Pop Voodoo
{{Use British English |date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Pop Voodoo
| type = Studio
| artist = Black Grape
| cover = Black Grape Pop Voodoo.jpg
| alt = The black outline of a head against a yellow background. The word "pop" resembles eyes and a nose, while a mouth is made with the word "Voodoo" resembling teeth.
| released = {{Start date |2017 |08 |04 |df=y}}
| recorded = September 2016
| studio = Martin "Youth" Glover's residential studio, Sierra Nevada, Spain
| genre =
| length = {{Duration |m=50 |s=31}}
| label = UMC
| producer = Youth
| prev_title = Stupid Stupid Stupid
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = Orange Head
| next_year = 2024
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Pop Voodoo
| type = studio
| single1 = Nine Lives
| single1date = 9 June 2017
| single2 = I Wanna Be Like You
| single2date = 7 July 2017
}}
}}
Pop Voodoo is the third studio album of the British band Black Grape that was released on 4 August 2017 through UMC. After a one-off show in 2010, Black Grape reunited in April 2015 to play a show; a this time, Alan McGee was the band's manager. Following a tour of the United Kingdom and a collaboration with Paul Oakenfold, Black Grape worked on ideas for new songs. In September 2016, the band travelled to Spain, initially as a writing trip, during which they recorded sessions for their next album. Pop Voodoo was recorded at Martin "Youth" Glover's residential studio in Sierra Nevada, Spain, and in London. Pop Voodoo is a funk, pop and trip hop album on which Youth, alongside session musicians, plays many instruments.
Music critics gave Pop Voodoo generally favourable reviews, many of which praised frontman Shaun Ryder's lyricism, the upbeat music and Youth's production work. The album charted and peaked at number fifteen in the UK Album Chart and at number eight in the Scottish Albums Chart. After Black Grape supported Richard Ashcroft on his UK tour, "Nine Lives" was released as the lead single from the album in June 2017. The following month, "I Wanna Be Like You" was released as the album's second single, ahead of the band's performances at music festivals, such as Splendour in Nottingham and Rock Against Racism. In late 2018, after a performance at Star Shaped Festival, the band toured the UK.
Background and development
Following the breakup of Happy Mondays, frontman Shaun Ryder formed Black Grape with Paul "Kermit" Leveridge; they released two studio albums; It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah (1995) and Stupid Stupid Stupid (1997).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/black-grape-mn0000091651/biography |title=Black Grape Biography, Songs, & Albums |publisher=AllMusic |author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |access-date=1 October 2021 |archive-date=17 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017182918/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/black-grape-mn0000091651/biography |url-status=live}} Black Grape split up in 1998; Ryder reformed Happy Mondays, who later released their fifth studio album Uncle Dysfunktional (2007).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/shaun-ryder-mn0000009703/biography |title=Shaun Ryder Biography, Songs, & Albums |publisher=AllMusic |author=Sutton, Michael |access-date=1 October 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413011108/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/shaun-ryder-mn0000009703/biography |url-status=live}} Around 2009, Ryder considered reuniting Black Grape and performed one show in 2010 with drum and bass musician Tom Piper covering Kermit's parts.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-7-1290126 |title=Shaun Ryder reforms Black Grape |work=NME |author=Wilkinson, Matt |date=2 February 2010 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725183357/https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-7-1290126 |url-status=live}} Leveridge did not participate because of personal issues, including his heart surgery and his mother's Alzheimer's disease. Ryder said no further plans had been made because Black Grape's management had no interest in continuing with the band.{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/music-interview-shaun-ryder-reforming-black-grape-610818 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023213530/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/music-interview-shaun-ryder-reforming-black-grape-610818 |title=Music interview: Shaun Ryder on reforming Black Grape |work=The Yorkshire Post |author=The Newsroom |date=25 November 2016 |archive-date=23 October 2021 |access-date=23 October 2021}}
Veronica Gretton, former head of the band's previous label Radioactive Records, had emailed Ryder to tell him about the upcoming 20th anniversary of It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah. In 2015, after a discussion with his wife and the contact from Gretton, Ryder decided to contact Leveridge about reviving Black Grape, about which Leveridge was enthusiastic. In April that year, this version of the band played their first show in several years at Granada Studios in Manchester.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-6-1215935 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725185352/https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-6-1215935 |title=Black Grape announce details of Manchester reunion gig |work=NME |author=Cooper, Leonie |date=13 March 2015 |archive-date=25 July 2021 |access-date=1 October 2022}} By this time, Alan McGee, formerly the head of Creation Records, became the manager of both Black Grape and Happy Mondays.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-5-1217283 |title=Reunited Black Grape perform hits for Bez's election campaign in Manchester |work=NME |author=Ryan, Gary |date=12 April 2015 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002140246/https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-5-1217283 |url-status=live}} Ryder and Leveridge toured the UK as Black Grape in June and July 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-4-1211804 |title=Black Grape announce UK and Ireland reunion tour |work=NME |author=Britton, Luke Morgan |date=24 April 2015 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728151944/https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-4-1211804 |url-status=live}} Happy Mondays had planned to work on another album but progressed slowly due to differences of opinion between members, and two of them were living in North America.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-new-album-pop-voodoo-everthing-you-know-wrong-shaun-ryder-interview-2065883 |title=Black Grape announce first new album in 20 years with new track 'Everything You Know Is Wrong' |work=NME |author=Trendell, Andrew |date=4 May 2017 |access-date=29 September 2022 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613223606/https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-new-album-pop-voodoo-everthing-you-know-wrong-shaun-ryder-interview-2065883 |url-status=live}}
Writing and recording
In May 2016, NME reported Black Grape were expected to be making a new album in the near future.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-3-1198104 |title=Black Grape announce tour and confirm plans for new album |work=NME |author=Britton, Luke Morgan |date=16 May 2016 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026015829/https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-3-1198104 |url-status=live}} The following month, Leveridge and Ryder collaborated with DJs Paul Oakenfold and Goldie under the name Four Lions to release "We Are England", a football song to tie in with UEFA Euro 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/plenty-thrills-no-pills-sean-ryder-happy-mondays-ahead-dundee-show/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106114156/https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/plenty-thrills-no-pills-sean-ryder-happy-mondays-ahead-dundee-show/ |title=Plenty of thrills but no more pills for Sean Ryder and the Happy Mondays ahead of Dundee show |work=Evening Telegraph |date=6 November 2017 |archive-date=6 November 2017 |access-date=30 September 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a796913/shaun-ryder-brand-new-euro-2016-football-anthem-we-are-england/ |title=We Are England: Shaun Ryder debuts a brand new football anthem ready for Euro 2016 |work=Digital Spy |author=Corner, Lewis |date=7 June 2016 |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002140247/https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a796913/shaun-ryder-brand-new-euro-2016-football-anthem-we-are-england/ |url-status=live}} During production of the track, Ryder and Leveridge worked on ideas for new material.Millar 2016, event occurs at 3:56–4:01 In September 2016, they travelled to Spain, where they had planned to write new material for two weeks.{{cite web |url=https://www.ukmusicreviews.co.uk/interviews/interview-shaun-ryder/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020135946/https://www.ukmusicreviews.co.uk/interviews/interview-shaun-ryder/ |title=Interview: Shaun Ryder |publisher=UK Music Reviews |author=Cooper, Kevin |date=22 September 2016 |archive-date=20 October 2021 |access-date=2 October 2022}} During this trip, they spent four weeks recording and mixing a new album with producer Martin "Youth" Glover. Black Grape spent ten days at Youth's residential studio in Sierra Nevada, Spain, and the rest of the time was spent completing it in London.{{cite web |url=https://www.ukmusicreviews.co.uk/interviews/interview-shaun-ryder-2/ |title=Interview: Shaun Ryder |publisher=UK Music Reviews |author=Cooper, Kevin |date=19 July 2017 |access-date=2 October 2022 |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201071308/https://www.ukmusicreviews.co.uk/interviews/interview-shaun-ryder-2/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://gigwise.com/blogs/108523/happy-mondays-shaun-ryder-black-grape-reissue-uk-tour-bez |title=Shaun Ryder: 'The sex and drugs have gone but we're still rock 'n' roll' |work=Gigwise |author=Trefor, Cai |date=5 November 2016 |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022195643/https://www.gigwise.com/blogs/108523/happy-mondays-shaun-ryder-black-grape-reissue-uk-tour-bez |url-status=live}} When McGee suggested using Youth to produce the album, Ryder was excited but Leveridge was not aware of him, prompting Ryder to name acts with who Youth had worked, such as Edwyn Collins and The Verve. Michael Rendall, who was assisted by Jamie Grashion and Luke Fitzpatrick, recorded the sessions.
Ryder told Youth they wanted to mix the styles of The Beach Boys, Bee Gees and Ghetto Boys. He said Leveridge, Youth and himself showed one another music they had not heard before, which influenced the album. Ryder said Youth pushed him and Leveridge out of their comfort zone, performing backing vocals, which Ryder typically did not do.{{cite web |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/music/the-audiophile-black-grape/ |title=Mellower but still a madman, Black Grape's Shaun Ryder is all about the music now |publisher=Digital Trends |author=Mettler, Mike |date=4 August 2017 |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023121604/https://www.digitaltrends.com/music/the-audiophile-black-grape/ |url-status=live}} Youth programmed and played Fender VI bass and guitar; Rendall also did programming, and played guitar and keyboards. Session musicians added extra instrumentation; Seth Leppard (guitar), Alex Ward (saxophone), Jamie Grashion (programming and guitar), Rainbow Man (harmonica) and Jackson Scott (acoustic guitar). Youth mixed the album, which Mike Marsh mastered at The Exchange in Exmouth, Devon.
Composition and lyrics
Musically, the sound of Pop Voodoo has been described as funk, pop and trip hop. Discussing the music, Under the Radar writer Lily Moayeri said: "Fluid grooves and flirty funk interludes lace the Motown vibes and big band elements while baggy beats take dips into jazz and lounge territory". AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine said Ryder "reverts to his old loves: '70s soul and disco, big beats and psychedelics, word games and singsong melodies". Nathan Westley of The Line of Best Fit found it to have "enough nods to Ryder's past [...] to suggest he hasn’t fully escaped the hard partying lifestyle that helped define his most beloved work". Ryder said they wanted to avoid mentioning God in the album's lyrics, as this had appeared in several of the songs on It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah. While Kermit would have his parts structured out on paper, Ryder would write random bits and work from that. When in the studio, Ryder said the pair would "sit face to face with each other, bouncing ideas off" one another. From here, they would have a song playing and ad-lib a part as it came to them. In his book How to Be a Rock Star (2021), Ryder regarded the album as the "proper Black Grape second album [...] the album that Stupid Stupid Stupid could have been".Ryder 2021, p. 288
The atmosphere of the album's opening track, "Everything You Know Is Wrong – Intro", was compared to the early work of De La Soul. A majority of the track was done by Youth after he had secretly taped Kermit and Ryder discussing American politics and Trump. Ryder said it was intended to be a skit that introduces the proceedings, akin to a hip hop album.{{cite web |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/grape-n-theyre-straight-yeah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001114907/https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/grape-n-theyre-straight-yeah |title=It's Grape N They're Straight... Yeah |work=Record Collector |author=Peacock, Tim |date=20 July 2017 |archive-date=1 October 2022 |access-date=1 October 2022}} It sees Ryder tackle the 2016 elections in the United States, as well as the Donald Trump administration. A comedian was employed to impersonate Trump's voice as Ryder said they would not be allowed to use his actual voice.
It also includes a reference to the Hillary Clinton email controversy, with the noise of a dial-up modem connecting to the internet heard after it. The horn-laden "Nine Lives" is followed by "Set the Grass on Fire", a brass-enhanced track that touches on ska during the verse sections, recalling the work of Smash Mouth. The latter uses samples from "Waiting for My Baby" (1976) by De Franks and His Professionals.
"Whiskey, Wine and Ham" evoked "Summertime" (1991) by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince; it features a beat similar to the one heard in "Funky Drummer" (1970) by James Brown, alongside an electric piano and samples of woodwind instruments. "Money Burns" is an electro-funk and trip hop track that recalled Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches (1990)-era Happy Mondays.{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/album-reviews-black-grape-randy-newman-lana-del-rey-1443451 |title=Album reviews: Black Grape / Randy Newman / Lana Del Rey |work=The Scotsman |author=Gilchrist, Jim |date=7 August 2017 |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026015429/https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/album-reviews-black-grape-randy-newman-lana-del-rey-1443451 |url-status=live}} "String Theory" includes a banjo, and was reminiscent of "Reverend Black Grape" (1995) from their debut with its guitar and harmonica work. "Pop Voodoo" uses samples of "Ngyegye No So" by African Brothers Band. "I Wanna Be Like You" talks about a 74-year-old man that continues to smoke weed. "Sugar Money" has doo-wop-esque backing vocals, while "Shame" is a funk song that Westley said has "snappy disco basslines collide [that] with dance rhythms". "Losing Sleep" was compared to "Loose Fit" by Happy Mondays. Jim Gilchrist of The Scotsman wrote that "Young and Dumb", the album's closing track, was a "dubby clubland odyssey about the chemical highs and the comedown lows". Ryder said one of the track's reoccurring lines, "young, dumb and full of cum", was included as they wished to make a tribute to the work of Bushwick Bill.
Release
McGee and the staff at Universal thought they would deliver an average album but Ryder said they were "blown away" after they heard the finished version. Black Grape embarked on a celebratory tour for the 21st anniversary of It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah in November and December 2016. In April 2017, the band supported Richard Ashcroft on his headlining UK arena tour.{{cite web |url=https://www.gigslutz.co.uk/richard-ashcroft-announces-additional-uk-dates-2017-support-black-grape/ |title=Richard Ashcroft announces additional UK dates for 2017 with support from Black Grape |publisher=Gigslutz |date=24 January 2017 |access-date=2 October 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002140248/https://www.gigslutz.co.uk/richard-ashcroft-announces-additional-uk-dates-2017-support-black-grape/ |url-status=live}} On 4 May 2017, Pop Voodoo was announced for release later that year and "Everything You Know Is Wrong – Intro" was made available for streaming. Four days later, Black Grape played a one-off show at the 100 Club in London. Keyboardist Dan Broad and guitarist Mikey Shine, both of whom had been working with Happy Mondays since the early 2000s, aided Black Grape's live set. On 17 May 2017, a music video for "Pop Voodoo" was released.{{cite web |url=https://www.xsnoize.com/black-grape-reveal-video-for-new-single-pop-voodoo-from-their-forthcoming-album/ |title=Black Grape - Reveal Video for New Single 'Pop Voodoo' From Their Forthcoming Album |publisher=Xs Noize |author=Millar, Mark |date=17 May 2017 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029081933/https://www.xsnoize.com/black-grape-reveal-video-for-new-single-pop-voodoo-from-their-forthcoming-album/ |url-status=live}} "Nine Lives" was released as the lead single on 9 June 2017.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/nine-lives-radio-edit-single/1444279380 |title=Nine Lives (Radio Edit) - Single by Black Grape |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616151730/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/nine-lives-radio-edit-single/1444279380 |url-status=live}} The following month, Black Grape played a one-off show at Brixton Academy in London. "I Wanna Be Like You" was released as the second single from the album on 7 July 2017.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/i-wanna-be-like-you-radio-edit-single/1445057699 |title=I Wanna Be Like You (Radio Edit) - Single by Black Grape |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616151739/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/i-wanna-be-like-you-radio-edit-single/1445057699 |url-status=live}} Four days later, an animated lyric video for the song premiered through Clash{{'s}} website.{{cite web |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/music-videos/premiere-black-grape-i-wanna-be-like-you/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002140714/https://www.clashmusic.com/music-videos/premiere-black-grape-i-wanna-be-like-you/ |title=Premiere: Black Grape – 'I Wanna Be Like You' |work=Clash |author=Murray, Robin |date=11 July 2017 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |access-date=30 September 2022}}
Following this, Black Grape performed at the music festivals Splendour in Nottingham, Hope & Glory and Moovin. Pop Voodoo was originally scheduled for release through UMC on 7 July 2017 but the release was postponed to 4 August that year.{{cite web |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/voodoo-child-shaun-ryder-interviewed/ |title=Voodoo Child: Shaun Ryder Interviewed |work=Clash |author=Harper, Simon |date=12 May 2017 |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-date=25 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525003152/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/voodoo-child-shaun-ryder-interviewed |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/happy-mondays-shaun-ryder-brings-black-grape-edinburghs-liquid-room-548682 |title=Happy Mondays' Shaun Ryder brings Black Grape to Edinburgh's Liquid Room |work=Edinburgh Evening News |author=Rudden, Liam |date=3 April 2019 |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026165028/https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/happy-mondays-shaun-ryder-brings-black-grape-edinburghs-liquid-room-548682 |url-status=live}} Jon Gray designed the album's cover artwork; in his book Drawn to Type: Lettering for Illustrators, author Marty Blake called Gray's artwork "raw, compared to the whiff of elegance" of his other pieces, describing it in the style of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The word "pop" appears as eyes and a nose, while the word "voodoo" is laid over a mouth, resembling teeth.Blake 2021, p. 81 At the end of August, Black Grape played at Rock Against Racism in Govanhill, Scotland.{{cite web |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/15474329.shaun-ryder-got-battered-by-bouncers-on-his-first-time-in-glasgow/ |title=Shaun Ryder got battered by bouncers on his first time in Glasgow |work=Glasgow Times |date=17 August 2017 |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022181158/https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/15474329.shaun-ryder-got-battered-by-bouncers-on-his-first-time-in-glasgow/ |url-status=live}} Ryder returned to Happy Mondays for a greatest hits tour to end the year; as they took a break from live performances, Ryder spent the next two years focussing on Black Grape.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/shaun-ryder-discusses-life-now-hes-stopped-getting-off-face-2056848 |title=Shaun Ryder discusses life now he's 'stopped getting off his face' |work=NME |author=Trendell, Andrew |date=22 April 2017 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725233323/https://www.nme.com/news/music/shaun-ryder-discusses-life-now-hes-stopped-getting-off-face-2056848 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/big-interview-shaun-ryder-sex-and-drugs-has-gone-so-its-just-rocknroll-now-1070580 |title=Big Interview: Shaun Ryder: '˜The sex and drugs has gone so it's just the rock'n'roll now' |work=The News |date=10 November 2017 |access-date=29 September 2022 |archive-date=19 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019020207/https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/big-interview-shaun-ryder-sex-and-drugs-has-gone-so-its-just-rocknroll-now-1070580 |url-status=live}} Black Grape performed at Star Shaped Festival in September 2018 and toured the UK in November that year.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-announce-massive-uk-tour-2330309 |title=Black Grape announce massive UK tour |work=NME |author=Reilly, Nick |date=1 June 2018 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=17 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617013054/https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-announce-massive-uk-tour-2330309 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/star-shaped-festival-returns-another-90s-af-britpop-line-2361202 |title=Star Shaped Festival returns with another '90s AF Britpop line-up |work=NME |author=Trendell, Andrew |date=30 July 2018 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127105028/https://www.nme.com/news/music/star-shaped-festival-returns-another-90s-af-britpop-line-2361202 |url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 70/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/pop-voodoo/black-grape/critic-reviews |title=Critic Reviews for Pop Voodoo |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=4 June 2018 |archive-date=8 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408140643/http://www.metacritic.com/music/pop-voodoo/black-grape/critic-reviews |url-status=live}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev2 = The Arts Desk
| rev2Score = {{Rating |3 |5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/cd-black-grape-pop-voodoo |title=CD: Black Grape - Pop Voodoo |work=The Arts Desk |author=Oddy, Guy |date=29 July 2017 |access-date=12 September 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912173034/https://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/cd-black-grape-pop-voodoo |url-status=live}}
| rev3 = Classic Rock
| rev3Score = {{rating |3.5 |5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/black-grape-pop-voodoo-album-review |title=Black Grape - Pop Voodoo album review |work=Classic Rock |author=Moody, Paul |date=21 June 2017 |access-date=12 September 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912173023/https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/black-grape-pop-voodoo-album-review |url-status=live}}
| rev4 = Evening Standard
| rev4Score = {{Rating |3 |5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/black-grape-pop-voodoo-review-the-opening-track-doesn-t-bode-well-a3604451.html |title=Black Grape – Pop Voodoo review: The opening track doesn't bode well |work=Evening Standard |author=Paine, Andre |date=4 August 2017 |access-date=12 September 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912174524/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/black-grape-pop-voodoo-review-the-opening-track-doesn-t-bode-well-a3604451.html |url-status=live}}
| rev5 = The Independent
| rev5Score = {{rating |3 |5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-randy-newman-blake-grape-the-isley-brother-santana-brian-eno-james-vincent-mcmorrow-the-last-dinosaur-ben-lukas-boysen-sebastian-plano-a7873606.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621000956/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-randy-newman-blake-grape-the-isley-brother-santana-brian-eno-james-vincent-mcmorrow-the-last-dinosaur-ben-lukas-boysen-sebastian-plano-a7873606.html |title=Album reviews: Randy Newman – Dark Matter, Blake Grape – Pop Voodoo, The Isley Brothers & Santana – Power of Peace |work=The Independent |author=Gill, Andy |date=2 August 2017 |archive-date=21 June 2021 |access-date=12 September 2022}}
| rev6 = The Irish Times
| rev6Score = {{Rating |3 |5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews/black-grape-pop-voodoo-shaun-ryder-s-melon-is-still-a-bit-twisted-1.3143013 |title=Black Grape - Pop Voodoo: Shaun Ryder's melon is still a bit twisted |newspaper=The Irish Times |author=Murphy, Lauren |date=6 July 2017 |access-date=12 September 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912173021/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews/black-grape-pop-voodoo-shaun-ryder-s-melon-is-still-a-bit-twisted-1.3143013 |url-status=live}}
| rev7 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev7Score = 6.5/10{{cite web |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/black-grape-pop-voodoo |title=Black Grape's first album in two decades has just about enough to it |work=The Line of Best Fit |last=Westley |first=Nathan |date=9 August 2017 |access-date=4 June 2018 |archive-date=20 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920201050/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/black-grape-pop-voodoo |url-status=live}}
| rev8 = musicOMH
| rev8Score = {{Rating |3.5 |5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/black-grape-pop-voodoo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126101223/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/black-grape-pop-voodoo |title=Black Grape – Pop Voodoo |work=musicOMH |last=Marsh |first=Graeme |date=4 July 2017 |archive-date=26 January 2018 |access-date=4 June 2018}}
| rev9 = PopMatters
| rev9Score = 7/10{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/black-grape-pop-voodoo-2495387628.html |title=Black Grape: Pop Voodoo |work=PopMatters |last=Garratt |first=John |date=25 July 2017 |access-date=4 June 2018 |archive-date=20 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920162430/https://www.popmatters.com/black-grape-pop-voodoo-2495387628.html |url-status=live}}
| rev10 = Under the Radar
| rev10Score = 7/10{{cite web |url=https://undertheradarmag.com/reviews/black_grape_pop_voodoo/ |title=Black Grape Pop Voodoo |work=Under the Radar |author=Moayeri, Lily |date=5 September 2017 |access-date=12 September 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912173025/https://undertheradarmag.com/reviews/black_grape_pop_voodoo/ |url-status=live}}
}}
Music critics gave Pop Voodoo generally favourable reviews. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 70, based on ten reviews. AnyDecentMusic? gave it an average score of 6.1, based on 13 reviews.
According to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic.com, Ryder's lyrics on Pop Voodoo are "alternately provocative and embarrassing". Paul Moody of Classic Rock wrote Ryder "remains in a league of his own" in terms of his lyricism. Moody said the album's "slapdash feel" only fails when the band "go off-piste," such as on "the brass-laden skank of the title track". MusicOMH contributor Graeme Marsh said apart from the "at times, laughable spiel spat by Ryder, there is one over-riding conclusion to take from Pop Voodoo – it is irrefutably 'catchy as fuck', as Ryder himself would no doubt say". The Independent{{'s}} head critic Andy Gill said Ryder's "best lyrics here accompany the best grooves", highlighting "Whiskey, Wine and Ham" as an example. Evening Standard{{'s}} Andre Paine wrote after the opening track, Ryder "gradually rediscovers Black Grape’s unruly groove and seamy, surreal wordplay". Paine also said Ryder was "some way off the height of his powers yet he remains a uniquely entertaining pop poet". Westley said Ryder's "ever present lyrical wit is as sharp as it has ever been, but alas ultimately this album never matches his creative heights". April Clare Welsh of Crack magazine said Ryder's words frequently "descend into absurdist territory".{{cite web |url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/album-reviews/black-grape-pop-voodoo/ |title=Black Grape – 'Pop Voodoo' review |work=Crack |author=Welsh, April Clare |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=29 September 2022 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029112346/https://crackmagazine.net/article/album-reviews/black-grape-pop-voodoo/ |url-status=live}} Financial Times writer Ludovic Hunter-Tilney was disappointed in the lyrics because Ryder's "stream-of-consciousness verses were once a kind of bizarre street poetry but here they grow increasingly lacklustre".{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1c078922-61d2-11e7-8814-0ac7eb84e5f1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002140248/https://www.ft.com/content/1c078922-61d2-11e7-8814-0ac7eb84e5f1 |title=Black Grape: Pop Voodoo — 'dusting off old spell books' |work=Financial Times |author=Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic |date=7 July 2017 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |access-date=29 September 2022 |url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}
According to Westley, Pop Voodoo has an "eminent celebratory spirit that lies at the centre of Black Grape's music, so it’s not surprising that the majority of this album is upbeat in nature". The Irish Times writer Lauren Murphy said the "most surprising thing is that there are some half-decent (albeit unprogressive) songs here" but when "all is said and done, the voodoo here is negligible". PopMatters{{'}} John Garratt said Pop Voodoo is an improvement over Black Grape's previous album and Happy Mondays' last, praising Pop Voodoo as "12 solid grooves that drizzle the extra treats on top like a confection: not necessary, but really nice to have!" The Arts Desk writer Guy Oddy said while it does not match the quality of band's 1990s work, Pop Voodoo is "considerably better than might be expected". He said though it can feel a "bit loose at times", the album is "nothing but groovy vibes throughout, even if it does sometimes lack the heft of a proper backing band". In a review for The Sunday Times, Lisa Verrico said many of the tracks would "work well live – surely the point? – but some of the song ideas are stretched to breaking point".
According to Matthew Shaw of Louder Than War, Pop Voodoo is one of "Youth's best production jobs" to date because the mix is "complex, fresh and full of sonic depth".{{cite web |url=https://louderthanwar.com/black-grape-pop-vodoo-album-review/ |title=Black Grape – Pop Voodoo – album review |work=Louder Than War |author=Shaw, Matthew |date=2 August 2017 |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022175211/https://louderthanwar.com/black-grape-pop-vodoo-album-review/ |url-status=live}} Gill wrote Youth helped "restore some of the verve and panache of Black Grape’s glorious debut album". Erlewine praised Youth for "burying Ryder in the mix, using his voice as just another aural element" because "it keeps the focus firmly on brightly dense rhythms". Moayeri said Rendall and Youth "should be credited with how well the superb compositions on Pop Voodoo flow", and according to Jochen Overbeck of Musikexpress: "Youth gives the whole thing some pop nuances that Black Grape hasn't seen before".{{cite web |url=https://www.musikexpress.de/reviews/black-grape-pop-voodoo/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022180850/https://www.musikexpress.de/reviews/black-grape-pop-voodoo/ |title=Black Grape Pop Voodoo |work=Musikexpress |author=Overbeck, Jocen |date=7 July 2017 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |access-date=29 September 2022 |language=German}} Laut.de's Michael Schuh praised Youth for meticulously making "sure that no new-fangled nonsense like trap or dubstep ends up on the record and thus makes the nostalgia performance perfect".{{cite web |url=https://www.laut.de/Black-Grape/Alben/Pop-Voodoo-107273 |title=Black Grape Pop Voodoo |publisher=laut.de |author=Schuh, Michael |access-date=30 September 2022 |language=German |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912175750/https://www.laut.de/Black-Grape/Alben/Pop-Voodoo-107273 |url-status=live}} Verrico said Youth "attempted to keep their naughty-schoolboy side in check", which he "mostly manages by swathing Shaun Ryder’s rants and Kermit’s raps in funky brass and good-time grooves".{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/review-keisha-rainbow-8x3pgvjt3 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220912182012/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/review-keisha-rainbow-8x3pgvjt3 |title=On record: Pop, rock and jazz |work=The Sunday Times |author=Verrico, Lisa |date=6 August 2017 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=29 September 2022}}
Pop Voodoo charted and peaked at number eight in Scottish Albums Chart, and at number fifteen in the UK Album Chart.
Track listing
All songs written by Shaun Ryder, Paul Leveridge and Martin Glover.
{{track listing
|title1=Everything You Know Is Wrong – Intro
|length1=4:30
|title2=Nine Lives
|length2=4:22
|title3=Set the Grass on Fire
|length3=3:18
|title4=Whiskey, Wine and Ham
|length4=3:45
|title5=Money Burns
|length5=5:22
|title6=String Theory
|length6=3:16
|title7=Pop Voodoo
|length7=4:25
|title8=I Wanna Be Like You
|length8=4:04
|title9=Sugar Money
|length9=4:31
|title10=Shame
|length10=4:29
|title11=Losing Sleep
|length11=3:35
|title12=Young and Dumb
|length12=4:54
}}
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.{{cite AV media notes |title=Pop Voodoo |others=Black Grape |year=2017 |type=booklet |publisher=UMC |id=5757996}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Black Grape
- Shaun Ryder – vocals
- Paul "Kermit" Leveridge – vocals
Additional musicians
- Martin "Youth" Glover – programming, Fender VI bass, guitar
- Michael Rendall – keyboards, guitar, programming
- Seth Leppard – guitar
- Alex Ward – saxophone
- Jamie Grashion – programming, guitar
- Rainbow Man – harmonica
- Jackson Scott – acoustic guitar
{{col-2}}
Production and design
- Youth – producer, mixing
- Michael Rendall – recording, mixing, additional production
- Jamie Grashion – assistant engineer
- Luke Fitzpatrick – assistant engineer
- Mike Marsh – mastering
- Jon Gray – illustration
- Estuary English – design
{{col-end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Chart performance for Pop Voodoo |
| Chart (2017)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|UK2|15|date=20170817|artist=Black Grape|album=Pop Voodoo|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2018|refname=UKchart}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|8|date=20170811|artist=Black Grape|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2018|refname=Scochart}} |
References
Citations
{{reflist}}
Sources
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last=Blake |first=Marty |title=Drawn to Type: Lettering for Illustrators |date=2021 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |location=London |isbn=9781350066939}}
- {{cite podcast |host=Millar, Mark |title=Xs Noize Music Podcast: Shaun Ryder + Danny Saber - It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah, 21 Years on. |website=Xs Noize |date=18 September 2016 |url=https://www.xsnoize.com/16-xs-noize-music-podcast-shaun-ryder-danny-saber-its-great-when-youre-straight-yeah-21-years-on/ |access-date=22 October 2021 |archive-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201205828/https://www.xsnoize.com/16-xs-noize-music-podcast-shaun-ryder-danny-saber-its-great-when-youre-straight-yeah-21-years-on/ |url-status=live}}
- {{cite book |last=Ryder |first=Shaun |title=How to Be a Rock Star |date=2021 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=London |isbn=978-1-83895-324-9}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kwLiZ7J4xkw-1MrMQATeBJq79t-zV6k5A Pop Voodoo] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
{{Authority control}}