Perfect Saviors
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Perfect Saviors
| type = studio
| artist = The Armed
| cover = Perfect Saviors cover.png
| studio =
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2023|08|25|df=y}}
| genre =
| length = 41:48
| label = Sargent House
| producer = {{hlist|Ben Chisholm|Justin Meldal-Johnsen|Troy Van Leeuwen|Tony Wolski}}
| prev_title = Ultrapop
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = The Future Is Here and Everything Needs to Be Destroyed
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Perfect Saviors
| type = studio
| single1 = Sport of Form
| single1date = 27 June 2023
| single2 = Everything's Glitter
| single2date = 18 July 2023
| single3 = Liar 2
| single3date = 7 August 2023
}}
}}
Perfect Saviors is the fifth studio album from the American post-hardcore collective The Armed, released on 25 August 2023.
Background
On 14 June 2023, The Armed tweeted a photo of a billboard with a caption containing the date 27 June 2023. The billboard contained artwork depicting the band's logo and Iggy Pop, appearing to suggest a collaborative release between the two.{{cite magazine|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/the_armed_and_iggy_pop_are_teasing_something_with_a_cryptic_billboard|title=The Armed and Iggy Pop are Teasing Something with a Cryptic Billboard|first=Calum|last=Slingerland|date=14 June 2023|accessdate=19 July 2023|magazine=Exclaim!}} This collaborative release was later revealed to be the album's first single, "Sport of Form", with Iggy Pop playing God in the accompanying music video. Along with the release of the song, the album's title was announced, Perfect Saviors, with its release date of 25 August 2023 through Sargent House.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/iggy-pop-julien-baker-the-armed-sport-of-form-song-video-watch-1234778519/ | title=Iggy Pop, Julien Baker Help the Armed Bring New Song to Life | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=27 June 2023 }}
The second single was "Everything's Glitter" and was released on 18 July 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.stereogum.com/2230403/the-armed-everythings-glitter/music/ | title=The Armed Share New Single "Everything's Glitter": Listen | date=18 July 2023 }} The third and final single, "Liar 2", was released on 7 August.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2232309/the-armed-liar-2/music/|title=The Armed – "Liar 2"|first=James|last=Rettig|work=Stereogum|accessdate=30 September 2023|date=7 August 2023}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 81/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/perfect-saviors/the-armed |title=Perfect Saviors by The Armed Reviews and Tracks |website=Metacritic |access-date=25 August 2023}}
| rev1 = Exclaim!
| rev1score = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-armed-perfect-saviors-album-review/|title=The Armed Are Everything at Once on Perfect Saviours|magazine=Exclaim!|last=Djurdjic|first=Marko|date=22 August 2023|access-date=25 August 2023}}
| rev2 = Slant Magazine
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-armed-perfect-saviors-album-review/|title=The Armed Perfect Saviors Review: More Like Perfect Strangers|website=Slant Magazine|last=Erickson|first=Steve|date=21 August 2023|access-date=25 August 2023}}
| rev3 = Pitchfork
| rev3score = 7.8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-armed-perfect-saviors/|title=Perfect Saviors|magazine=Pitchfork|last=Cohen|first=Ian|date=25 August 2023|access-date=25 August 2023}}
}}
Perfect Saviors received a score of 81 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Marjo Djurdjic of Exclaim! stated that "although each of the album's 12 songs have their place, the band's maximalist proclivities have clearly spoiled us, leaving a pair of late tracks floundering" and although "the album doesn't have the same immediate impact as Ultrapop", it "will undoubtedly cement the Armed as one of the best, most exciting rock/punk/hardcore/experimental/whatever-you-want-to-call-them bands making music today". Steve Erickson of Slant Magazine felt that the tracks "veer from pretty hooks and acoustic guitar to blast beats" and "linger in an in-between space that doesn't fully embrace either noise or pop".
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Perfect Saviors track listing
| all_writing = Kenneth Szymanski, Randal Kupfer, and Tony Wolski
| title1 = Sport of Measure
| writer1 =
| extra1 =
| length1 = 2:46
| title2 = FKA World
| writer2 =
| extra2 =
| length2 = 3:10
| title3 = Clone
| writer3 =
| extra3 =
| length3 = 3:02
| title4 = Modern Vanity
| writer4 =
| extra4 =
| length4 = 3:49
| title5 = Everything's Glitter
| writer5 =
| extra5 =
| length5 = 3:51
| title6 = Burned Mind
| writer6 =
| extra6 =
| length6 = 4:12
| title7 = Sport of Form
| writer7 =
| extra7 =
| length7 = 3:27
| title8 = Patient Mind
| writer8 =
| extra8 =
| length8 = 2:35
| title9 = Vatican Under Construction
| writer9 =
| extra9 =
| length9 = 3:33
| title10 = Liar 2
| writer10 =
| extra10 =
| length10 = 3:01
| title11 = In Heaven
| writer11 =
| extra11 =
| length11 = 3:24
| title12 = Public Grieving
| writer12 =
| extra12 =
| length12 = 4:58
| total_length = 41:48
}}
Personnel
- Bryan Aiken – guitar{{cite web |last1=Geiger |first1=Amy |title=The Armed announce LP & tour, share "Sport Of Form" feat. Julien Baker (and Iggy Pop as God) |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-armed-announce-lp-tour-share-sport-of-form-feat-julien-baker-and-iggy-pop-as-god/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=Brookyln Vegan|date=27 June 2023 }}
- Eric Avery – bass{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Carys |title=The Armed Announce New Album Perfect Saviors, Share "Sport of Form" Featuring Julien Baker: Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2023/06/the-armed-perfect-saviors-sport-of-form-stream/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=Consequence}}
- Julien Baker – vocals{{cite web |last1=Duran |first1=Anagricel |title=The Armed announce new album with video featuring Iggy Pop and Julien Baker |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/the-armed-announce-new-album-with-video-featuring-iggy-pop-and-julien-baker-3465319 |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=NME |date=5 July 2023 |publisher=BandLab Technologies}}
- Jacob Bannon – vocals{{cite web |last1=Deville |first1=Chris |title=The Armed Announce Their New Album With A Julien Baker Collab And A Video Starring Iggy Pop As God |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2228123/the-armed-announce-their-new-album-with-a-julien-baker-collab-and-a-video-starring-iggy-pop-as-god/music/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=Stereogum |date=27 June 2023 |publisher=Stereogum Media}}
- Cara Drolshagen – vocals{{cite web |last1=Pizzola |first1=Thomas |title=Interview: The Armed's Cara Drolshagen Talks New Album 'Ultrapop' |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-the-armeds-cara-drolshagen-talks-new-album-ultrapop/ |access-date=25 August 2023 |website=New Noise Magazine}}
- Dan Greene – songwriter{{cite web |date=4 July 2023 |title="'The real story is more confusing than any lie': the Armed's Tony Wolski unmasks the punk collective" |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/04/the-armed-tony-wolski-unmasks-the-punk-collective |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730020823/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/04/the-armed-tony-wolski-unmasks-the-punk-collective |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=4 July 2023 |website=The Guardian}}
- Mark Guiliana – drums
- Urian Hackney – drums{{cite web |last1=Newton |first1=Caleb |title=INTERVIEW: THE ARMED GUEST DRUMMER URIAN HACKNEY ON 'ULTRAPOP' |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-the-armed-guest-drummer-urian-hackney-on-ultrapop/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=New Noise Magazine}}
- Josh Klinghoffer – guitar
- Randal Lee Kupfer – unspecified instrumentation
- Justin Meldal-Johnsen – co-producer and bass
- Stephen Perkins – percussion
- Patrick Shiroishi – guitar, keyboards
- Chris Slorach – guitar and vocals
- Matt Sweeney – guitar{{cite web |title=SEE THE ARMED DANCE IN THE STREETS IN NEW "LIAR 2" VIDEO |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-armed-dance-streets-new-liar-2-video |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=Revolver Magazine|date=7 August 2023 }}
- Ken Szymanski – bass and guitar{{cite web |title=Kenny Szymanski |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kenny-szymanski-mn0003063981/credits?1691479702477 |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=Discogs}}
- Sarah Tudzin – vocals and production{{cite web |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=illuminati hotties – "Truck" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2230517/illuminati-hotties-truck/music/ |access-date=9 August 2023 |website=Stereogum |date=19 July 2023 |publisher=Stereogum Media}}
- Troy Van Leeuwen – guitar{{Cite web |title=Interview: Guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen Talks His Guest Appearance on The Armed's 'ULTRAPOP' |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-guitarist-troy-van-leeuwen-talks-his-guest-appearance-on-the-armeds-ultrapop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103095031/https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-guitarist-troy-van-leeuwen-talks-his-guest-appearance-on-the-armeds-ultrapop/ |archive-date=3 November 2022 |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=New Noise Magazine}}
- Zach Weeks – guitar and production
- Tony Wolski – unspecified instrumentation