Thin Black Duke is the seventh studio album by American experimental rock band Oxbow. It was released on May 5, 2017 through Hydra Head Records.
Background and composition According to Pitchfork writer Zoe Camp, the album "envision[s] a world domineered by disorder, a carnivalesque arena where music's most intimidating, grandiose genres (free jazz, high-concept chamber pop, noise, neoclassical, metal) can duke it out like gladiators one minute, and come together for a grotesque group hug the next."
Critical reception
Thin Black Duke was met with critical acclaim. The album received an average score of 87/100 from 9 reviews on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim". In a positive review with The Quietus, Sean Guthrie wrote, "By rights no group should be peaking after 30 years of making music together, yet that is the situation in which Oxbow find themselves. Will they ever transcend Thin Black Duke? Such are the ideas and attention to detail on this record, only a fool would bet against them." Zoe Camp of Pitchfork was positive on the album, but she did not see Thin Black Duke as Oxbow's "definitive show of force".
Accolades YearPublicationCountryAccoladeRank2017 Rolling Stone United States "20 Best Metal Albums of 2017" 7 2017 The Quietus United Kingdom "Albums of the Year, 2017" 10 2017 Decibel United States "Top 40 Albums of 2017" 30 2017 musicOMH United Kingdom "Top 50 Albums of 2017"202017 Louder Than War United Kingdom "Top 100 Albums of 2017"662017 The Observer United Kingdom "Observer readers' hidden musical gems of 2017"-
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes.
Oxbow Dan Adams – bass Greg Davis – drums, percussion Eugene Robinson – vocals Niko Wenner – guitars, vocals, keyboards, composition, arrangement, production
Additional musicians Philippe Thiphaine – additional guitars (1, 2) Kyle Bruckmann – oboe (4, 7, and 8) Oxbow Orchestra Eternal – 16-part brass and strings ensemble Marco d'Ambrosio – orchestra conductor
Technical personnel Aaron Turner – artwork, design Joe Chiccarelli – engineering, mixing, production Scott Bergstrom – second engineer Monte Vallier (with Ruminator Audio) – additional engineering, song arrangement consultation John Golden (with Golden Mastering) – vinyl mastering Emily Lazar (with The Lodge) – digital mastering
References