Sisyphus (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = Sisyphus
| type = studio
| artist = Sisyphus
| cover = Sisyphus album.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2014|3|18}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop, electronic
| length = {{Duration|m=51|s=31}}
| label = Asthmatic Kitty
| producer =
| prev_title = Beak & Claw
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Sisyphus
| type = studio
| single1 = Calm It Down
| single1date = December 19, 2013{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/sufjan-stevens-group-sisyphus-is-releasing-a-new-record-1798242646|title=Sufjan Stevens' group Sisyphus is releasing a new record next year|work=The A.V. Club|first=Marah|last=Eakin|date=December 19, 2013|access-date=July 7, 2018}}
}}
}}
Sisyphus is the debut studio album by Sisyphus, a collaborative project between Serengeti, Son Lux, and Sufjan Stevens.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/03/10-albums-stream-black-lips-bradford-cox-divergent-soundtrack/|title=10 Albums to Stream: Black Lips, Bradford Cox, 'Divergent' Soundtrack, and More|work=Spin|first=Jen|last=Jamin|date=March 7, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}} It was released through Asthmatic Kitty on March 18, 2014. The project was commissioned by the Walker Art Center and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music series to accompany an exhibition of the work of visual artist Jim Hodges, scheduled to run from February 14 through May 11, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/53400-listen-sufjan-stevens-son-lux-and-serengeti-announce-lp-as-sisyphus-share-calm-it-down/|title=Listen: Sufjan Stevens, Son Lux, and Serengeti Announce LP as Sisyphus, Share "Calm It Down"|work=Pitchfork|first=Evan|last=Minsker|date=December 19, 2013|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
Music videos were made for "Calm It Down",{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1608952/sisyphus-sufjan-son-lux-serengeti-calm-it-down/mp3s/|title=Sisyphus (Sufjan, Son Lux, & Serengeti) – "Calm It Down"|work=Stereogum|first=Chris|last=Deville|date=December 19, 2013|accessdate=July 7, 2018}} "Alcohol",{{cite web|url=http://www.cmj.com/news/watch-sisyphus-sufjan-stevens-son-lux-serengeti-alcohol-video/|title=Watch: Sisyphus (Sufjan Stevens, Son Lux, Serengeti) – "Alcohol"|work=CMJ|first=Anna|last=Batt|date=February 17, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205130040/http://www.cmj.com/news/watch-sisyphus-sufjan-stevens-son-lux-serengeti-alcohol-video/|archivedate=December 5, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}} "Booty Call",{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sisyphus-booty_call_video|title=Sisyphus "Booty Call" (video)|work=Exclaim!|first=Alex|last=Hudson|date=March 26, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}} and "Take Me".{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2014/05/watch-sufjan-stevens-star-in-sisyphus-new-video-for-take-me/|title=Watch: Sufjan Stevens stars in Sisyphus' new video for "Take Me"|work=Consequence of Sound|first=Michelle|last=Geslani|date=May 2, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| MC = 64/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/sisyphus/sisyphus|title=Sisyphus by Sisyphus|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sisyphus-mw0002615471|title=Sisyphus - Sisyphus|work=AllMusic|first=Timothy|last=Monger|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
| rev2 = Clash
| rev2score = 7/10{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/sisyphus-sisyphus|title=Sisyphus - Sisyphus|work=Clash|first=Anna|last=Wilson|date=March 10, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
| rev3 = Consequence of Sound
| rev3score = C{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2014/03/album-review-sisyphus-sisyphus/|title=Sisyphus – Sisyphus|work=Consequence of Sound|first=Chris|last=Bosmanon|date=March 17, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/20/sisyphus-sisyphus-review-comedy-hip-hop-sufjan-stevens|title=Sisyphus: Sisyphus review|work=The Guardian|first=Paul|last=MacInnes|date=March 20, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
| rev5 = MusicOMH
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/sisyphus-sisyphus|title=Sisyphus – Sisyphus|work=MusicOMH|first=Dylan|last=Kilby|date=March 17, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
| rev6 = NME
| rev6score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/reviews-various-artists-15157|title=Sisyphus - 'Sisyphus'|work=NME|first=Rhian|last=Daly|date=March 14, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7score = 6.2/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19199-sisyphus-sisyphus/|title=Sisyphus: Sisyphus|work=Pitchfork|first=Jeremy D.|last=Larson|date=April 3, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
| rev8 = PopMatters
| rev8score = {{Rating|5|10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/181907-sisyphus-sisyphus-2495658216.html|title=Sisyphus: Sisyphus|work=PopMatters|first=Ryan|last=Lathan|date=June 2, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
| rev9 = Spectrum Culture
| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://spectrumculture.com/2014/03/17/sisyphus-sisyphus/|title=Sisyphus: Sisyphus|work=Spectrum Culture|first=Josh|last=Goller|date=March 17, 2014|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}
}}
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 64, based on 17 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Jeremy D. Larson of Pitchfork gave the album a 6.2 out of 10, saying: "More often than not, Sisyphus misses its mark, but the album's dense, melancholy back half represents its strongest moments." Meanwhile, Paul MacInnes of The Guardian gave the album 4 stars out of 5, saying: "Even when the fusion doesn't work, you can't help but admire the creativity."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = Calm It Down
| length1 = 6:30
| title2 = Take Me
| length2 = 5:57
| title3 = Booty Call
| length3 = 2:22
| title4 = Rhythm of Devotion
| length4 = 6:02
| title5 = Flying Ace
| length5 = 3:05
| title6 = My Oh My
| length6 = 3:31
| title7 = I Won't Be Afraid
| length7 = 5:15
| title8 = Lion's Share
| length8 = 4:16
| title9 = Dishes in the Sink
| length9 = 3:35
| title10 = Hardly Hanging On
| length10 = 4:18
| title11 = Alcohol
| length11 = 6:40
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
Sisyphus
- Serengeti – performance
- Son Lux – performance
- Sufjan Stevens – performance
Additional musicians
- Rob Moose – strings (5)
- DM Stith – vocals (8)
- Christopher Wray – guitar (8), bass guitar (8)
- Rafiq Bhatia – guitar (10)
Technical personnel
- Jim Hodges – artwork
- Stephen Halker – Sisyphus logo
- David Regen – back cover photography
- Ronald Amstutz – interior photography
Charts
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{SoundCloud|sisyphusmusic/sets/sisyphus|Sisyphus}}
- {{Discogs master|657488|Sisyphus}}
{{Serengeti (rapper)}}
{{son Lux}}
{{Sufjan Stevens}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2014 collaborative albums
Category:Sisyphus (hip-hop group) albums