Million Dollars to Kill Me
{{Infobox album
| name = Million Dollars to Kill Me
| type = studio
| artist = Joyce Manor
| cover = File:Million Dollars Joyce Manor.jpg
| alt =
| released = September 21, 2018
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = 22:26
| label = Epitaph
| producer = {{flatlist|
- Kurt Ballou
- Robert Cheeseman
- Rory Allen Phillips
}}
| prev_title = Cody
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = 40 oz. to Fresno
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Million Dollars to Kill Me
| type = studio
| single1 = Million Dollars to Kill Me
| single1date = July 18, 2018
| single2 = Think I'm Still In Love With You
| single2date = August 15, 2018
| single3 = Silly Games
| single3date = September 18, 2018
}}
}}
Million Dollars to Kill Me is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band Joyce Manor, released on September 21, 2018 through Epitaph Records.
Background
The album's title stems from an interview with Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, describing his dark mental state following his 2008 plane crash. The anecdote, which he notes in his memoir Can I Say, recounts when he offered a friend a million dollars to end his suffering. "It just stuck in my head, it's just the opposite of what everyone wants — money and to not die. It's super rock 'n' roll," said frontman Barry Johnson.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/featured/joyce-manor-million-dollars-to-kill-me-interview/|title=In The Garage: Joyce Manor Share The Scenes And Stories Behind Million Dollars To Kill Me|date=August 21, 2018|author=Ian Cohen|website=Stereogum|accessdate=October 11, 2018}}
Million Dollars to Kill Me also marks the band's only album with drummer Pat Ware, also of the group Spraynard.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8476310/joyce-manor-interview-million-dollars-to-kill-me|title=This Is Post-Growing Up: Joyce Manor's Story Gets Boring So Their Songs and Crowds Don't Have To|date=September 21, 2018|author=Andrew Unterberger|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 11, 2018}}
Critical reception
At Metacritic, a site that aggregates reviews from critics, gives the album 75 out of 100 based on 10 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/million-dollars-to-kill-me/joyce-manor | title=Million Dollars to Kill Me by Joyce Manor | website=Metacritic }} Timothy Monger from Allmusic dubbed the album a "thoughtful and overall solid set."{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/million-dollars-to-kill-me-mw0003193113|title=Million Dollars to Kill Me|author=Timothy Monger|website=Allmusic|accessdate=October 11, 2018}} Pitchfork's Larry Fitzmaurice opined that the band's "willingness to expand the subtleties of their sound makes Million Dollars to Kill Me an enthralling listen, even at its lowest points."{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/joyce-manor-million-dollars-to-kill-me/|title=Joyce Manor: Million Dollars to Kill Me|date=September 22, 2018|author=Larry Fitzmaurice|website=Pitchfork|accessdate=October 11, 2018}} For Jenzia Burgos at Paste, she felt it lacked the "narrative depth" of previous records, while building musically to showcase their "slickest power pop yet."{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/09/joyce-manor-million-dollars-to-kill-me-review.html|title=Joyce Manor: Million Dollars To Kill Me Review|date=September 25, 2018|author=Jenzia Burgos|work=Paste|accessdate=October 11, 2018}}
Track listing
{{tracklist
| all_writing = Joyce Manor
| total_length = 22:26
| title1 = Fighting Kangaroo
| length1 = 1:59
| title2 = Think I'm Still In Love with You
| length2 = 2:47
| title3 = Big Lie
| length3 = 2:44
| title4 = I'm Not the One
| length4 = 2:31
| title5 = Million Dollars to Kill Me
| length5 = 2:09
| title6 = Silly Games
| length6 = 2:35
| title7 = Friends We Met Online
| length7 = 2:11
| title8 = Up the Punx
| length8 = 1:33
| title9 = Gone Tomorrow
| length9 = 2:09
| title10 = Wildflowers
| length10 = 1:48
}}
Personnel
- Barry Johnson (vocals and guitar)
- Chase Knobbe (guitar)
- Pat Ware (drums)
- Matt Ebert (bass)
Charts
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://joyce-manor.com/}}
{{Joyce Manor}}
{{Authority control}}