Overgrown
{{Other uses|Overgrow (disambiguation){{!}}Overgrow}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Overgrown
| type = studio
| artist = James Blake
| cover = James Blake - Overgrown album cover.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2013|4|5|df=yes}}
| recorded = 2010–2012
| studio =
| genre =
- R&B
- electronic
- soul{{cite web|url=http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/james-blake-overgrow-122739|title=James Blake|author=Matthew Haddrill|work=The Line of Best Fit}}
| length = 39:22
| label =
| producer = James Blake
| prev_title = Love What Happened Here
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = 200 Press (EP)
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Overgrown
| type = studio
| single1 = Retrograde
| single1date = 11 February 2013{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/retrograde-single/id601185620 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430145211/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/retrograde-single/id601185620 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 April 2013 |title=Retrograde – Single by James Blake |publisher=iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc |access-date=16 April 2013}}
| single2 = Overgrown
| single2date = 10 April 2013
}}
}}
Overgrown is the second studio album by English electronic musician James Blake. It was released on 5 April 2013 by Blake's Atlas Records, along with Republic Records and Polydor Records.{{Cite web|url=https://wrvu.org/overgrown-james-blake-republic/|title=Overgrown – James Blake (Republic)|website=WRVU.org}} The album features guest appearances from electronic music producer Brian Eno and Wu-Tang Clan member RZA.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/49687-brian-eno-rza-guest-on-new-james-blake-album/ |title=Brian Eno, RZA Guest on James Blake Album|website=Pitchfork |date=25 February 2013 }} Overgrown debuted at number eight on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the US Dance/Electronic chart. It was supported by lead single "Retrograde".
The album was awarded the 2013 Mercury Prize, beating favourites Laura Mvula, Disclosure and David Bowie to win. It also earned Blake a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
Background
Following both the critical and commercial success of Blake's self-titled debut album, Blake released both the Enough Thunder and Love What Happened Here EPs. These EPs, noticeably more structured than his previous releases, featured more R&B tinged work as opposed to the dubstep-influenced electronic sound of CMYK. Many reviewers speculated in the year between releases that Blake was headed in the wrong direction, with Pitchfork's Larry Fitzmaurice saying that "James Blake's reliance on piano-based singer/songwriter electro-soul perhaps played it a bit too safe, prompting comparisons to the once-outré, now-gear spinning career of fellow avant-crooner Jamie Lidell".{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16139-love-what-happened-here-ep/ |title=James Blake: Love What Happened Here review|website=Pitchfork }}
Blake admitted to Hot Press in an interview about Overgrown that his relationship affected the album. He said, "I can't deny it. There's no point in trying to come up with some other explanation for what I've been writing about....When it happened, I was really struck. Y'know—suddenly I'm hit!".{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/i-fell-in-love-james-blake-tells-hot-press-9610184|title="I fell in love!" - James Blake tells Hot Press|website=Hotpress.com|access-date=5 April 2025}}
Earlier in 2012, Blake spent time with American rapper Kanye West and singer Justin Vernon. In 2012, after months of speculation, Blake announced a new collaborative non-single release under the moniker Harmonimix. This release featured British rapper Trim and the single "Confidence Boost/Saying" was released on 24 September 2012. It was a return to form for Blake and featured the distinct characteristics present in his previous efforts (though "Confidence Boost" had been floating around on the internet for three or four years).{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/trimbal-confidence-boost--saying/ |title=Trimbal: "Confidence Boost/Saying"|date=22 August 2012 }}
Promotion and release
During the final weeks of 2012, Blake performed three intimate shows where he debuted five new tracks, "Our Love Comes Back", "Overgrown", "Retrograde", "To the Last" and "Every Day I Ran."{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/48840-watch-james-blake-play-two-new-songs/ |title=Watch James Blake Play Two New Songs -- Pitchfork |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2012-12-05 |access-date=2012-12-08}}{{cite web|url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/james-blake/2012/conway-hall-london-england-1bda25f0.html |title=James Blake Setlist at Conway Hall, London, England |publisher=Setlist.fm |date=2012-12-04 |access-date=2013-04-08}}
Blake announced via Facebook on 7 February 2013 that his second album, Overgrown, would be released on 8 April.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/jamesblakemusic/posts/10151228577492126 |title=My new album... |publisher=James Blake |date=2013-02-07 |access-date=2013-02-07}} The first single from the album, "Retrograde", was debuted the same day on BBC Radio 1, and was released on 11 February. On 7 March, Blake and his labelmates at 1-800 Dinosaur shared both the dub version of "Voyeur" and the album cut of "Digital Lion" featuring Brian Eno.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2013/03/james-blake-digital-lion|title=James Blake – "Digital Lion"|date=7 March 2013|website=Complex|access-date=4 January 2019}} The title track was released as a single on 10 April alongside a music video directed by Nabil Elderkin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/james-blake-47-1253118|title=James Blake unveils video for 'Overgrown' – watch|last=Cooper|first=Leonie|date=10 April 2013|website=NME|language=en-US|access-date=4 January 2019}} A remix of the track "Life Round Here" featuring Chance the Rapper was released on 11 October alongside a music video directed by Nabil Elderkin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/james-blake-41-1242526|title=James Blake and Chance The Rapper reveal 'Life Round Here' video – watch|last=Cooper|first=Leonie|date=14 October 2013|website=NME|language=en-US|access-date=4 January 2019}}{{Citation|title=Life Round Here (feat. Chance The Rapper) – Single by James Blake|date=January 2013 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/life-round-here-feat-chance-the-rapper-single/1445291275|language=en-us|access-date=4 January 2019}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 82/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/overgrown/james-blake |title=Reviews for Overgrown by James Blake |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=16 April 2013}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/overgrown-mw0002498733 |title=Overgrown – James Blake |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=16 November 2019 |last=Thomas |first=Fred}}
| rev2 = The A.V. Club
| rev2score = A−{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/james-blake-overgrown-1798176408 |title=James Blake: Overgrown |work=The A.V. Club |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=16 April 2013 |last=Butler |first=Will}}
| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/9960024/James-Blake-Overgrown-album-review.html |title=James Blake, Overgrown, album review |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=31 October 2013 |access-date=31 October 2013 |last=McCormick |first=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick}}
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/apr/04/james-blake-overgrown-review |title=James Blake: Overgrown – review |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=4 April 2013 |access-date=16 April 2013 |last=MacInnes |first=Paul}}
| rev5 = The Independent
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-james-blake-overgrown-polydor-8562935.html |title=Album: James Blake, Overgrown (Polydor) |work=The Independent |location=London |date=6 April 2013 |access-date=5 February 2016 |last=Price |first=Simon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408055332/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-james-blake-overgrown-polydor-8562935.html |archive-date=8 April 2013}}
| rev6 = NME
| rev6score = 8/10{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/james-blake/14277 |title=James Blake – 'Overgrown' |journal=NME |date=8 April 2013 |access-date=16 April 2013 |last=Horner |first=Al |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055450/http://www.nme.com/reviews/james-blake/14277 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}
| rev7 = Paste
| rev7score = 6.4/10{{cite journal |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/james-blake/james-blake-overgrown/ |title=James Blake – 'Overgrown' |journal=Paste |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=10 May 2021 |last=Huffstutter |first=Nathan}}
| rev8 = Pitchfork
| rev8score = 8.0/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17842-james-blake-overgrown/ |title=James Blake: Overgrown |work=Pitchfork |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=16 April 2013 |last=Harvey |first=Eric}}
| rev9 = Q
| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite journal |title=James Blake: Overgrown |journal=Q |issue=322 |date=May 2013 |page=96}}
| rev10 = Rolling Stone
| rev10score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/overgrown-20130415 |title=Overgrown |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=15 April 2013 |access-date=16 April 2013 |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen}}
}}
Overgrown received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 82, based on 40 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim". Martyn Young of musicOMH stated that "Overgrown is more diverse and dynamic than before. Blake seems to have found an ideal middle ground between restrained and measured balladry and disorientating electronic soul".{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/james-blake-overgrown|title = musicOMH review| date=3 April 2013 }} This sentiment was echoed by The Guardian{{'}}s Paul MacInnes, who wrote that "Blake's palette is unique, his abilities as a composer are great and quite obviously growing." In a review for AllMusic, Fred Thomas described the album as existing "somewhere between the vacant echoes of dub and trip-hop, dubstep's sample-slicing production, and the contained heartbreak of a singer/songwriter playing piano to himself in an empty room," and noted that "while it might take listeners a few spins to find the right head space for the album, once they get there, it's an easy place to get lost in." Clash said the album is "paradoxically less fragmented than its illustrious predecessor, ideas rotating core values guided by an affirmatively unseen hand. Which ultimately makes this an even better record."{{cite web |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/james-blake-overgrown |title=Clash magazine review|date=8 April 2013 }}
On 30 October 2013, the album won the Mercury Music Prize for album of the year. The lead single, "Retrograde", also won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song.
Overgrown ranked among the top albums for the year, making it on to many end-of-year lists.
= Year-end rankings =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Publication !List !Rank !Ref |
| Clash
|Clash's Top Albums of 2013 |2 |
| Complex
|The Best Albums of 2013 |3 |
| Consequence of Sound
|The Top 50 Albums of 2013 |37 |
| The Guardian
|The Best Albums of 2013 |5 |
| The Michigan Daily
|Best of 2013: Top 10 Albums |6 |
| Mojo
|Top 50 Albums of 2013 |25 |
| NME
|NME's 50 Best Albums of 2013 |50 |
| NPR
|NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums of 2013 |N/A |
| Pitchfork
|Top 50 Best Albums of 2013 |26 |
| Pitchfork
|2013 Readers' Poll |14 |
| Pretty Much Amazing
|40 Best Albums of 2013 |32☨ |
| Q
|50 Best Albums of 2013 |46 |
| Richard Kingsmill
|Top 10 Albums of 2013 |1 |
| Tiny Mix Tapes
|Favorite 50 Albums of 2013 |25 |
"N/A" indicates that the publication did not rank the works included in their year-end list.
"☨" denotes that the Top 10 were unranked and published alphabetically.
= Decade-end rankings =
| class="wikitable"
!Publication !List !Rank !Ref |
| AllMusic
|The AllMusic Decade in Review (2010s) |N/A |
| The A.V. Club
|The AV Club's 50 Favorite Albums of the 2010s |22 |
The Decade in Review list incorporates an unranked enumeration of 200 albums spanning the 2010s decade.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| total_length = 39:22
| all_writing = James Blake, except "Digital Lion", written by Blake, Brian Eno and Rob McAndrews
| title1 = Overgrown
| length1 = 5:00
| title2 = I Am Sold
| length2 = 4:04
| title3 = Life Round Here
| length3 = 3:37
| title4 = Take a Fall for Me
| note4 = featuring RZA
| length4 = 3:33
| title5 = Retrograde
| length5 = 3:43
| title6 = DLM
| length6 = 2:25
| title7 = Digital Lion
| length7 = 4:45
| title8 = Voyeur
| length8 = 4:17
| title9 = To the Last
| length9 = 4:19
| title10 = Our Love Comes Back
| length10 = 3:39
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = iTunes bonus tracks{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/overgrown/1440855522 |title=Overgrown by James Blake |date=January 2013 |publisher=iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc |access-date=16 April 2013}}
| total_length = 48:09
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title11 = Every Day I Ran
| length11 = 3:24
| title12 = Retrograde
| note12 = music video
| length12 = 4:03
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus track
| total_length = 45:23
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title11 = The Wilhelm Scream
| note11 = Live at Pitchfork
| length11 = 6:01
}}
Personnel
- James Blake – writing, engineering, production, mixing, instrumentation, vocals
- Brian Eno – writing {{small|(track 7)}}
- Rob McAndrews – writing, guitar {{small|(track 7)}}
- Ben Assiter – additional percussion {{small|(track 1)}}
- RZA – vocals {{small|(track 4)}}
- Matt Colton – mastering
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2013)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|5|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=16 April 2013}} |
| scope="row"| Australian Dance Albums (ARIA){{cite journal |url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue1207.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20130506030438/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20130506-1144/Issue1207.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-05-06 |title=ARIA Dance – Week Commencing 15th April 2013 |journal=The ARIA Report |issue=1207 |page=17 |date=15 April 2013 |access-date=5 February 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
| 1 |
| {{album chart|Austria|21|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=17 April 2013}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|12|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=16 April 2013}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|57|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=16 April 2013}} |
| scope="row"| Croatian Albums (HDU){{cite web |url=http://www.hdu-toplista.com/index.php?what=arhiva&w=details&id=1181 |title=Top Kombiniranih – Tjedan 20. 2013. |trans-title=Top Combined – Week 20, 2013 |website=Top of the Shops |language=hr |access-date=22 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224120351/http://www.hdu-toplista.com/index.php?what=arhiva&w=details&id=1181 |archive-date=24 December 2016}}
| 25 |
| {{album chart|Denmark|2|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=5 February 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|32|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=16 April 2013}} |
| {{album chart|France|62|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=24 April 2013}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|13|id=215375|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=29 January 2021}} |
| scope="row"| Greek Albums (IFPI){{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_el.html |title=Official Cyta-IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Εβδομάδα: 17/2013) |language=el |publisher=IFPI Greece |access-date=17 May 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130511155037/http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_el.html |archive-date=11 May 2013}}
| 57 |
| {{album chart|Ireland2|24|artist=James Blake|rowheader=true|access-date=5 February 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Italy|98|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=5 February 2020}} |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/534336/ranking/cd_album/ |script-title=ja:ジェイムス・ブレイクのアルバム売り上げランキング |trans-title=James Blake album sales ranking |language=ja |publisher=Oricon |access-date=21 April 2013}}
| 12 |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|27|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=16 April 2013}} |
| {{album chart|Norway|10|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=16 April 2013}} |
| {{album chart|Portugal|9|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2013}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|19|date=20130420|rowheader=true|access-date=5 February 2020}} |
| scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Gaon){{cite web |url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=week&hitYear=2013&targetTime=18&nationGbn=T&year_time= |title=2013년 18주차 Album Chart |language=ko |publisher=Gaon Music Chart |access-date=5 February 2020}}
| 52 |
| {{album chart|Spain|63|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2013}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|16|artist=James Blake|album=Overgrown|rowheader=true|access-date=16 April 2013}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|8|date=20130420|rowheader=true|access-date=5 February 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|32|artist=James Blake|rowheader=true|access-date=5 February 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardDanceElectronic|1|artist=James Blake|rowheader=true|access-date=5 February 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications and sales
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=James Blake|title=James Blake|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2013|certyear=2021|access-date=25 February 2021|id=10011}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=James Blake|title=James Blake|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2013|certyear=2014|certmonth=7|id=12904-2524-2|date=11 July 2014}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=James Blake|title=James Blake|nocert=yes|type=album|salesamount=54,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.nielsen.com/za/en/insights/article/2014/record-roundup-where-nominated-artist-sales-stand-before-the-56th-annual-grammy-awards/|title=Record roundup: Where nominated artist sales stand before the annual Grammy awards|publisher=Nielsen|date=24 January 2014|access-date=5 February 2020}}}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true|streaming=true}}