Operator (album)

The album's first single "Little Red Hen" featured on Canadian DJ A-Trak's Beats 1 (now Apple Music 1) radio program on March 5, 2006.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/63956-mstrkrft-share-little-red-hen-first-song-since-2011/|title=MSTRKRFT Share "Little Red Hen," First Song Since 2011|website=Pitchfork|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|date=March 6, 2006|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

The band performed six songs from the album on CBC Music's First Play Live program on July 29, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/firstplaylive/first-play-live-mstrkrft-operator-1.5016454|title=First Play Live: MSTRKRFT, Operator|publisher=CBC Music|last=Maan|first=Reuben|date=July 29, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

On May 13, 2016, the band announced they were releasing their third studio album.{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2016/05/mstrkrft-announce-new-album-operator-share-party-line-listen/|title=MSTRKRFT announce new album, Operator, share 'Party Line'|website=Consequence of Sound|last=Geslani|first=Michelle|date=May 13, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}} Jesse F. Keeler said of the album:

"The Operator concept for us was essential in the creation of the music on this album, but I’m not sure what came first, the title or the idea. While browsing military related websites and blogs, mostly consisting of vets talking to each other like any civilian I suppose, I noticed repeated reference to something they called "operator culture". As we had decided to work entirely with hardware, all our old drum machines and modular synth collection, we had begun to feel more like operators than musicians"{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nme-176-1198776|title=MSTRKRFT announce new album, 'Operator', share 'Party Line'|website=NME|last=McCallum|first=Rob|date=May 13, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

On March 6, 2016, Mstrkrft released "Little Red Hen", the band's first song in five years.{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2016/03/mstrkrft-return-with-first-new-song-in-five-years-little-red-hen-listen/|title=MSTRKRFT return with first new song in five years, 'Little Red Hen'|website=Consequence of Sound|last=Kaye|first=Ben|date=March 7, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

The second single "Party Line" was released on May 13, 2016, alongside the announcement of the album. The official music video, released on May 26, 2016, was directed by Brooks Reynolds and produced by Joe McLaren.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sTZ67ZHwbU|title=MSTRKRFT - Party Line|publisher=YouTube|date=May 26, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

The third single "Priceless" was released on June 9, 2016, and features English musician Sonny Kay.{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2016/06/mstrkrft-let-loose-wild-new-song-priceless-listen/|title=MSTRKRFT let loose wild new song 'Priceless'|website=Consequence of Sound|last=Geslani|first=Michelle|date=June 9, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2016/06/08/mstrkrft-new-track-priceless-listen-premiere|title=Mstrkrft Offer Up New Track 'Priceless'|work=DIY|last=Jamieson|first=Sarah|date=June 8, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}} The music video, released on July 9, 2016, was directed by Nick Sewell.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8CYlvaczI|title=Mstrkrft - Priceless|publisher=YouTube|date=July 9, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

On July 20, 2016, the band released their fourth single "Runaway".{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2016/07/20/mstrkrft-share-new-video-for-runaway|title=MSTRkrft Share new Video for 'Runaway'|work=DIY|last=Richards|first=Will|date=July 20, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

In support of the album, the band went on a North American tour from June 1, 2016 at the U Street Music Hall in Washington, D.C. to June 14, 2016 at The Horseshoe Tavern in Ontario, Canada.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/65447-mstrkrft-announce-new-album-operator-share-new-song-party-line-listen/|title=MSTRKRFT Announce New Album Operator, Share New Song 'Party Line'|website=Pitchfork|last=Yoo|first=Noah|date=May 12, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.themues.com/mstrkrft_uhall2016/|title=Mstrkrft at the U Street Music Hall|website=Themues.com|date=June 3, 2016 |accessdate=March 31, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1876853/mstrkrft-party-line/music/|title=Mstrkrft - Party Line|website=Stereogum|last=Helman|first=Peter|date=May 12, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 5.3/10{{cite web|url=http://anydecentmusic.com/review/8143/MSTRKRFT-Operator.aspx|title=AnyDecentMusic? Review|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

| MC = 55/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/operator/mstrkrft |title=Operator Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=March 31, 2021}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/operator-mw0002951464|title=AllMusic Review|publisher=AllMusic|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|accessdate=}}

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/mstrkrft-operator|title=Clash Magazine Review|work=Clash|last=Gray|first=Josh|date=June 30, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

| rev3 = Consequence of Sound

| rev3score = C−{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2016/07/album-review-mstrkrft-operator/|title=Consequence of Sound Review|website=Consequence of Sound|last=Eustice|first=Kyle|date=July 19, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

| rev4 = DIY

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2016/07/22/mstrkrft-operator-album-review|title=DIY Magazine Review|work=DIY|last=Finn|first=Rachel|date=July 22, 2016 |accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

| rev5 = Drowned in Sound

| rev5score = 5/10{{cite web|url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/19527/reviews/4150234|title=Drowned in Sound Review|website=Drowned in Sound|last=Turner-Heffer|first=Adam|date=July 20, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021|archive-date=June 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621070052/https://drownedinsound.com/releases/19527/reviews/4150234|url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = Exclaim

| rev6score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/mstrkrft-operator|title=Exclaim! Review|website=Exclaim!|last=Keating|first=Daryl|date=July 20, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 6.5/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22117-operator/|title=MSTRKRFT: Operator Album Review |last1=Reese |first1=Nathan |website=Pitchfork Media |date=July 19, 2016 |access-date=March 31, 2021}}

| rev8 = PopMatters

| rev8score = 2/10{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/mstrkrft-operator-2495422162.html|title=PopMatters Review|website=PopMatters|date=July 28, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

}}

Operator was met with "mixed or average" 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 55 based on 18 reviews. At AnyDecentMusic?, the release was given a 5.3 out of 10 based on a critical consensus of 22 reviews.

Writing for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung said the release was the "most difficult listen to date, droning with hypnotic repetition and no outright bangers." He went on to say, "Much of the fun is also gone and listeners are ushered from the EDM arena and into the shadowy back room for much of this affair." Josh Gray at Clash said: "Operator boasts by far the most aggressive, noise-ridden collection of tracks the pair have ever managed to grind out. MSTRKRFT themselves have quit trying to mask anything about their sound or approach, electing instead to deliver the turbo-aggressive noise record they’ve always threatened to make." Kyle Eustice of Consequence of Sound explained: "Operator drags the listener kicking and screaming into what sounds like the soundtrack to the depths of hell, where the only music available is an unrelenting, want-to-bang-your-head-against-the-wall symphony of noise. It's difficult not to imagine Keeler dropping several hits of acid and then zoning out with his synthesizers and 808s. Operator is overpowering enough to make a casual listen impossible and an intense listen painful."

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Jesse F. Keeler and Al-P

| headline = Operator track listing{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/operator/1106425275 |title=Operator by MSTRKRFT |date=July 22, 2016 |publisher=iTunes (US) |access-date=11 October 2018}}

| total_length = 43:13

| title1 = Wrong Glass Sir

| length1 = 5:01

| title2 = Runaway

| length2 = 3:30

| title3 = Little Red Hen

| length3 = 4:16

| title4 = Priceless

| length4 = 3:26

| title5 = Playing with Itself

| length5 = 5:44

| title6 = Party Line

| length6 = 4:20

| title7 = Death in the Gulf Stream

| length7 = 4:20

| title8 = World Peace

| length8 = 3:30

| title9 = Morning of the Hunt

| length9 = 4:48

| title10 = Go on Without Me

| length10 = 4:23

}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Discogs release|name=Operator|id=8812753}}
• {{MusicBrainz release group|70570dbb-8beb-4c1b-b63a-d6265608ac99}}

{{MSTRKRFT}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2016 albums

Category:MSTRKRFT albums

Category:Last Gang Records albums