Emily's D+Evolution

The album was co-produced by Spalding and longtime David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti.{{cite news|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/esperanza-spalding-emilys-devolution/|title=Emily's D+Evolution|publisher=PopMatters|first=Will|last=Layman|date=11 March 2016|accessdate=20 March 2016}} On the album, Spalding sings through the alter ego of Emily, which is her middle name.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/18/arts/music/review-esperanza-spalding-recalls-the-creativity-of-youth-in-new-songs.html|title=Review: Esperanza Spalding Recalls the Creativity of Youth in New Songs|first=Nate|last=Chinen|work=New York Times|date=17 May 2015|accessdate=20 March 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2016/03/02/esperanza-spalding-thrills-with-new-album-emily-evolution/hIuhE747UgpXuwMCMhZSfO/story.html|title=Berklee's Esperanza Spalding thrills with new album|work=Boston Globe|first=Maura|last=Johnston|author-link=Maura Johnston |date=3 March 2016|accessdate=20 March 2016}} In an interview, Spalding stated that Emily "is a spirit, or a being, or an aspect who I met, or became aware of. I recognize that my job...is to be her arms and ears and voice and body".

{{Album reviews

| ADM = 7.9/10{{cite web |title=Emily's D+Evolution by Esperanza Spalding reviews {{!}} Any Decent Music |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/7842/Esperanza-Spalding-Emilys-D+Evolution.aspx |website=AnyDecentMusic? |accessdate=3 March 2020}}

| MC = 84/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/emilys-d+evolution/esperanza-spalding/critic-reviews/Metacritic-|title=Emily's D+Evolution by Esperanza Spalding|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=5 April 2017}}

| rev1 = All About Jazz

| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=Mark F. |title=Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/emilys-devolution-esperanza-spalding-concord-music-group-review-by-mark-f-turner.php |website=All About Jazz |accessdate=6 July 2018 |date=April 12, 2016}}

| rev2 = AllMusic

| rev2score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Collar|first=Matt|date=|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/emilys-d-evolution-mw0002911571|title=Emily's D+Evolution|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=14 March 2020}}

| rev3=Exclaim!

| rev3score=7/10{{cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Michael J. |title=Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/esperanza_spalding-emilys_d_evolution |website=Exclaim! |accessdate=6 July 2018 |date=March 2, 2016}}

| rev4=The Guardian

| rev4score={{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=Fordham |first1=John |title=Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution review – unconditionally terrific |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/03/esperanza-spalding-emilys-d-evolution-review |website=The Guardian |accessdate=6 July 2018 |date=3 March 2016}}

| rev5 = Now

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5|full=Red N.png|empty=Blank N.PNG|rating=N}}{{cite web |url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/esperanza-spalding-emilys-evolution/ |title=>>> Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution|first=CHRISTINE |last=CLARKE |work=Now |publisher=Now Communications |date=9 March 2016 |accessdate=6 July 2018}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 8.6/10{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Marcus J.|date=4 March 2016|url=

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21575-emilys-devolution/|title=Emily's D+Evolution|publisher=Pitchfork Media|accessdate=19 March 2016}}

| rev7 = PopMatters

| rev7score = 9/10

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Weingarten|first=Christopher R.|date=4 March 2016|url=

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/esperanza-spalding-emily-s-d-evolution-20160304|title=Emily's D+Evolution|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=12 April 2016}}

| rev9=Stereophile

| rev9score={{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last1=Baird |first1=Robert |title=Recording of June 2016: Emily's D+Evolution |url=https://www.stereophile.com/content/recording-june-2016-emilys-devolution |website=Stereophile |accessdate=6 July 2018 |date=May 17, 2016}}

| rev10 = Tom Hull

| rev10score = B{{cite web |title=Tom Hull: Grade List: Esperanza Spalding |url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=esperanza+spalding | publisher=Tom Hull |accessdate=4 February 2023}}

}}

Emily's D+Evolution received widespread critical acclaim from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 84, based on 14 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".

Marcus J. Moore of Pitchfork Media praised the album, stating, "The lyrics are elusive at first, darting behind fast-moving songs and delivered in impressionistic, conversational bursts that recall the delivery of Joni Mitchell. But the fearless generosity behind them communicates itself loud and clear, and it's a spirit that animates the entire album. With it, Spalding has once again redefined an already singular career, dictating a vision entirely on her own terms". Michael J. Warren of Exclaim! commented, "Emily's D+Evolution is a tough album to get a full grasp on. It's not a neat alter ego side project; rather than going the Chris Gaines route, Esperanza Spalding is again flexing her range, showing that her playing style and voice can find a home in any genre. There are moments here where she falls into a nice pocket that the listener might wish she'd remain in for a little while longer." Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone added, "...Emily’s D+Evolution is a far more ambitious and thornier affair. The lyrics, flowing in disjunctive clusters, are about deleted narratives, glass ceilings and dreams deferred – ultimately a complex, funky prog-rock concept opera about love and identity.

{{tracklist

| all_writing = Esperanza Spalding, except where noted

| headline =

| total_length = 45:44

| title1 = Good Lava

| length1 = 3:38

| title2 = Unconditional Love

| length2 = 3:46

| title3 = Judas

| length3 = 4:10

| title4 = Earth to Heaven

| length4 = 3:52

| title5 = One

| length5 = 3:15

| title6 = Rest in Pleasure

| length6 = 4:59

| title7 = Ebony and Ivy

| length7 = 4:20

| title8 = Noble Nobles

| writer8 = {{hlist|Esperanza Spalding|Corey King}}

| length8 = 3:33

| title9 = Farewell Dolly

| length9 = 2:07

| title10 = Elevate or Operate

| length10 = 4:03

| title11 = Funk the Fear

| length11 = 5:07

| title12 = I Want It Now

| writer12 = {{hlist|Anthony Newley|Leslie Bricusse}}

| length12 = 2:51

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe Edition

| title13 = Change Us

| length13 = 3:57

| title14 = Unconditional Love (Alternate Version)

| length14 = 9:40

}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Emily's D+Evolution.{{cite AV media notes |title=Emily's D+Evolution |type=LP liner notes |others=Esperanza Spalding |publisher=Concord Records |year=2016 |id=CRE-38281-01}}

;Main personnel

• Esperanza Spalding – vocals, bass (tracks 1-11, 13, 14), piano (10, 12), bass synthesizer (12)
• Matthew Stevens – guitar
• Karriem Riggins – drums (2-5, 7, 8, 10, 13), percussion (9)
• Justin Tyson – drums (1, 6, 11, 12, 14)
• Corey King – backing vocals (1, 2, 5-7, 12-14), synthesizer (6), trombone (8), keyboards (12)
• Emily Elbert – backing vocals (1, 6, 11, 12, 14)
• Nadia Washington – backing vocals (2, 5, 7, 13)
• Celeste Butler, Fred Martin, Katriz Trinidad, Kimberly L. Cook-Ratliff – backing vocals (11)

;Additional personnel

• Esperanza Spalding – production
• Tony Visconti – production (2-5, 7-10, 13), mixing (2-5, 7, 9, 10)
• Kyle Hoffman – engineering
• Tim Price – engineering
• Erin Tonkon, Kyle McAulay, Martin Cooke, Nicolas Fournier – assistant engineering
• Rich Costey – mixing (1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13)
• Mario Borgatta – assistant mixing
• Paul Blakemore – mastering
• Lawrence Azerrad – graphics, design
• Holly Andres – photography

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Esperanza Spalding}}

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Category:Esperanza Spalding albums

Category:2016 albums

Category:Albums produced by Tony Visconti