Not in Chronological Order
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Not In Chronological Order
| type = studio
| artist = Julia Michaels
| cover = Julia Michaels - Not in Chronological Order.png
| border =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2021|4|30}}
| recorded =
| studio = * M&S (Sherman Oaks, California)
- Woodshed Studios and Playpen (Malibu, California)
- EastWest (Hollywood, California)
| genre = Pop
| length = 29:39
| label = Republic
| producer = {{hlist|The Monsters & Strangerz|German|John Ryan|G Koop}}
| prev_title = Inner Monologue Part 2
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Second Self
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Not in Chronological Order
| type = studio
| single1 = Lie Like This
| single1date = October 1, 2020
| single2 = All Your Exes
| single2date = March 26, 2021
| single3 = Love Is Weird
| single3date = April 15, 2021
}}
}}
Not In Chronological Order is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Julia Michaels, released on April 30, 2021, by Republic Records. The album's subject matter centers on themes of love, self reflection and ideal womanhood.
Upon its release, Not in Chronological Order received generally positive reviews. However, the album became Michael's lowest charting release on the Billboard 200, where it reached number 183; Michaels blamed Republic's lack of promotional support for the album as the cause of its lack of success.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-25 |title=Julia Michaels lashes out at label for saying her "album is basically obsolete" |url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/julia-michaels/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=Tone Deaf |language=en-AU}}
Background
Michaels released her debut single "Issues" in 2017, followed by three extended plays (EP), Nervous System (2017), Inner Monologue Part 1 and Inner Monologue Part 2 (both 2019).{{cite web |last=Paul |first=Larisha |title=Julia Michaels Announces Debut Album 'Not in Chronological Order,' Releases New Single 'Love Is Weird' |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/julia-michaels-not-in-chronological-order-album/ |publisher=UDiscover Music |access-date=April 17, 2021 |date=April 16, 2021}} In 2020, she released the single "Lie Like This",{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7914862/julia-michaels-announces-new-single-lie-like-this?view-all|title=Julia Michaels Announces New Single "Lie Like This"|work=Idolator|last=Wass|first=Mike|date=September 25, 2020|access-date=September 26, 2020}} followed by "All Your Exes" and "Love Is Weird" the following year.{{cite tweet|user=juliamichaels|number=1370783201807933442|title=all your exes.... March 26th 🪓⚰ pre-save now 👉 http://JuliaMichaels.lnk.to/allyourexes|date=March 13, 2021|accessdate=March 17, 2021}}{{cite instagram|user=juliamichaels|postid=CNc30QXgWg_|title=Don't know how I wound up here... Love Is Weird 4.15 ❣|date=April 9, 2021|access-date=April 14, 2021}} On April 9, 2021, Women's Wear Daily announced that Michaels would release her debut studio album on April 30.{{cite web |last=Tauer |first=Kristen |title=Julia Michaels Has Already Arrived |url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/julia-michaels-debut-album-christian-cowan-fashion-campaign-all-your-exes1234792154-1234792154/ |website=Women's Wear Daily |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=April 9, 2021}} She confirmed this on April 14, along with the album's name as Not in Chronological Order and its artwork.{{cite instagram|user=juliamichaels|postid=CNp2U3Tg5yW|title=Not In Chronological Order out April 30|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=April 14, 2021}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| MC = 70/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/not-in-chronological-order/julia-michaels/critic-reviews|title=Critic reviews for Not in Chronological Order|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=May 28, 2021}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/not-in-chronological-order-mw0003512584|title = Not in Chronological Order - Julia Michaels {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website = AllMusic}}
| rev2 = Clash
| rev3 = The Forty-Five
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev5 = NME
| rev6 = Rolling Stone
| rev6score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/julia-michaels-not-in-chronological-order-1164375/|title=Julia Michaels Struggles to Make the Transition From Writer to Artist on 'Not in Chronological Order'|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Harris|first=Keith|date=May 4, 2021|access-date=February 27, 2022}}
}}
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 70 out of 100, which indicates "generally favorable reviews" based on 5 reviews. Clash{{'}}s Randy Radic thought Not in Chronological Order is soft in certain parts and "thick with sinew" in others, and equally allows Michaels to showcase her songwriting talent and "charismatic, oh-so-expressive voice".{{cite web |last=Radic |first=Randy |title=Julia Michaels - Not In Chronological Order |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/julia-michaels-not-in-chronological-order |website=Clash |access-date=April 29, 2021 |date=April 29, 2021}} Alexis Petridis of The Guardian considered the album enjoyable and a display of Michaels's talent, but lacking in star quality.{{cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |title=Julia Michaels: Not in Chronological Order review – star songwriter in need of star quality |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/29/julia-michaels-not-in-chronological-order-review |website=The Guardian |access-date=April 29, 2021 |date=April 29, 2021}} Writing for NME, Hannah Mylrea was favorable of its depiction of romance and Michaels's signature one-liners, adding, it "confidently chronicles every dizzying high and crushing blow that love brings – affairs of the heart have, after all, long been Michaels’ specialist songwriting subject".{{cite web |last=Mylrea |first=Hannah |title=Julia Michaels – 'Not in Chronological Order' review: masterful solo debut by pop hitmaker |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/julia-michaels-not-in-chronological-order-review-2929677 |work=NME |access-date=April 29, 2021 |date=April 29, 2021}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Not in Chronological Order track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 29:39
| title1 = All Your Exes
| writer1 = {{hlist|Julia Michaels|JP Saxe|Stefan Johnson|Jordan K. Johnson|Oliver Peterhof}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|The Monsters & Strangerz|German}}
| length1 = 3:29
| title2 = Love Is Weird
| writer2 = {{hlist|Michaels|John Ryan|S. Johnson|J. Johnson|Billy Walsh}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|The Monsters & Strangerz|Ryan}}
| length2 = 2:30
| title3 = Pessimist
| writer3 = {{hlist|Michaels|Ryan|S. Johnson|J. Johnson|Robert Mandell}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|The Monsters & Strangerz|Ryan|G Koop}}
| length3 = 3:18
| title4 = Little Did I Know
| writer4 = {{hlist|Michaels|Saxe}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|The Monsters & Strangerz|German}}
| length4 = 3:16
| title5 = Orange Magic
| writer5 = {{hlist|Michaels|Ryan}}
| extra5 = Ryan
| length5 = 2:54
| title6 = Lie Like This
| writer6 = {{hlist|Michaels|S. Johnson|J. Johnson|Michael Pollack}}
| extra6 = The Monsters & Strangerz
| length6 = 3:38
| title7 = Wrapped Around
| writer7 = {{hlist|Michaels|Ryan|S. Johnson|J. Johnson|Walsh}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|The Monsters & Strangerz|Ryan}}
| length7 = 2:43
| title8 = History
| writer8 = {{hlist|Michaels|Ryan}}
| extra8 = Ryan
| length8 = 2:20
| title9 = Undertone
| writer9 = {{hlist|Michaels|S. Johnson|J. Johnson|Pollack|Matt Zara}}
| extra9 = The Monsters & Strangerz
| length9 = 3:16
| title10 = That's the Kind of Woman
| writer10 = {{hlist|Michaels|S. Johnson|J. Johnson|Pollack}}
| extra10 = The Monsters & Strangerz
| length10 = 2:15
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Target exclusive bonus track{{cite web|url=https://www.target.com/p/julia-michaels-not-in-chronological-order-target-exclusive-cd/-/A-82710106|title=Julia Michaels - Not In Chronological Order (Target Exclusive, CD)|website=Target|access-date=May 2, 2021|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430034810/https://www.target.com/p/julia-michaels-not-in-chronological-order-target-exclusive-cd/-/A-82710106|url-status=live}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length =
| title11 = Lie Like This
| note11 = acoustic
| writer11 = {{hlist|Michaels|S. Johnson|J. Johnson|Pollack}}
| extra11 = The Monsters & Strangerz
| length11 = 3:36
}}
Personnel
Musicians
- Julia Michaels – vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}, background vocals {{small|(5, 9, 10)}}
- JP Saxe – guitar {{small|(1)}}
- German – programming {{small|(1)}}
- The Monsters & Strangerz – programming {{small|(1–3, 6, 9, 10)}}, guitar {{small|(2)}}, keyboards {{small|(2–4, 7, 9, 10)}}
- John Ryan – background vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming {{small|(2, 3, 5, 8)}}; drums, synthesizer programming {{small|(5)}}
- David Campbell – string arranger {{small|(2, 4, 7, 10)}}
- G Koop – guitar {{small|(3)}}
- India Carney – background vocals {{small|(4)}}
- Mario Jose – background vocals {{small|(4)}}
- Michael Pollack – background vocals, keyboards {{small|(6)}}
- Pierre Luc – guitar {{small|(6)}}
- Matt Zara – guitar {{small|(9)}}
- Chris Null – guitar {{small|(10)}}
Technical
- Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
- Serban Ghenea – mixer
- Ben Rice – engineer, vocal producer {{small|(1, 4)}}
- Steve Churchyard – engineer {{small|(2, 4, 7, 10)}}
- John Ryan – engineer, vocal producer {{small|(5, 8)}}
- Jeff Gunnell – engineer {{small|(5, 8)}}
- Stefan Johnson – engineer {{small|(6, 7, 9)}}, vocal producer {{small|(3)}}
- Michael Pollack – engineer, vocal producer {{small|(10)}}
- Gian Stone – vocal producer {{small|(3, 9)}}
- The Monsters & Strangerz – vocal producer {{small|(6, 7, 9)}}
- Bo Bodnar – assistant recording engineer {{small|(2, 4, 7, 10)}}