What Were You Hoping For?
What Were You Hoping For? | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 27, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2008–11 | |||
Studio | Santa Fe Tracking Station (Los Angeles) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 43:32 | |||
Label |
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Producer | Van Hunt | |||
Van Hunt chronology | ||||
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Singles from What Were You Hoping For? | ||||
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What Were You Hoping For? is the third
The album is the follow-up to Hunt's 2006 record On the Jungle Floor and follows a period of label conflict and mainstream obscurity for Hunt. Written and produced entirely by the singer, What Were You Hoping For? was recorded in sessions at the Los Angeles studio Santa Fe Tracking Station. Hunt applied a minimalist recording approach and worked with a backing band comprising drummer Ruth Price, percussionist Melissa Mattey, and keyboardist Peter Dyer.
The album expands on his previous music's blend of
What Were You Hoping For? received rave reviews from critics, who praised its musical direction, Hunt's performance, and his songwriting. However, it received some backlash from Hunt's fanbase for its stylistic departure from his past work. The album produced one single, "Eyes Like Pearls", and performed modestly on
Background
In 2006, Hunt released his second album On the Jungle Floor to critical success, but little commercial notice, despite a costly marketing campaign by his label Capitol Records.[1] After corporate restructuring by Capitol's parent label EMI, his contract was taken over by another EMI label, Blue Note Records.[1] Hunt subsequently went to work on his first project for Blue Note, entitled Popular.[2] Characterized by him as "an edgy, funk kind of rock record",[3] Hunt approached the album with a more aggressive, rock-inspired direction, with music that was less conventional than on his previous albums.[1] Upon the album's completion in 2007, Hunt decided to relocate from his native Atlanta, Georgia to Los Angeles, California in order to advance his career in the music industry, as well as pursue a relationship there with a woman.[4]
Scheduled for a January 2008 release, Popular was promoted with five months of concert performances by Hunt,
With his career on hold,
In a 2009 interview for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hunt discussed working as an independent artist, stating "Creatively it is certainly liberating, but the rest of it is really not that fun. I wanted a happy medium between the system of recording, marketing and distribution which I think is very important to any product you want to bring to market ... but I never had that with the record industry. Now that I'm on the other side of it trying to be the artist and the industry, I realize what the importance of the system was, but I also realize there was a lot that was missing since it is basically dying now."[7] He also said that he intends on recording another album "at least one more time and then go on tour, and then I don't know."[7]
Recording and production
Hunt began working on tracks for a follow-up project in 2008.
Hunt played several instruments, including guitar, keyboards, drums, bass synthesizer, and the electronic drum.[14] When he finished writing and recording the demos, Hunt began the album's primary recording sessions at Santa Fe Tracking Station in Los Angeles.[10] With What Were You Hoping For?, Hunt pursued a "harder edge" and rawer aesthetic than featured on his previous work.[15] He also wanted to explore a self-described "gnarly" guitar sound inspired by the work of Muddy Waters and The Stooges' 1973 album Raw Power.[9] Hunt attempted the sound in the past, but encountered discouragement from management.[9] He discussed his direction for the album in an interview for The Boombox, stating "[I]t wasn't necessarily punk music. It was more about trying to capture the growl of a cello. That to me is as nasty as it can get. That's a beautiful sound to me. When people talk about the distortion on the guitar, I hear the same thing with that growl of a cello."[15] Hunt wanted to take advantage of his newfound feeling of artistic freedom and lack of concern over marketability.[3]
Hunt approached the recording sessions differently than on his previous records.
They subsequently recorded basic tracks, and Hunt approached Peter Dyer to create a backing soundscape for the tracks.[15] What Were You Hoping For? was later mixed by Melissa Mattey.[12] Hunt has cited its minimalist recording process as his "most hands off approach ... thus far on an album",[15] calling the approach "musically adept but also stringently unique. People might describe it as futuristic."[10]
Music and lyrics
Expanding on his previous work's blend of
Hunt's songwriting on the album is characterized by resolute lyrics,[14] multi-layered storylines,[26] social commentary,[25] a droll perspective,[9] poetic subtlety, thematic subtext, and whimsy.[13] Songs on the album are unified by a theme of tension and dissonance in modern life.[10] The songs explore topics and issues in contemporary society and culture, including gentrification, identity politics, and mass consumption,[25] accompanied by a sense of hope in Hunt's lyrics.[13] Hunt explains the album to have a "loose concept", with songs unified by subject matter concerning "unspoken issues around society", and says of his lyrical sentiments on the album, "It fits my personality that no matter what's going on I'm going to answer it honestly with a wink and a smile. As cliché as it might be, I feel like every situation needs a laugh."[13] L. Michael Gipson of Creative Loafing notes David Bowie and Lenny Kravitz as references points for Hunt's songwriting, and writes that What Were You Hoping For? explores "both sides of the political aisles" with metaphorical songs such as "North Hollywood", "Designer Jeans", and the title track, as well as themes concerning an intimate relationship with the songs "Moving Targets", "Falls (Violet)", and "Cross Dresser".[25]
All of these elements are coming together to create this combustion. My experience of trying to live here and survive myself is really where this record was born.
— Van Hunt, on living in Los Angeles[10]
Certain songs were inspired by the effects of the
The opening track "North Hollywood" is an affectionate ode to Hunt's community at the time.
"A Time Machine Is My New Girlfriend" is a frenetic rocker with a Bo Diddley rhythm,[15] and lyrics cautioning listeners that relationships can come with "late fees".[9] Hunt explained its lyrics to be a metaphor for his lover making him feel younger.[27] The title track features metronomic drumming and chicken scratch riffs.[17] It is about people from different economic classes falling in love after social and economic conditions moved them into the same neighborhood.[26] The setting is described in the first verse, "It's the end of white flight / even tycoons are licking their wounds / economic blight got the neighborhood looking gap-toothed / end of white flight / maybe now you see something you like / money tight and you're hating your life".[26] Hunt said that writing the song was "essentially a response to some of the things I have seen as a result of the global recession we are going through. I wasn't trying to make any political statement. I was more making a philosophical comment that essentially says we have all these unspoken issues in our society. But I see a collision of those ideas and unresolved issues. My question is what could you have been hoping for when we make the kind of decisions in our society that we have made."[15]
The Prince-inspired "Cross Dresser" has a
Release and promotion
What Were You Hoping For? was released on September 27, 2011,
In each of the months leading up to its release, Hunt promoted the album by releasing new songs as free downloads.
Hunt also promoted the album with a 20-date national headlining tour,
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Tom Hull – on the Web | B+ ()[40] |
WBEZ | [41] |
What You Were Hoping For? was met with rave reviews from critics.
Some reviewers were more reserved in their praise. Michael Tedder from Paste felt that Hunt "sometimes comes off a bit like he's exploring the idea of a genre more than actually writing a song", while citing drummer Ruth Price as the record's "the secret weapon".[17] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times called it "a messy album, sometimes thrillingly so, a mélange of psychedelic rock, punk energy and R&B desperation",[44] and Tom Hull said Hunt "tries to regroup here with jerky rhythms, odd time signatures, and odder lyrics, which do add something."[40]
Despite the critical acclaim, the album received some backlash from Hunt's fanbase and listeners for departing from the style of his previous records.[26] He addressed the criticism in an interview for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Other recording artists will supply their fans with an album full of songs they will enjoy for 15 or 20 years. I'm a man that grows, progresses and matures, I want to grow [musically] with the people who want to go with me on that journey ... An artist should put out work that the culture should inspire to as opposed to trying to meet the culture, that's backwards to me. I don't just sit down and worry about what people will like, my job is to express myself as honest as I possibly can.[26]
Commercially, What You Were Hoping For? peaked at number 19 on the
Track listing
All songs were written, arranged, and produced by Van Hunt.[30]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "North Hollywood" | 3:27 |
2. | "Watching You Go Crazy Is Driving Me Insane" | 3:17 |
3. | "Designer Jeans" | 4:21 |
4. | "Plum" | 6:26 |
5. | "Falls (Violet)" | 3:39 |
6. | "Moving Targets" | 3:51 |
7. | "Eyes Like Pearls" | 3:20 |
8. | "A Time Machine Is My New Girlfriend" | 4:34 |
9. | "What Were You Hoping For?" | 3:46 |
10. | "Cross Dresser" | 2:57 |
11. | "It's a Mysterious Hustle" | 4:16 |
Personnel
Credits for What Were You Hoping For? adapted from
- Awful Gazelle – photography
- Jim DeMain – mastering
- Peter Dyer – Fender Rhodes, keyboards, synthesizer
- Kevin Guarnieri – guitar engineer, vocal engineer
- Van Hunt – arranger, composer, drums, guitar, keyboards, piano, producer, strings, synthesizer
- Jose Izabal – engineer
- Randy Jackson – executive producer
- Madly – recitation, vocals
- J. P. Maramba – upright bass
- Melissa Mattey – mixing, percussion, vocal engineer, vocals
- Alistair Philip – recitation
- Ruth Price – drums
- A. Prince – design
Charts
Chart (2011)[45] | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers | 19 |
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 50 |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Wikane, Christian John (June 30, 2008). "Dispatches From the Battlefield: An Interview With Van Hunt". PopMatters. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Biography. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Tribune Company. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Wood, Mikael (May 13, 2008). "Screwed by Blue Note, Van Hunt Still Rocks. and Funks. With Soul". LA Weekly. Village Voice Media. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b Butta (December 5, 2007). "Van Hunt Parts Ways With Label, Next CD Suddenly In Limbo". SoulBounce. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Wikane, Christian John (August 4, 2009). "Van Hunt: Use in Case of Emergency". PopMatters. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Rhone, Nedra (July 3, 2009). "Singer goes own way". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Media Group. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b Williams, DeMarco (March 19, 2008). "Van Hunt: Watch for the hook". Creative Loafing (Atlanta). Creative Loafing. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Martens, Todd (October 14, 2011). "72 Hours: Soulful oddball Van Hunt finds beauty in the discarded". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Cosgrove, Shannon (September 2011). "Van Hunt" (Press release). Big Hassle. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Eldredge, Richard L. (July 3, 2009). "Peach Buzz". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Media Group. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wikane, Christian John (October 20, 2011). "Van Hunt Lets the Pink Elephants Out to Play". PopMatters. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Carmichael, Rodney (September 27, 2011). "Van Hunt gets post-apocalyptic: What Were You Hoping For?". Creative Loafing (Atlanta). Creative Loafing. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kellman, Andy (September 27, 2011). "What Were You Hoping For? – Van Hunt". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Review. Archived from the original on December 15, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Murphy, Keith (September 26, 2011). "Van Hunt Says Odd Future Are 'Rebellious,' Talks New Album". The Boombox. AOL Music. AOL. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ "Meet the Woman on the Drums, Ruthie Price". Van Hunt. October 7, 2011. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Wolfgang's Vault. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Kane, Tyler (September 23, 2011). "Album Stream: Van Hunt – What Were You Hoping For? :: Featured Audio". Paste. Wolfgang's Vault. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ NY Daily News. Daily News, L.P. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Kasten, Roy (October 6, 2011). "Lola STL Music Festival". Riverfront Times. Village Voice Media. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b Maloney, Sean L. (October 2011). "Van Hunt, 'What Were You Hoping For?' (Godless Hotspot)". Magnet (81). Red Flag Media: 57.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kot, Greg (September 25, 2011). "Van Hunt album review; What Were You Hoping For? reviewed". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c Remi (September 27, 2011). "Van Hunt Isn't Giving You What You Were 'Hoping For,' But You'll Eat It And Like It". SoulBounce. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Lavin, Will (October 7, 2011). "REVIEW: Van Hunt – 'What Were You Hoping For (Thirty Tigers)'". Tale Tela. Giant Digital. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Gipson, L. Michael (October 18, 2011). "Van Hunt: What Were You Hoping For?". Creative Loafing (Atlanta). Creative Loafing. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Journal Communications. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ The Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Ashley, Erin (September 27, 2011). "Review: Did Van Hunt Give You What You Were Hoping For?". Rawemag. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- MTV Networks. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d What Were You Hoping For? (CD liner). Van Hunt. Nashville: Thirty Tigers. 2011. REDD 432840.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Dukes, Howard (September 3, 2011). "Van Hunt – What Were You Hoping For? (Advance Review) (review)". SoulTracks. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Heller, Jason (September 27, 2011). "Van Hunt: What Were You Hoping For?". The A.V. Club. Onion Inc. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b "What Were You Hoping For: Van Hunt: Music". Amazon. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b "What Were You Hoping For? – Van Hunt". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Credits. Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b Leeuwis, Jermy (June 15, 2011). "Van Hunt Celebrates New Album By Giving Away Songs" (Press release). MusicRemedy. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b Ragogna, Mike (June 15, 2011). "Mike Ragogna: Van Hunt's Free "June" Download, Plus Chatting with Steve Cropper and Gomez's Tom Gray". The Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Kszystyniak, Andrea (July 7, 2011). "Song Premiere: Van Hunt – "The Savage, Sincere L of P" :: Featured Audio". Paste. Wolfgang's Vault. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Butta (July 14, 2011). "Van Hunt Is 'Savage, Sincere' On His Latest". SoulBounce. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Butta (September 9, 2011). "Will You Love Van Hunt's 'Eyes Like Pearls'?". SoulBounce. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b Hull, Tom (February 3, 2012). "Rhapsody Streamnotes". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ a b DeRogatis, Jim (October 12, 2011). "Album review: Van Hunt, 'What Were You Hoping For?' (Godless Hotspot)". WBEZ. Chicago Public Media. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Kot, Greg (December 2, 2011). "Top albums of 2011; Wild Flag top album of 2011". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ Caramanica, Jon (October 14, 2011). "New Albums by Roach Gigz, Van Hunt, Beatriz Luengo, Lushlife". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c "What Were You Hoping For? – Van Hunt". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Charts & Awards. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 2, 2011.