Life of Pause
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Life of Pause
| type = album
| artist = Wild Nothing
| cover = Wild Nothing - Life of Pause.jpg
| alt =
| released = February 19, 2016
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Dream pop|indie pop|space rock}}
| length = 49:38
| label = Captured Tracks (US)
Bella Union (UK)
| producer = Thom Monahan
| prev_title = Empty Estate
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Indigo
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Life of Pause
| type = studio
| single1 = To Know You
| single1date = November 24, 2015
| single2 = TV Queen
| single2date = November 24, 2015
| single3 = Reichpop
| single3date = January 5, 2016
| single4 = A Woman's Wisdom
| single4date = February 9, 2016
}}
}}
Life of Pause is the third studio album by American indie rock act Wild Nothing, released on February 19, 2016 on Captured Tracks and Bella Union. Produced by Thom Monahan, the album was recorded over several weeks in Los Angeles and Stockholm, Sweden, and was preceded by five singles: "To Know You", "TV Queen", "Reichpop", "Life of Pause", and "A Woman's Wisdom".
Recorded mostly by primary member Jack Tatum, the album's aesthetic was influenced by Philly soul.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/62472-wild-nothing-talks-new-album-life-of-pause/|title=Wild Nothing Talks New Album Life of Pause|first=Zoe |last=Camp |work=Pitchfork |publisher=|date=2015-12-11 |accessdate=2016-03-10}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 74/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/life-of-pause/wild-nothing |title=Life of Pause – Wild Nothing |website=Metacritic. CBS Interactive |accessdate=March 26, 2016}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/life-of-pause-mw0002900289 |title= Life of Pause – Wild Nothing |website=AllMusic |date=2016-02-19 |accessdate=2016-03-26}}
| rev2 = Consequence of Sound
| rev2Score = B−{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/02/album-review-wild-nothing-life-of-pause/ |title=Album Review: Wild Nothing - Life of Pause |website=Consequence of Sound |last=Arroyo |first=Steven |date=2016-02-15 |accessdate=2016-03-26}}
| rev3 = Drowned in Sound
| rev3score = 5/10Lucas, Dan. [http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19272/reviews/4149813 Wild Nothing - Life of Pause] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324235244/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19272/reviews/4149813 |date=2016-03-24 }}. Drowned In Sound. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}Aroesti, Rachel. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/18/wild-nothing-life-of-pause-review-calm-competence-and-nigglingly-familiarity Wild Nothing: Life of Pause review – calm competence and nigglingly familiarity]. The Guardian. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
| rev5 = Mojo
| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/life-of-pause/wild-nothing/critic-reviews|title = Life of Pause by Wild Nothing|website = Metacritic}}
| rev6 = musicOMH
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}Baber, Andy. [http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/wild-nothing-life-pause]. musicOMH 13 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7score = 6.5/10Moreland, Quinn. [https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21599-life-of-pause/ Wild Nothing: Life of Pause]. Pitchfork. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
| rev8 = PopMatters
| rev8score = {{Rating|8|10}}King, Ian. [https://www.popmatters.com/review/wild-nothing-life-of-pause/ Wild Nothing: Life of Pause]. PopMatters. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
| rev9 = Q
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/life-of-pause/wild-nothing/critic-reviews|title = Life of Pause by Wild Nothing|website = Metacritic}}
| rev10 = Spin
| rev10score = 7/10Kelly, Zach. [http://www.spin.com/2016/02/review-wild-nothing-life-of-pause/ Review: Wild Nothing Dreams Up a Half-Stoned Picnic on ‘Life of Pause’]. Spin. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
}}
Life of Pause received largely positive reviews 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 74, based on 25 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".
Jessica Goodman of DIY gave the album a favorable review, stating, "‘Life of Pause’ is a departure from expectation. The escapist notions that soared through previous releases are grounded in the record’s lavish production. Where flights of fancy once soared, the melodies are a damnsight more tangible. With tracks so vivid they can practically be tasted, Wild Nothing have lost none of the ability to put a daze upon the senses. Taking an unmistakable euphoria and driving it home, with ‘Life of Pause’ Wild Nothing might have planted their feet firmly on the ground, but that hasn’t stopped Jack Tatum from creating a soundscape straight from your wooziest daydream."Goodman, Jessica. [https://diymag.com/2016/02/19/wild-nothing-life-of-pause-album-review Album Review: Wild Nothing - Life of Pause]. DIY. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
Ben Homewood of NME also praised the album, stating, "Such confident, experimental songwriting points to a rebirth for Wild Nothing, and means ‘Life Of Pause’ can be considered alongside indie records like Tame Impala’s ‘Currents’ and Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s ‘Multi-Love’. Both came out last year, signalling a shift in sound and a significant step forward for their makers. This record should do the same for Jack Tatum."Homewood, Ben. [https://www.nme.com/reviews/wild-nothing/16406 NME Review - Wild Nothing - ‘Life of Pause’]. NME. 01 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
Dan Lucas of Drowned in Sound was more critical of the album, stating, "Life of Pause sounds effortless but not in a good way: it sounds like a de rigueur acclaimed indie album. It sounds like a record that’s designed to be acclaimed and liked but not remembered. The extra spark that made the likes of ‘Chinatown, ‘Paradise’ or ‘The Body in Rainfall’ such magnificent, memorable tracks is missing here. It is hard to criticise such a well-crafted, enjoyable album that appears to have been made specifically with someone like me in mind. The thing is that in six weeks’ time it will be even harder to remember it."
Track listing
{{track listing
| all_writing = Jack Tatum
| headline =
| total_length = 49:38
| title1 = Reichpop
| length1 = 4:51
| title2 = Lady Blue
| length2 = 5:00
| title3 = A Woman's Wisdom
| length3 = 4:09
| title4 = Japanese Alice
| length4 = 2:43
| title5 = Life of Pause
| length5 = 3:06
| title6 = Alien
| length6 = 3:52
| title7 = To Know You
| length7 = 5:56
| title8 = Adore
| length8 = 4:55
| title9 = TV Queen
| length9 = 3:51
| title10 = Whenever I
| length10 = 4:57
| title11 = Love Underneath My Thumb
| length11 = 6:18
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks
| title12 = Above
| length12 = 2:47
| title13 = The Bull
| length13 = 4:01
| total_length = 55:86
}}
Personnel
=Musicians=
- Jack Tatum - vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion
- John Eriksson - drums (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), marimba (1), percussion (1)
- Brad Laner - guitars (1, 4, 7), synth (5), backing vocals (5)
- Thom Monahan - backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11)
- Caitlin Gutenberger - backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11)
- Elroy Finn - drums (2, 9, 10)
- Josh Adams - drums (8, 11)
- Tommy Gardner - saxophone (2, 9, 10)
- Casey Butler - saxophone (2, 11)
- Pelle Jacobsson - marimba (1), percussion (1)
- Tess Shapiro - backing vocals (1, 11)
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Flanders|195|artist=Wild Nothing|album=Life of Pause|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 27, 2016}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|170|artist=Wild Nothing|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 1, 2016}} |