Live Forever (Bartees Strange album)

The album was recorded in a barn studio in Wassaic, New York, and mastered by American producer Will Yip.{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/bartees_strange_officially_announces_debut_album_shares_video_for_new_song_/|title=Bartees Strange Officially Announces Debut Album; Shares Video for New Song "Boomer"|work=Under the Radar|last=Roberts|first=Christopher|date=August 12, 2020|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}

On July 23, 2020, Strange released the first single from the album "Mustang".{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/bartees-strange/listen-to-bartees-stranges-new-single-mustang/|title=Bartees Strange Shares New Single "Mustang"|work=Paste|last=Chelosky|first=Danielle|date=July 23, 2020|accessdate=December 6, 2020}} The single has been described as "something of an indie rock anthem wrapped up in mesmerizing synths, catchy riffs and bombastic vocals." The music video was shot at Bartees Strange's apartment in Washington DC, with director Drew Horen.{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/bartees_strange_tentatively_announces_new_album_shares_video_for_new_song_m/|title=Bartees Strange Tentatively Announces New Album; Shares Video for New Song "Mustang"|work=Under the Radar|last=Small|first=Samantha|date=July 23, 2020|accessdate=December 6, 2020}} It was also featured as the Top 8 Best Song of the week by Paste on July 24, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-songs/best-songs-of-the-week-bartees-strange-fenne-lily-1/|title=The Best Songs of the Week|work=Paste|last=Manno|first=Lizzie|date=July 24, 2020|accessdate=December 6, 2020}} and Top 9 Songs of the Week by Under the Radar.{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/9_best_songs_of_the_week_madeline_kenney_metz_bartees_strange_taylor_swift_/|title=9 Best Songs of the Week: Madeline Kenney, METZ, Bartees Strange, Taylor Swift, and More|work=Under the Radar|last=Roberts|first=Christopher|date=July 24, 2020|accessdate=December 6, 2020}}

On August 12, 2020, Strange announced the release of his debut album, along with the second single "Boomer".{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/bartees-strange/bartees-strange-debut-album-live-forever/#album-artwork-live-forever|title=Bartees Strange Announces Debut Album 'Live Forever,' Shares New Single|work=Paste|last=Meyer|first=Jack|date=August 12, 2020|accessdate=December 6, 2020}} The single has been described "a tight indie rock track driven by jangly guitars" while the music video shows Strange performing all the song's instruments from his home studio.

The third single "Kelly Rowland" was released on September 18, 2020.{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/bartees_strange_shares_video_for_new_song_kelly_rowland/|title=Bartees Strange Shares Video for New Song "Kelly Rowland"|work=Under the Radar|last=Roberts|first=Christopher|date=September 18, 2020|accessdate=December 6, 2020}} Along with the deluxe edition, Strange released the new version of the song titled "Free Kelly Rowland" with hip hop group Armand Hammer on October 1, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/indie/bartee-strange-kelly-rowland-armand-hammer-live-forever-deluxe/|title=Bartees Strange's 'Free Kelly Rowland' Features Armand Hammer As Part Of His Deluxe 'Live Forever'|work=Uproxx|date=October 1, 2021|accessdate=October 23, 2021|first=Caitlin|last=White}}

The songs on Live Forever weave in sundry sounds and styles.

"Mustang" works in "infectious" guitar-pop, "sweltering" punk and "hooky" synth-rock. "Boomer" digs into "giddy" blues rock and hip hop verses. "Flagey God" channels experimental rock and witch house while working in "propulsive" dance-pop with a R&B chorus.

Live Forever was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 83 based on 6 reviews. At AnyDecentMusic?, which collates album reviews from websites, magazines and newspapers, they gave the release a 7.7 out of 10, based on a critical consensus of 7 reviews.

Gareth O'Malley of Beats Per Minute wrote: "There’s so much ground covered on Live Forever that its easy to forget that it’s 35 minutes long. Strange’s genreless approach to making music means that its eventual follow-up could explore any of the sonic avenues the album heads down – or something else entirely" Writing for Exclaim!, Adam Feibel explained: "As intriguing as Strange's music already is, Live Forever demonstrates that there's still tremendous potential left to unlock." He went on to say that the release "is itself not quite a masterpiece, but it's a clear picture of someone who's destined for greatness. Bartees Strange is a visionary artist worth watching closely."

{{Tracklist

|headline =Live Forever track listing

|title1=Jealousy

|length1=2:41

|title2=Mustang

|length2=3:54

|title3=Boomer

|length3=3:18

|title4=Kelly Rowland

|length4=1:57

|title5=In a Cab

|length5=2:17

|title6=Stone Meadows

|length6=3:51

|title7=Flagey God

|length7=3:42

|title8=Mossblerd

|length8=1:28

|title9=Far

|length9=4:10

|title10=Fallen for You

|length10=4:09

|title11=Ghostly

|length11=3:57

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Live Forever – deluxe edition bonus tracks

| title4 = Free Kelly Rowland

| note4 = featuring Armand Hammer

| length4 = 3:20

| title12 = Weights

| length12 = 2:36

| title13 = Flagey God Redux

| length13 = 2:39

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Bartees Strange}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2020 debut albums

Category:Bartees Strange albums

Category:Jazz albums by American artists

Category:Jazz rap albums