An Awesome Wave
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = An Awesome Wave
| type = studio
| artist = Alt-J
| cover = Alt-J - An Awesome Wave.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2012|5|25|df=yes}}
| recorded = 2009–2011
| venue =
| studio = Iguana Studio
(London, England)
| genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|alt-pop |folktronica{{cite news|first= Sam |last= Richards |title= Alt-J: 'All the coolest bands are completely normal' |newspaper= The Guardian |date= 5 July 2014 |accessdate= 9 October 2016 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/05/alt-j-mercury-prize-this-is-all-yours}}|art rock}}
| length = {{Duration|m=48|s=40}}
| label = Infectious
| producer = {{hlist|Charlie Andrew|Mark Bishop}}
| prev_title = Films EP
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = This Is All Yours
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{Singles
| name = An Awesome Wave
| type = studio
| single1 = Bloodflood/Tessellate
| single1date = 13 October 2011
| single2 = Matilda
| single2date = 24 February 2012
| single3 = Breezeblocks
| single3date = 18 May 2012
| single4 = Tessellate
| single4date = 13 July 2012
| single5 = Something Good
| single5date = 28 September 2012
| single6 = Fitzpleasure
| single6date = 18 May 2012
| single7 = Dissolve Me
| single7date = 22 March 2013
}}
}}
An Awesome Wave is the debut album by English indie rock band Alt-J, released on 25 May 2012 through Infectious. The album includes the singles "Matilda"/"Fitzpleasure", "Breezeblocks" and "Tessellate". It peaked at number thirteen on the UK Albums Chart, and also charted in Belgium, France, Netherlands and Switzerland. An Awesome Wave won the 2012 British Barclaycard Mercury Prize, and in 2013 was named Album of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards. The title is a reference to a quote from the 1991 Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho and the 2000 film of the same name.{{cite newspaper |last=Dooley |first=Michael |url=https://universitytimes.ie/2018/10/alt-j-talk-all-things-hip-hop-and-american-psycho/ |title=Alt-J Talk All Things Hip Hop and American Psycho |newspaper=The University Times |date=18 October 2018 |access-date=25 January 2025}}
Artwork
The album artwork for An Awesome Wave is a multi-layered radar image of the Ganges river delta in Bangladesh and India.{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Highlights/An_awesome_wave |title=An awesome wave |publisher=European Space Agency |accessdate=2 March 2013}} The image in each of the three layers was acquired by the European Space Agency's Envisat Earth-observing satellite, taken separately on the 20th of January, 24 February and the 31st of March 2009. The overlaid image, titled Ganges' Dazzling Delta,{{cite web |url=http://spaceinimages.esa.int/Images/2009/07/Ganges_dazzling_delta |title=Ganges' dazzling delta |publisher=European Space Agency |date=31 July 2009 |accessdate=2 March 2013}} exposes a multitude of colours arising from the variations in background radiation occurring between the three acquisition times.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 71/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/an-awesome-wave/alt-j |title=Reviews for An Awesome Wave by Alt-J |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=22 September 2012}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/an-awesome-wave-mw0002338832 |title=An Awesome Wave – Alt-J |publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=20 December 2014 |last=O'Brien |first=Jon}}
| rev2 = The A.V. Club
| rev2score = C{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/alt-j-eman-awesome-waveem-88919 |title=Alt-J: An Awesome Wave |work=The A.V. Club |date=20 November 2012 |accessdate=11 November 2015 |last=Eakin |first=Marah}}
| rev3 = The Irish Times
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews/alt-j-1.1063269 |title=Alt-J |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=1 June 2012 |accessdate=20 December 2014 |last=Carroll |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Carroll (journalist)}}
| rev4 = MSN Music (Expert Witness)
| rev4score = B+{{cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/ew2013-02.php |title=Parquet Courts/Alt-J |work=MSN Music |date=26 February 2013 |accessdate=20 December 2014 |first=Robert |last=Christgau |author-link=Robert Christgau}}
| rev5 = The New Zealand Herald
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10823864 |title=Album review: An Awesome Wave – Alt-J |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=3 August 2012 |accessdate=20 December 2014 |last=Reid |first=Graham}}
| rev6 = NME
| rev6score = 8/10{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/alt-j/13233 |title=Alt-J – 'An Awesome Wave' |journal=NME|date=25 May 2012 |accessdate=12 September 2012 |last=Stevens |first=Jenny |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231222/http://www.nme.com/reviews/alt-j/13233 |archivedate=3 March 2016}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7Score = 4.8/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17233-an-awesome-wave/ |title=Alt-J: An Awesome Wave |work=Pitchfork |date=28 September 2012 |accessdate=28 September 2012 |last=Snapes |first=Laura }}
| rev8 = PopMatters
| rev8score = 8/10{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/163416-alt-j-an-awesome-wave/ |title=Alt-J: An Awesome Wave |work=PopMatters |date=27 September 2012 |accessdate=20 December 2014 |first=Geoff |last=Nelson}}
| rev9 = Q
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |title=Alt-J: An Awesome Wave |journal=Q |issue=312 |date=July 2012 |page=95}}
| rev10 = Rolling Stone
| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Alt-J: An Awesome Wave |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=20 December 2012 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |page=106}}
}}
An Awesome Wave received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 71, based on 20 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Jenny Stevens of NME felt that "the charm of Alt-J's musical scatterbrain is that it works", describing the album as "on the surface... smart alt-pop" while noting that the band "have messed with the formula just enough to make this a brilliantly disquieting debut" and that "in refusing to submit to the rigours of a genre, they might just have made themselves masters of their own." Andy Baber of musicOMH praised the band's ability to mix different musical styles and instruments on the album without coming off as forced or over-complicated.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/%E2%88%86-alt-j-an-awesome-wave |title=∆ (Alt-J) – An Awesome Wave |publisher=musicOMH |date=28 May 2012 |accessdate=12 September 2012 |last=Baber |first=Andy}} Similarly, BBC Music's Jen Long wrote that An Awesome Wave "spans every workable idea, genre, and influence that can be crammed under the guitar music umbrella, yet it never feels disorientating" and called it an "entirely comprehendible and accessible collection of beautiful pop songs."{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/mvm5 |title=Review of Alt-J – An Awesome Wave |publisher=BBC Music |date=21 May 2012 |accessdate=12 September 2012 |last=Long |first=Jen}}
Ruth Singleton of Drowned in Sound described An Awesome Wave as "a beautifully rounded, awesome debut album" and said that "whatever Alt-J were aiming for with their debut album, they have managed to prove their value as talented musicians, literary enthusiasts and imagery aficionados."{{cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/17093/reviews/4145141 |title=Album Review: Alt-J – An Awesome Wave |work=Drowned in Sound |date=26 June 2012 |accessdate=12 September 2012 |last=Singleton |first=Ruth |archive-date=19 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919083206/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/17093/reviews/4145141 |url-status=dead }} Joe Zadeh of Clash praised the band as "young, yet somehow void of naivety."{{cite journal |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/alt-j-an-awesome-wave |title=Alt-J – An Awesome Wave |journal=Clash |date=28 May 2012 |accessdate=20 December 2014 |last=Zadeh |first=Joe}} Jon O'Brien of AllMusic felt that the album was "occasionally guilty of pretentiousness", but that its "eclectic arrays of sound are woven together in a manner so effortlessly that the results never feel forced or contrived." In a more negative assessment, Mojo felt that the band "aim for 'cryptic experimental pop' but hit 'pompous whimsy'" and that "the whole album is uncertain and unconvincing".{{cite news |title=Alt-J: An Awesome Wave |work=Mojo |date=July 2012 |page=94}} Laura Snapes of Pitchfork referred to the songs as "draining, elongated MOR tunes".
Commercial performance
An Awesome Wave entered the UK Albums Chart at number nineteen on sales of 6,720 copies.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/official-charts-analysis-gary-barlow-lp-sells-40k/049099 |title=Official Charts Analysis: Gary Barlow LP sells 40k |work=Music Week |publisher=Intent Media |date=3 June 2012 |accessdate=21 December 2012}} After winning the Mercury Prize, the album reached a new peak position of number thirteen, selling 13,527 copies.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-albums-chart-analysis-adele-s-21-leaves-top-30-after-92-weeks/052422 |title=Official Albums Chart Analysis: Adele's 21 leaves Top 30 after 92 weeks |work=Music Week |publisher=Intent Media |date=5 November 2012 |accessdate=21 December 2012 |archive-date=21 September 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140921095502/http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-albums-chart-analysis-adele-s-21-leaves-top-30-after-92-weeks/052422 |url-status=dead }}{{subscription required}} On 2 August 2013, the album was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments in excess of 300,000 units in the UK.
In Canada, the album debuted at number thirty on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 1,800 copies.{{Cite web|url=http://ajournalofmusicalthings.com/weekly-music-sales-report-analysis-02-october-2014/|title = Weekly Music Sales Report and Analysis: 02 October 2014 - Alan Cross|date = 3 October 2014}}
An Awesome Wave first charted in America on 6 October 2012, initially entering at #134. On 4 May 2013, seven months later, An Awesome Wave achieved its peak position of #80.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = An Awesome Wave track listing
| all_writing = Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, Gwilym Sainsbury and Thom Green
| total_length = 48:40
| title1 = Intro
| length1 = 2:37
| title2 = ❦
| note2 = The Ripe & Ruin
| length2 = 1:12
| title3 = Tessellate
| length3 = 3:02
| title4 = Breezeblocks
| length4 = 3:47
| title5 = ❦
| note5 = Guitar
| length5 = 1:17
| title6 = Something Good
| length6 = 3:38
| title7 = Dissolve Me
| length7 = 3:59
| title8 = Matilda
| length8 = 3:48
| title9 = Ms
| length9 = 3:59
| title10 = Fitzpleasure
| length10 = 3:39
| title11 = ❦
| note11 = Piano
| length11 = 0:53
| title12 = Bloodflood
| length12 = 4:09
| title13 = Taro
| length13 = 12:40
| note13 = "Taro" ends at 5:03; hidden track "Hand-Made" starts at 10:08 following 5:05 of silence
}}
On CD, "Hand-Made" is on the same track as "Taro", separated by several minutes of silence. It is not on the vinyl, however is included as a hidden track within "Taro" when downloaded with the included download code.
{{Track listing
| headline = iTunes Store deluxe edition bonus tracks{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/awesome-wave-deluxe-version/id569664462 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517021729/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/awesome-wave-deluxe-version/id569664462 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2014 |title=An Awesome Wave (Deluxe Version) by Alt-J (∆) |date=25 May 2012 |publisher=iTunes Store UK. Apple |accessdate=10 December 2012}}
| title15 = Breezeblocks
| note15 = Alt-J vs. NOC// Mix
| length15 = 3:06
| title16 = Breezeblocks
| note16 = B-JU Remix
| length16 = 3:59
| title17 = Breezeblocks
| note17 = Rockdaworld Remix
| length17 = 4:41
| title18 = Breezeblocks
| note18 = Submerse Remix
| length18 = 5:06
| title19 = Breezeblocks
| note19 = Tom Vek's SFX Remix
| length19 = 5:18
| title20 = Fitzpleasure
| note20 = bretonLABS Remix
| length20 = 4.23
| title21 = Fitzpleasure
| note21 = Dave Sitek Remix
| length21 = 3:18
| title22 = Fitzpleasure
| note22 = Jim James 'Apple C' Remix
| length22 = 4:20
| title23 = Fitzpleasure
| note23 = The Internet of Odd Future Remix
| length23 = 4:30
| title24 = Matilda
| note24 = Ghostpoet 'Gang Panang Adlit' Remix
| length24 = 3:49
| title25 = Something Good
| note25 = BlackBox Remix
| length25 = 6:29
| title26 = Something Good
| note26 = Fort Romeau Remix
| length26 = 4:36
| title27 = Something Good
| note27 = The Invisible BMC Remix
| length27 = 5:08
| title28 = Something Good
| note28 = Tong & Rogers Remix
| length28 = 8:22
| title29 = Tessellate
| note29 = Anstam Remix
| length29 = 3:58
| title30 = Tessellate
| note30 = Ben De Vries Remix
| length30 = 4:06
| title31 = Tessellate
| note31 = BlackBox Remix
| length31 = 5:55
| title32 = Tessellate
| note32 = Broadbandits Afro Mix
| length32 = 5:27
| title33 = Tessellate
| note33 = Dam Mantle Remix
| length33 = 6:17
| title34 = Tessellate
| note34 = Marlais Remix
| length34 = 3:53
| title35 = Fitzpleasure
| note35 = Live from the Africa Centre 14.04.12
| length35 = 4:03
| title36 = Taro
| note36 = Live from the Africa Centre 14.04.12
| length36 = 4:23
| title37 = Tessellate
| note37 = Live from the Africa Centre 14.04.12
| length37 = 4:26
| title38 = Bloodflood
| note38 = SARM Acoustic Version
| length38 = 3:33
| title39 = Matilda
| note39 = SARM Acoustic Version
| length39 = 3:59
| title40 = Something Good
| note40 = SARM Acoustic Version
| length40 = 3:39
| title41 = Tessellate
| note41 = SARM Acoustic Version
| length41 = 3:02
| title42 = Breezeblocks
| note42 = music video
| length42 = 3:47
| title43 = Tessellate
| note43 = music video
| length43 = 3:01
| title44 = Something Good
| note44 = music video
| length44 = 3:39
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of An Awesome Wave.{{cite AV media notes |title=An Awesome Wave |type=liner notes |others=Alt-J |publisher=Infectious Music |year=2012 |id=INFECT134CD}}
- Charlie Andrew – production
- Dick Beetham – mastering
- Mark Bishop – production ("Hand-Made")
- European Space Agency – cover photo provider
- Rachael Lander – cello ("Taro")
- Kirsty Mangan – string arrangements (all tracks); violin ("Tessellate", "Taro")
- St Ronan's Chamber Choir – additional vocals ("Bloodflood", "Taro")
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2012–2013)
!scope="col"|Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|9|artist=Alt-J|album=An Awesome Wave|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| scope="row"|Australian Dance Albums (ARIA){{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue1198.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20130219032800/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20130219-1428/Issue1198.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-19 |title=ARIA Dance – Week Commencing 11th February 2013 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Australian Web Archive |page=17 |accessdate=29 December 2013}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|2 |
| {{album chart|Flanders|17|artist=Alt-J|album=An Awesome Wave|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|51|artist=Alt-J|album=An Awesome Wave|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Denmark|34|artist=Alt-J|album=An Awesome Wave|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|18|artist=Alt-J|album=An Awesome Wave|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|France|45|artist=Alt-J|album=An Awesome Wave|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland2|11|artist=Alt-J|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| scope="row"|Irish Independent Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240007&arch=t&lyr=2012&year=2012&week=45 |title=Top 10 Independent Artist Albums, Week Ending 8 November 2012 |publisher=Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association |accessdate=21 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413060509/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240007&arch=t&lyr=2012&year=2012&week=45 |archive-date=13 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}
|1 |
| {{album chart|Italy|97|artist=Alt-J|album=An Awesome Wave|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|24|artist=Alt-J|album=An Awesome Wave|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|17|date=20121104|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|39|artist=Alt-J|album=An Awesome Wave|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|13|date=20121104|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| scope="row"|UK Indie Albums (OCC){{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20121111/131/ |title=2012 Top 40 Independent Albums Archive |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=17 November 2012 |accessdate=21 December 2012}}
|1 |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|80|artist=Alt-J|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardAlternative|15|artist=Alt-J|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|23|artist=Alt-J|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 December 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2020)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2020&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2020|publisher=Ultratop|accessdate=20 December 2020}}
|173 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2021)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2021&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2021|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=5 January 2022}}
|162 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2022)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2022&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2022|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=14 January 2023}}
| 178 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2023)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2023&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2023|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=7 January 2024}}
| 162 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|certyear=2014|access-date=28 August 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Alt-J|title=An Awesome Wave|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|certyear=2013|access-date=11 February 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Alt-J|title=An Awesome Wave|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|certyear=2022|access-date=5 June 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Alt-J|title=An Awesome Wave|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|certyear=2018|access-date=21 October 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Alt-J|title=An Awesome Wave|award=Platinum|type=album|date=2 August 2013|access-date=7 August 2013|salesamount=384,346|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-ed-sheeran-s-back-at-no-1/068748|title=Official Charts Analysis: Ed Sheeran's ÷ back at No.1
|publisher=Music Week |date=9 June 2017|access-date=11 April 2018}}|id=8875-2431-2|refname=BPI}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=An Awesome Wave|artist=Alt-J|certyear=2023|award=Platinum|relyear=2014|access-date=9 March 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=yes}}
Release history
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|443194}}
{{Alt-J (∆)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Awesome Wave}}
Category:Albums produced by Charlie Andrew
Category:Atlantic Records albums