Forevher
{{Short description|2019 album by Shura}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Forevher
| type = studio
| artist = Shura
| cover = Shura - Forevher.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2019|08|16|df=yes}}
| recorded =
| studio = * Hush Hush Studios (London)
- RAK Studios (London)
| genre = {{hlist|Electropop|pop|}}
| length = 44:00
| label = Secretly Canadian
| producer = {{hlist|Shura|Joel Pott}}
| prev_title = Nothing's Real
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = I Got Too Sad for My Friends
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Forevher
| type = studio
| single1 = Bklynldn
| single2 = Religion (u can lay your hands on me)
| single3 = The Stage
}}
}}
Forevher (stylized in lowercase) is the second studio album by the English musician Shura. It was released on 16 August 2019 by American independent record label Secretly Canadian. The album follows Shura's critically acclaimed debut album, Nothing's Real (2016). The album artwork of Forevher is a reference to the 1882 marble sculpture The Kiss, by French sculptor Auguste Rodin.{{cite web |last1=Minsker |first1=Evan |last2=Strauss |first2=Matthew |date=12 June 2019 |title=Shura Announces New Album forevher, Shares New Song |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/shura-announces-new-album-forevher-shares-new-song-listen/ |access-date=13 August 2019 |work=Pitchfork |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629010313/https://pitchfork.com/news/shura-announces-new-album-forevher-shares-new-song-listen/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Spruch, Kirsten |date=12 June 2019 |title=Shura Announces New Album 'Forevher,' Drops Cinematic 'Religion' Video: Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8515596/shura-announces-forevher-album-religion-video |access-date=13 August 2019 |work=Billboard |archive-date=August 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813222249/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8515596/shura-announces-forevher-album-religion-video |url-status=live }}
The album was preceded by three singles: "Bklynldn", "Religion (U Can Lay Your Hands on Me)" and "The Stage". "Religion" was supported by a music video; directed by Chloe Wallace.
A deluxe edition of the album was released on 26 March 2021, which contained three new tracks, one demo previously released on Bandcamp in 2020 and five acoustic versions of songs that appeared on the standard edition. A music video was released on 17 February 2021 to accompany one of the deluxe tracks "Obsession".
Composition
Forevher has been described as spacey, super-melodic, immaculately produced pop.{{cite web |date=2019-08-18 |title=Shura: Forevher review – airy summer jams |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/18/shura-forevher-review-religion |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401164621/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/18/shura-forevher-review-religion |url-status=live }} It is primarily an electropop{{Cite web |title=Shura – 'forevher' review |url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/album-reviews/shura-forevher-album-review/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Crack Magazine |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404181224/https://crackmagazine.net/article/album-reviews/shura-forevher-album-review/ |url-status=live }} and pop record featuring elements of R&B,{{Cite web |date=2019-08-12 |title=Shura - Forevher {{!}} Album Reviews |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=musicOMH |language=en-GB |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401170124/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher |url-status=live }} funk,{{Cite web |title=Shura – Forevher – Album review |url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/shura-forevher/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Loud And Quiet |language=en-US |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929063948/https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/shura-forevher/ |url-status=live }} psychedelic pop,{{Cite web |date=2019-08-21 |title=Shura’s ‘forevher’ Is an Earnest Depiction of Nascent Love, PopMatters |url=https://www.popmatters.com/shura-forevher-review-2639919651.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=PopMatters |language=en-US |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404181315/https://www.popmatters.com/shura-forevher-review-2639919651.html |url-status=live }} and soul.{{Cite web |title=Shura: forevher |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107235909/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher/ |url-status=live }}
Critical reception
Forevher received critical acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 83, based on 15 reviews.{{cite web |title=Forevher by Shura Reviews and Tracks |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/forevher/shura |access-date=3 October 2020 |website=Metacritic |archive-date=July 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723203727/https://www.metacritic.com/music/forevher/shura |url-status=live }} Aimee Cliff of Pitchfork stated that Forevher is "looser, livelier and more ecstatic than her debut, detailing the headlong rush of falling in love"; whilst also noting "string flutters mimicking skipped heartbeats, and basslines settling into deep, well-worn grooves." Callum Bains of PopMatters viewed Forevher as an "enjoyably varied album of catchy dance songs, summer jams, and introspective ballads." John Murphy of musicOMH described the sound of the album as "laid-back funk", concluding that the album "is the sound of a woman happy, in love, and going from strength to strength as a songwriter". Writing for NME, El Hunt comments that the record "queers up and skewers the traditional love song, beautifully articulating the giddiness of romance", adding that it "has the feel of a wonkily altered classic, drifting from warm blue pop that colours the sleeve, to quieter interludes."{{Cite web |date=2019-08-16 |title=Shura – 'Forevher' album review |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/shura-forevher-album-review-2538886 |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810053357/https://www.nme.com/reviews/shura-forevher-album-review-2538886 |url-status=live }} Sophia Simon-Bashall of The Line of Best Fit remarked that the record is "equally insular and nostalgic", adding that the content "feels like an endless dreamscape". They conclude that "Shura has created something hopeful and delightfully light" in Forevher, "setting it apart from much of pop's current offerings."{{Cite web |title=Shura’s forevher is a boldly romantic, optimistic triumph of a second album |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher-album-review |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808031538/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher-album-review |url-status=live }}
=Accolades=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Publication
! scope="col"| Accolade ! scope="col"| Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| {{sortname|The|Independent}}
| The 50 Best Albums Of 2019 | align="center"| 29 |
| scope="row"| The Line of Best Fit
| The Best Albums of 2019 Ranked | align="center"| 32 |
| scope="row"| Albumism
| The 50 Best Albums of 2019 | align="center"| 37 |
| scope="row"| Rough Trade
| Albums Of The Year - 2019 | align="center"| 50 |
{{Album ratings
| MC = 83/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/forevher/shura|title=Forevher by Shura Reviews and Tracks|website=Metacritic|accessdate=3 October 2020|archive-date=July 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723203727/https://www.metacritic.com/music/forevher/shura|url-status=live}}
| rev1 = Albumism
| rev2 = AllMusic
| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/forevher-mw0003290632|title=Forevher - Shura|website=AllMusic|accessdate=3 October 2020|archive-date=September 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917100957/https://www.allmusic.com/album/forevher-mw0003290632|url-status=live}}
| rev3 = Clash
| rev3score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/shura-forevher|title=Shura - forevher|first=Charlie|last=Barnes|website=Clash|date=16 August 2019|accessdate=3 October 2020|archive-date=August 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816172557/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/shura-forevher|url-status=live}}
| rev4 = DIY
| rev4score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2019/08/16/shura-forevher|title=Shura - forevher|first=Kate|last=Lismore|website=DIY|date=16 August 2019|accessdate=3 October 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028003421/https://diymag.com/2019/08/16/shura-forevher|url-status=live}}
| rev5 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev5score = 9/10{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher-album-review|title=Shura's forevher is a boldly romantic, optimistic triumph of a second album|first=Sophia|last=Simon-Bashall|website=The Line of Best Fit|date=14 August 2019|accessdate=3 October 2020|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808031538/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher-album-review|url-status=live}}
| rev6 = Loud and Quiet
| rev6score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/shura-forevher/|title=Shura – Forevher – Album review|first=Megan|last=Wallace|website=Loud and Quiet|date=13 August 2019|accessdate=3 October 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929063948/https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/shura-forevher/|url-status=live}}
| rev7 = NME
| rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/shura-forevher-album-review-2538886|title=Shura – 'Forevher' album review|first=El|last=Hunt|website=NME|date=16 August 2019|accessdate=3 October 2020|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810053357/https://www.nme.com/reviews/shura-forevher-album-review-2538886|url-status=live}}
| rev8 = Pitchfork
| rev8score = 7.8/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher/|title=Shura: forevher Album Review|first=Aimee|last=Cliff|website=Pitchfork|date=15 August 2019|accessdate=3 October 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107235909/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/shura-forevher/|url-status=live}}
| rev9 = The Skinny
| rev9score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/shura-forevher|title=Shura album review: forevher|first=Jemima|last=Skala|website=The Skinny|date=13 August 2019|accessdate=3 October 2020|archive-date=August 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813203602/https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/shura-forevher|url-status=live}}
| rev10 = Sputnikmusic
| rev10score = 4.3/5{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/80030/Shura-forevher/|title=Review: Shura - forevher|website=Sputnikmusic|date=17 August 2019|accessdate=3 October 2020}}
}}
Track listing
- All tracks produced by Shura and Joel Pott.
- All track titles are stylized in all lowercase, except track 5, whose title is stylized in all uppercase.
{{Track listing
| total_length = 44:00
| title1 = That's Me, Just a Sweet Melody
| writer1 = {{hlist|Aleksandra Lilah Denton|William Philips}}
| extra1 =
| length1 = 1:12
| title2 = Side Effects
| writer2 = {{hlist|Denton|Joel Laslett Pott}}
| extra2 =
| length2 = 4:14
| title3 = Religion (U Can Lay Your Hands on Me)
| writer3 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott|Luke Saunders}}
| extra3 =
| length3 = 4:07
| title4 = The Stage
| writer4 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott|Orlando Higginbottom}}
| extra4 =
| length4 = 4:37
| title5 = Bklynldn
| writer5 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott}}
| extra5 =
| length5 = 4:01
| title6 = Tommy
| writer6 = {{hlist|Denton|Higginbottom}}
| extra6 =
| length6 = 4:16
| title7 = Princess Leia
| writer7 = {{hlist|Denton|Jono Ma|Saunders}}
| extra7 =
| length7 = 3:43
| title8 = Flyin'
| writer8 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott}}
| extra8 =
| length8 = 3:37
| title9 = Forever
| writer9 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott}}
| extra9 =
| length9 = 3:56
| title10 = Control
| writer10 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott}}
| extra10 =
| length10 = 5:00
| title11 = Skyline, Be Mine
| writer11 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott}}
| extra11 =
| length11 = 5:17
}}{{Track listing
| headline = Forevher {{nobold|– Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)}}
| title1 = magazine launch - demo
| length1 = 0:58
| writer1 = {{hlist|Pott|Denton}}
| extra1 =
| title2 = elevator girl ft. Ivy Sole
| length2 = 3:26
| writer2 = {{hlist|Ivy Sole|Denton}}
| extra2 =
| title3 = obsession
| length3 = 3:31
| writer3 = {{hlist|Denton|Jennifer Decilveo| Rosie Lowe}}
| extra3 =
| title4 = t-shirt
| length4 = 3:46
| writer4 = {{hlist|Higginbottom|Denton}}
| extra4 =
| title5 = side effects - acoustic
| length5 = 3:58
| writer5 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott}}
| extra5 =
| title6 = religion (u can lay your hands on me) - acoustic
| length6 = 4:25
| writer6 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott|Saunders}}
| extra6 =
| title7 = the stage - acoustic
| length7 = 4:42
| writer7 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott|Higginbottom}}
| extra7 =
| title8 = Bklynldn - acoustic
| length8 = 3:26
| writer8 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott}}
| extra8 =
| title9 = forever - acoustic
| length9 = 3:43
| writer9 = {{hlist|Denton|Pott}}
| extra9 =
| total_length = 75:50
}}
Personnel
= Musicians =
- Shura – synthesizers {{small|(track 5)}}; programming {{small|(tracks 1, 5, 8)}}; vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 1, 5, 10)}}; guitar {{small|(track 6)}}; percussion {{small|(tracks 3, 4, 10, 11)}}
- Joel Laslett Pott – guitar {{small|(tracks 2–11)}}; synthesizers {{small|(tracks 2–11)}}; programming {{small|(all tracks)}}; backing vocals {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 9)}}; percussion {{small|(tracks 2–5, 8–11)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 9)}}; synth bass {{small|(tracks 4, 6, 7)}}; Mellotron {{Small|(tracks 2, 4, 10)}}; Wurlitzer {{Small|(track 7)}}
- Luke Saunders – synthesizers {{small|(tracks 3, 11)}}; guitar {{small|(tracks 3, 4, 11)}}; backing vocals {{small|(tracks 4, 5)}}
- Liam Hutton – drums {{small|(tracks 2–5, 8–11)}}
- Axel Ekermann – bass {{small|(tracks 2–5, 8–11)}}
- Rosie Lowe – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 2, 5–9)}}
- Kerry Leatham – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 6, 8, 9)}}
- Reva Gauntlett – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 6, 8)}}
- Pauline Le Mell – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 5, 8)}}
- Daniel Moyer – programming {{small|(track 3)}}
- Peter Gordon – saxophone {{small|(tracks 5, 8)}}
- Jonny Pilcher – strings arrangement {{small|(tracks 5, 8)}}; piano {{small|(track 6)}}
- Will Miller – trumpet and horns arrangement {{small|(track 6)}}
- Jono Ma – synthesizers, percussion {{small|(track 11)}}
- Orlando Higginbottom – piano {{small|(track 4)}}
= Technical =
- Shura – production
- Joel Laslett Pott – production, recording engineering
- Daniel Moyer – recording engineering
- Jono Ma – recording engineering, additional production {{small|(track 11)}}
- Tom Archer – production assistance {{small|(tracks 2, 3, 5–10)}}
- Jamie McEvoy – production assistance {{small|(track 10)}}
- Marta Salogni – mixing
- Heba Kadry – mastering
- Nathanael Graham – assistance (tape recording) {{small|(track 6)}}
= Artwork =
- Hollie Fernando – photography
- Ellen Blocksidge – modelling
- Milly Cope – modelling
- Katie Evans – printing
- Miles Johnson – design
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Scotland|32|date=20190823|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 August 2019}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|61|date=20190823|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 August 2019}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|44|date=20190831|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 April 2022}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|19|date=20190831|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 April 2022}} |