"
Don't Feel Like Crying" was released on 17 January 2019 to be the fourth single from the album. "There's a certain grace to heartache," said Sigrid. "A sort of... epic grace! I like good, heartfelt pop songs." Commercially, it reached the top thirty in Norway and the top 20 in the UK, Scotland and Ireland.
On 3 May 2019, "Mine Right Now" was released as the fifth single from the album. In June, the music video for the song was released; due to flight issues, Sigrid hadn't been able to appear in the music video, so the director,
Max Siedentopf, had starred in the video instead. A vertical video focusing on the singer was released on 25 July 2019, and the fan art video on 21 August 2019.
Promotional singles
"Dynamite" was released as the album's first promotional single on 28 April 2017. It was included on Sigrid's debut EP ''
Don't Kill My Vibe
"Don't Kill My Vibe" is the debut single by Norwegian singer and songwriter Sigrid, released on 10 February 2017 through Island Records and Universal Music Group. The song was written by Sigrid alongside Martin Sjølie, and is included on both ...
'' (2017).
"Sight of You" was released on 28 February 2019 as the album's second promotional single, one week before the album's release.
Critical reception
At
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, which assigns a
normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an
average
In ordinary language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a list of numbers, usually the sum of the numbers divided by how many numbers are in the list (the arithmetic mean). For example, the average of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 7, ...
score of 78, based on 16 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Robin Murray, writing for ''
Clash'', rated the album eight stars out of ten, calling the album a "compact, concise display of pop ambition, a finely balanced feat that puts the Norwegian talent’s innate abilities against her desire to stretch, to uncover something new".
Kitty Richardson of ''
The Line of Best Fit
''The Line of Best Fit'' is an independent online magazine based in London, concentrating on new music.
It publishes independent music reviews, features, interview, and media. Founded by Richard Thane in February 2007 and currently edited by P ...
'', rated the album ten out of ten and wrote that the album "radiate
her particular brand of empowerment: not the sweeping, air-punching kind we might expect from her counterparts, but a more modest commitment to self-love – especially when life throws its inevitable right hooks".
Rating the album four stars out five, Neil Yeung of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
called ''Sucker Punch'' "a masterful debut from a promising talent unafraid to just be herself".
Thomas Smith, writing for ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'', rated the album four stars out of five and stated the record "doesn’t feel like a meticulously choreographed and cunning plot to make Sigrid a International Pop Superstar". He concluded his review by calling the album "a marvellous cap on a two-year campaign that did just about everything right". Harriet Linnell, writing for ''
Drowned in Sound
''Drowned in Sound'', sometimes abbreviated to ''DiS'', is a UK-based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway. Founded by editor Sean Adams, the site features reviews, news, interviews, and discussion forums.
History
''D ...
'', rated the album eight stars out of ten, praising Sigrid for "
arvingout her own sonic niche". She additionally called ''Sucker Punch'' an "eclectic, original yet incredibly memorable first record".
Rachel Finn, writing for ''
DIY
"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and sem ...
'', described the album as "full of swooping, dramatic choruses and clean-cut vocals, where almost every song is a potential radio hit—only that's not a bad thing". She then rated the album 3.5 stars out of 5.
Brad Garcia of ''
Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'' rated the record 7 out of 10, stating "though it may seem as though she's yet to fully embrace her uniqueness in mainstream spaces, there are plenty of moments on Sucker Punch that suggest Sigrid is on her way".
Track listing
Adapted from iTunes and Sigrid's Twitter.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
{{Authority control
2019 debut albums
Sigrid (singer) albums
Island Records albums