U.F.O.F.
studio
ArtistBig Thief
CoverU.F.O.F. cover.jpg
ReleasedMay 3, 2019
RecordedJune 2018
StudioBear Creek, Woodinville, WA
GenreFolk rock[1][2] · indie folk[3] · indie rock[3] · Americana[4] · dream pop[4] · art rock[5]
Length43:15
Label4AD
ProducerAndrew Sarlo
Prev year2017
Next year2019

U.F.O.F. is the third studio album by the American band Big Thief, released through 4AD on May 3, 2019.[6]

The album was recorded in June 2018[7] at Bear Creek Studio, a secluded studio with lush nature surroundings in Woodinville, Washington.[8] The songs "From" and "Terminal Paradise" previously appeared in a different form on Adrianne Lenker's 2018 solo album Abysskiss.[9] The title initials stand for "UFO friend", according to lyrics in the title track.[10] The album received acclaim from music critics and was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.[11]

Five months after the album's release, Big Thief released their fourth studio album, Two Hands. Described as the "earth twin" to U.F.O.F., it was recorded at Sonic Ranch in the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas days after the band completed recording for U.F.O.F. in Washington.[12][13]

Recording

The album was recorded at Bear Creek Studio, in Woodinville, Washington.[8] Many of the songs started to take shape on tour, but the band continued to experiment, resulting in some of the songs being written only hours before recording them.[14] They recorded in a large room, with the band recording their tracks live.[14]

Music and lyrics

Jeremy Larson of Pitchfork described the album as having "lush" instrumentals to accompany Adrianne Lenker's "lonely and elliptical" lyrics.[15]

Critical reception

U.F.O.F. received critical acclaim upon release. On Metacritic, which uses a normalized rating from music critics, the album holds a score of 87 out of 100 based on 24 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[16]

The album was named "Best New Music" by Pitchfork, with a score of 9.2/10 and the website calling the album the band's "undoubtedly best" and "a mesmerizing flood of life filtered down into a concentrated drip."[2] In 2020, AllMusic named U.F.O.F. as one of the best albums of the 2010s.[17]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[7]

Big Thief
  • Adrianne Lenker – acoustic guitar (1–7, 9, 10), electric guitar (1, 5, 8, 9, 11), vocals (all tracks), choir (2, 4, 5, 8), SK5 (2, 10), piano (3), chimes (5), breath (8), percussion (8), ambience (12)
  • Buck Meek – electric guitar (1–5, 7–10), clap (4), choir (4), vocals (7, 10), feedback (11), ambience (12)
  • James Krivchenia – drums (1–5, 7–11), percussion (2), choir (2, 4, 5), SK5 (2), magic box (4, 5, 8), chimes (5), breath (8), Moog (8), tambourine (9), vocals (11), drum fill (12), ambience (12)
  • Max Oleartchik – bass (1, 2, 4, 5, 7–12), bass drone (1–3, 8, 10), choir (2, 4), piano (3), bells (4), breath (8), shaker (8), ambience (12)
Additional musicians
  • Zoë Lenker – choir (4)
  • Andrew Sarlo – wind (9), ambience (12)
  • Dom Monks – ambience (12)
Technical
  • Dom Monks – engineering, mixing
  • Andrew Sarlo – production
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Taylor Carroll – assistant engineering, "studio brain"
Artwork
  • Dustin Condren – cover photography
  • Sarah Schiesser – design, layout
  • Alison Fielding – production design

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position

References

  1. ^ "The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s". Pitchfork. October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  2. ^ Larson, Jeremy D. (May 6, 2019). "Big Thief: U.F.O.F.". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Tijerina, Daniela (May 10, 2019). "Big Thief Ponder the Eternal on the Spellbinding 'UFOF'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  4. ^ Cummings, Bill (May 3, 2019). "U.F.O.F. by Big Thief Album Review". God is in the TV. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  5. ^ Rega, Konstantin (May 3, 2019). "Big Thief: U.F.O.F. Album Review". Treblezine. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  6. ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie (February 26, 2019). "Big Thief Announce New Album U.F.O.F., Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  7. ^ U.F.O.F. (liner notes). 4AD. 2019. 4AD-0129.
  8. ^ "Bear Creek Studio alumnus stars in centerpiece film at SIFF". Archived from the original on December 2, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Album Of The Week: Big Thief U.F.O.F.". Stereogum. April 30, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Donelson, Marcy. "U.F.O.F. – Big Thief". AllMusic. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  11. ^ "5 Takeaways from the 2020 Grammy Nominations". Pitchfork. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  12. ^ Martoccio, Angie (August 13, 2019). "Big Thief Drop New Single 'Not,' Detail Second 2019 LP 'Two Hands'". Rolling Stone
  13. ^ "Big Thief Announce New Album 'Two Hands': Hear "Not"". August 13, 2019.
  14. ^ "U.F.O.F.". shopusa.4ad.com. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Larson, Jeremy. "Big Thief: U.F.O.F.". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  16. ^ "U.F.O.F. by Big Thief Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  17. ^ "The AllMusic Decade in Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 27, 2021.