New Blue Sun
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = New Blue Sun
| type = studio
| artist = André 3000
| cover = André 3000 - New Blue Sun.png
| released = November 17, 2023
| studio = Shangri-La, Malibu, California
| genre = * Ambient
| length = 87:41
| label = Epic
| producer = * André 3000
| prev_title = Look Ma No Hands
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Moving Day
| next_year = 2024
| misc =
}}
New Blue Sun is the debut solo album by American musician André 3000. It was released by Epic Records on November 17, 2023, representing an end to his 17-year hiatus from new material.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/11/14/1212661071/andre-3000-album|title=André 3000 opens up about New Blue Sun, his daring new solo album|last=Carmichael|first=Rodney|website=NPR|date=November 17, 2023|access-date=November 19, 2023}}
The album was produced by André 3000 and Carlos Niño and features instrumental contributions by an ensemble, including André 3000 (flutes), Niño (percussion), Nate Mercereau (guitars), Deantoni Parks (drums), V.C.R. (violin), Surya Botofasina and Diego Gaeta (keyboards), Matthewdavid (mycelial electronics), Jesse Peterson (multi-instruments), and Mia Doi Todd (vocals). New Blue Sun received positive reviews from music critics and was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Alternative Jazz Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, and the opening track, "I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time", was nominated for Best Instrumental Composition.{{cite magazine|last=Atkinson|first=Katie|date=February 2, 2025|title=Here's the 2025 Grammy Awards Winners List|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/grammys-2025-winners-complete-list-1235889365/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 3, 2025}}
Background
In a previous endeavor with a woodwind instrument, André 3000 collaborated with James Blake in 2018 to release a 17-minute long instrumental jazz song called "Look Ma No Hands"; the former played bass clarinet on the track.{{Cite web |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=May 13, 2018 |title=André 3000 Releases 2 New Songs for Mother's Day: Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/andre-3000-releases-2-new-songs-for-mothers-day-listen/ |access-date=April 4, 2024 |website=Pitchfork |archive-date=April 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405015159/https://pitchfork.com/news/andre-3000-releases-2-new-songs-for-mothers-day-listen/ |url-status=live }}
In the years leading up to the release of New Blue Sun, André 3000 made media appearances playing flute in public settings; this was especially amplified online by his appearance as a flautist on the score for the Daniels' 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once. He would later meet with jazz musician Carlos Niño in Los Angeles, where the two agreed to create a studio album.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2023/11/14/andr-3000-announces-new-album-new-blue-sun|title=André 3000 announces new album New Blue Sun|last=Renshaw|first=David|website=The Fader|date=November 14, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023|archive-date=November 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114132915/http://www.thefader.com/2023/11/14/andr-3000-announces-new-album-new-blue-sun|url-status=live}} The song "Tunnels of Egypt" was made during New Blue Sun
As his first solo studio release, and the first studio material of his in a significant period of time, the 87-minute album largely consists of "experimental flute music" with both acoustic and electronic instrumentation, influenced by spiritual jazz musicians and minimalist composers.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/andre-3000-announces-first-solo-album-in-17-years-full-of-flute-music-preorder-3538764|title=André 3000 announces first solo album in 17 years – and it's full of flute music|last=Dunworth|first=Liberty|website=NME|date=November 14, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023|archive-date=November 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114141721/https://www.nme.com/news/music/andre-3000-announces-first-solo-album-in-17-years-full-of-flute-music-preorder-3538764|url-status=live}} It features "a myriad" of different flutes performed by André 3000 in various styles across eight instrumental pieces.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/andre-3000-solo-album-new-blue-sun-announcement-1234877186/|title=André 3000 Debut Solo Album New Blue Sun Is Not What You'd Expect|last=Paul|first=Larisha|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 14, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023|url-access=limited}}
When announcing the album on November 14, 2023, André 3000 emphasized that the project is not "a rap record", with the packaging displaying a lighthearted disclaimer that it contains "no bars";{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2023/11/andre-3000-announces-debut-solo-album-new-blue-sun/|title=André 3000 Announces Debut Solo Album New Blue Sun|last=Harrison|first=Scoop|website=Consequence|date=November 14, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023}} he has additionally dismissed rumors that he was "sitting around on rap albums" that he has been characterized as refusing to release, saying instead that he felt more comfortable with the direction indicated by New Blue Sun.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/outkast-andre-3000-solo-album-new-blue-sun-flute-instrumental-no-rapping-1235471313/|title=OutKast's André 3000 Warns First Album in 17 Years, New Blue Sun, Has 'No Bars', But Tons of Flute|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|magazine=Billboard|date=November 14, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023|archive-date=November 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114151848/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/outkast-andre-3000-solo-album-new-blue-sun-flute-instrumental-no-rapping-1235471313/|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine |date=2023-11-16 |title=André 3000 on His New Album and Life After Outkast: The GQ Video Cover Story |url=https://www.gq.com/story/men-of-the-year-2023-andre-3000-profile |access-date=2023-11-17 |magazine=GQ |language=en-US}}
The album was originally titled Everything Is Too Loud, but was renamed because André 3000 felt that it put out negative energy.{{Cite web |last=Mendez |first=Marisa |date=2023-12-06 |title=André 3000 Reveals Original Title Of 'New Blue Sun' Album |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/andre-3000-original-title-new-blue-sun |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 77/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/new-blue-sun/andre-3000/critic-reviews|title=New Blue Sun by André 3000 Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=November 20, 2023}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Fred |title=André 3000 – New Blue Sun Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/new-blue-sun-mw0004142206 |access-date=November 20, 2023 |website=AllMusic |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117042323/https://www.allmusic.com/album/new-blue-sun-mw0004142206 |url-status=live }}
| rev2 = Clash
| rev2score = 6/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/andre-3000-new-blue-sun/|magazine=Clash|title=André 3000 – New Blue Sun|date=November 17, 2023|access-date=November 20, 2023|last=Murray|first=Robin|archive-date=November 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117160524/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/andre-3000-new-blue-sun/|url-status=live}}
| rev3 = Evening Standard
| rev3score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{Cite news |last=Smyth |first=David |date=November 17, 2023 |title=André 3000 – New Blue Sun: rap? pop? Nope, experimental flute (really) |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/andre-3000-outkast-solo-album-new-blue-sun-review-b1121003.html |access-date=November 20, 2023 |newspaper=Evening Standard |language=en |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119203736/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/andre-3000-outkast-solo-album-new-blue-sun-review-b1121003.html |url-status=live }}
| rev4 = HipHopDX
| rev4score = 4.1/5{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Dash |date=November 25, 2023 |title=Andre 3000 Surprises & Delights On Unexpected 'New Blue Sun' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/andre-3000-new-blue-sun-album-review |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=HipHopDX |language=en |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128180615/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/andre-3000-new-blue-sun-album-review |url-status=live }}
| rev5 = MusicOMH
| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web |last=Devlin |first=Ben |date=November 23, 2023 |title=André 3000 - New Blue Sun {{!}} Album Reviews |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/andre-3000-new-blue-sun |access-date=November 23, 2023 |website=MusicOMH |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123150333/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/andre-3000-new-blue-sun |url-status=live }}
| rev6 = The Observer
| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Damien |date=November 26, 2023 |title=André 3000: New Blue Sun review – immersive and out there |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/26/andre-3000-new-blue-sun-review-immersive-and-out-there-flute-album |access-date=November 27, 2023 |issn=0029-7712 |archive-date=November 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126183753/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/26/andre-3000-new-blue-sun-review-immersive-and-out-there-flute-album |url-status=live }}
| rev7 = Paste
| rev7score = 8.3/10{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/andre-3000/new-blue-sun-andre-3000-review|title=New Blue Sun Heralds a Bold New Direction for André 3000|author=Kriticos, Christian|date=November 19, 2023|publisher=Paste|access-date=December 15, 2024}}
| rev8 = Pitchfork
| rev8score = 8.3/10{{Cite web |last=Sartini Garner |first=Sadie |date=November 20, 2023 |title=André 3000: New Blue Sun Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/andre-3000-new-blue-sun/ |access-date=November 20, 2023 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120053952/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/andre-3000-new-blue-sun/ |url-status=live }}
| rev9 = Spill
| rev10 = The Times
| rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Hodgkinson |first=Will |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Andre 3000: New Blue Sun review - From OutKast hero to flute jazzer |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/andre-3000-new-blue-sun-album-review-7f3cftw28 |access-date=November 20, 2023 |website=The Times |url-access=subscription |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120151739/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/andre-3000-new-blue-sun-album-review-7f3cftw28 |url-status=live }}
}}
New Blue Sun was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 77, based on ten reviews.
Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Sadie Sartini Garner described it as an "87-minute devotional to new age, ambient jazz, and spiritual discovery. It's beautiful, demanding, and among the most fascinating artistic left turns in recent memory". Clash{{'}}s Robin Murray called it "relaxing, occasionally absorbing, and often explicitly beautiful" and an album that "hinges on André's love for melody and his questing spirit".
Fred Thomas of AllMusic wrote that "if you can get past the premise (and overlook the goofy song titles, most of which are too long and silly to dignify here) and tune in to New Blue Sun as an album of contemplative healing sounds, it's pleasant and sometimes even sublime". David Smyth of the Evening Standard asked "Is this really how he's going to reintroduce himself to the music world?" and wrote that it "feels like music from the time when your record shop had a 'New Age' section", calling its songs "long, and peaceful, and deliberately unfocused".
New Blue Sun appeared on year-end lists from Pitchfork and Consequence, who respectively rated it the 50th and 47th best album of 2023.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-albums-2023/|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2023|website=Pitchfork|last=Szatan|first=Gabriel|date=December 5, 2023|access-date=December 6, 2023|archive-date=December 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206155133/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-albums-2023/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2023/12/consequence-50-best-albums-of-2023-list/|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2023 Ranked|work=Consequence|last=Graves|first=W.|date=December 4, 2023|access-date=December 15, 2023|archive-date=December 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229074129/https://consequence.net/2023/12/consequence-50-best-albums-of-2023-list/|url-status=live}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = New Blue Sun track listing
| music1 = {{hlist|André Benjamin|Carlos Niño|Nate Mercereau|Surya Botofasina}}
| length1 = 12:20
| title2 = The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off the Tongue with Far Better Ease Than the Proper Word Vagina. Do You Agree?
| music2 = {{hlist|Benjamin|Niño|Mercereau|Botofasina}}
| length2 = 13:50
| title3 = That Night in Hawaii When I Turned into a Panther and Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn't Control ... Sh¥t Was Wild
| music3 = {{hlist|Benjamin|Niño|Deantoni Parks|Mercereau}}
| length3 = 10:29
| title4 = BuyPoloDisorder's Daughter Wears a 3000® Shirt Embroidered
| music4 = {{hlist|Benjamin|Niño|Mercereau|Botofasina}}
| length4 = 13:05
| title5 = Ninety Three 'Til Infinity and Beyoncé
| music5 = {{hlist|Benjamin|Niño|Diego Gaeta|Matthewdavid|Shabaka Hutchings|V.C.R}}
| length5 = 3:49
| title6 = Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy
| music6 = {{hlist|Benjamin|Niño|Gaeta|Jesse Peterson|Mia Doi Todd}}
| length6 = 10:15
| title7 = Ants to You, Gods to Who?
| music7 = {{hlist|Benjamin|Niño|Gaeta|Peterson|Todd}}
| length7 = 6:42
| title8 = Dreams Once Buried Beneath the Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout into Undying Gardens
| music8 = {{hlist|Benjamin|Niño|Mercereau|Botofasina}}
| length8 = 17:11
| total_length = 87:41
}}
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of New Blue Sun.{{cite AV media notes |title=New Blue Sun |author=André 3000 |year=2023 |type=booklet |publisher=Epic Records}}
Musicians
- Carlos Niño – bells, chimes, cymbals, drums, gong, plants, percussion
- Nate Mercereau – guitar, guitar synth, live sampling (1–4, 8)
- Surya Botofasina – keyboards, synthesizer (1, 2, 4, 8)
- André 3000 – wind controller (1, 2, 5–8), pedals (3–5), contrabass flute (3), "panther toning" (3), flute (4, 5)
- Deantoni Parks – drums (3)
- Diego Gaeta – keyboards, synthesizer (5); piano (6, 7)
- Matthewdavid – mycelial electronics (5)
- Shabaka Hutchings – Shakuhachi (5)
- V.C.R – violin, effects (5)
- Jesse Peterson – bass, sintir, pedals (6, 7)
- Mia Doi Todd – vocals (6, 7)
Technical
- André 3000 – production, mixing
- Carlos Niño – production, mixing
- Ken Oriole – mixing, engineering, recording
- Andy Kravitz – mastering
- Fab Dupont – additional production
Charts
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|3312934|André 3000 – New Blue Sun}}
{{André 3000}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2020s instrumental albums
Category:Albums produced by André 3000