Smiling with No Teeth
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Smiling with No Teeth
| type = studio
| artist = Genesis Owusu
| cover = Smiling with No Teeth by Genesis Owusu.webp
| alt =
| released = 5 March 2021
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Alternative R&B|experimental hip-hop|neo soul|rap rock|experimental rock|punk rock}}
| length = 53:54
| label = {{hlist|Ourness|House Anxiety}}
| producer = {{hlist|Andrew Klippel{{efn|Tracks 1–9, 11, 13–15}}|Dave Hammer{{efn|Tracks 1, 3, 5–7, 9, 13, 15}}|Harvey Sutherland{{efn|Track 12}}|Joe LaPorta{{efn|Track 5}}|Matt Corby{{efn|Track 10}}}}
| prev_title = Cardrive EP
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Struggler
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{Singles
| type = studio
| single1 = Don't Need You
| single1date = 15 May 2020
| single2 = Whip Cracker
| single2date = 6 June 2020
| single3 = The Other Black Dog
| single3date = 19 November 2020
| single4 = Gold Chains
| single4date = 19 February 2021
| single5 = Drown
| single5date = 3 March 2021
| single6 = Waitin' On Ya'
| single6date = December 2021{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/watch-genesis-owusu-get-lost-on-an-island-in-new-waitin-on-ya-remix-video-3109502|title=Watch Genesis Owusu get lost on an island in new "Waitin' On Ya'" video|website=NME Australia|date=2 December 2021|access-date=22 February 2022}}
}}
{{Singles
| name = Missing Molars
| type = studio
| single1 = Same Thing
| single1date = 2 June 2021
| single2 = The Fall
| single2date = 14 July 2021
}}
}}
Smiling with No Teeth is the debut studio album by Australian musician Genesis Owusu, released on 5 March 2021 through Ourness. The album features a guest appearance from Kirin J. Callinan and production from Callinan, Andrew Klippel, Dave Hammer, Harvey Sutherland, Joe LaPorta, and Matt Corby.
Preceded by five singles—"Don't Need You", "Whip Cracker", "The Other Black Dog", "Gold Chains", and "Drown" (featuring Kirin J. Callinan)—Smiling with No Teeth debuted at number 27 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, the album won Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release and Best Independent Release while Andrew Klippel and Dave Hammer won Producer of the Year. Owusu was nominated for Best Artist and Kofi Anash & Bailey Howard were nominated for Best Cover Art.{{cite web |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/2021-aria-awards-nominees/ |title=ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge |work=The Music Network |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=24 October 2021 |author=Kelly, Vivienne |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020000045/https://themusicnetwork.com/2021-aria-awards-nominees/ |archive-date=20 October 2021 |url-status=live}}
At the J Awards of 2021, the album won the Australian Album of the Year{{cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/triple-j-award-nominees-2021/|title=Triple j reveals J Awards nominees|website=The Music Network|date=1 November 2021|access-date=1 November 2021|author=Kelly, Vivienne}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/genesis-owusu-leads-this-years-2021-j-awards-winners/13635242|title=Genesis Owusu leads this year's 2021 J Awards winners|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=18 November 2021|access-date=20 November 2021}} and in March 2022, won the Australian Music Prize{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/genesis-owusu-won-$30000-australian-music-prize-debut-album/13779760|title=Genesis Owusu has won the $30,000 Australian Music Prize|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=3 March 2022|access-date=5 March 2022}} and Best Record at the 2022 Rolling Stone Australia Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/rolling-stone-australia-awards-2022-winners/|title=All the winners from the 2022 Rolling Stone Australia Awards|website=The Music Network|date=31 March 2022|access-date=31 March 2022}} at the AIR Awards of 2022, it won Independent Album of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/genesis-owusu-wins-big-at-the-2022-air-awards/|title=Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards|website=MusicFeeds|date=5 August 2022|access-date=6 August 2022|author=Tyler Jenke}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| MC = 86/100{{Cite web|title=Smiling with No Teeth by Genesis Owusu|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/smiling-with-no-teeth/genesis-owusu/critic-reviews|access-date=March 23, 2021|publisher=Metacritic|language=en}}
| rev1 = DIY
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Jenessa|title=Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth {{!}} Reviews|url=http://diymag.com/2021/03/04/genesis-owusu-smiling-with-no-teeth-album-review|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=DIY|language=en}}
| rev2 = Earmilk
| rev3 = Gigwise
| rev3score = {{Rating|7|10}}{{Cite web|last=Lindevall|first=Sofie|date=March 4, 2021|title=Album Review: Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth {{!}} Gigwise|url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/3396726/album-review-genesis-owusu-smiling-with-no-teeth|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=Gigwise}}
| rev4 = Loud and Quiet
| rev4score = 9/10{{Cite web|last=Vinti|first=Mike|title=Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth|url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/genesis-owusu-smiling-with-no-teeth/|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=Loud and Quiet|language=en-US}}
| rev5 = musicOMH
| rev5score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web|last=Murphy|first=John|date=March 5, 2021|title=Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth {{!}} Album Reviews|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/genesis-owusu-smiling-with-no-teeth|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=musicOMH|language=en-GB}}
| rev6 = NME
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|last=Wehner|first=Cyclone|date=March 5, 2021|title=Genesis Owusu – ‘Smiling With No Teeth’ review: a transcendent conceptual opus|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/genesis-owusu-smiling-with-no-teeth-review-2894755|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=NME|language=en-GB}}
| rev7 = The Arts Desk
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|last=Green|first=Thomas H|date=March 6, 2021|title=Album: Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth|url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-genesis-owusu-smiling-no-teeth|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=The Arts Desk|language=en}}
| rev8 = The Independent
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|last=Brodsky|first=Rachel|date=March 4, 2021|title=Album reviews: Genesis Owusu and Zara Larsson|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/genesis-owusu-review-zara-larsson-poster-girl-b1812383.html|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}}
| rev9 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev9score = 9/10{{Cite web|last=Loftin|first=Steven|date=March 1, 2021|title=Smiling With No Teeth finds Genesis Owusu perfectly balancing style with substance|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/genesis-owusu-smiling-with-no-teeth-album-review|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=The Line of Best Fit|language=en}}
| rev10 = The Sydney Morning Herald
| rev10score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web|last=Ziaziaris|first=Simone|date=March 5, 2021|title=Music reviews: Kings of Leon, Jane Weaver, Genesis Owusu and more|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/music-reviews-kings-of-leon-jane-weaver-genesis-owusu-and-more-20210301-p576pe.html|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}
}}
Smiling with No Teeth received critical acclaim.{{cite web |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-pictures/gallery-the-2022-sailor-jerry-rolling-stone-australia-awards-39363/ |title=Gallery: The 2022 Sailor Jerry Rolling Stone Australia Awards |work=Rolling Stone Australia |date=10 April 2022 |access-date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411011319/https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-pictures/gallery-the-2022-sailor-jerry-rolling-stone-australia-awards-39363/ |archive-date=11 April 2022 |url-status=live}} At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 86 based on six reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". The aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.
Mark Salisbury of Earmilk praised the album, saying that it "is a visceral sonic attack on the senses and should cement Genesis Owusu as an international renaissance man". Mike Vinti of Loud and Quiet said, "A triumph from top to bottom, Smiling with No Teeth sets the stage for Genesis Owusu to become a potentially generation-defining star". John Murphy of musicOMH said, "it's an album that's easy to feel intimidated by at first listen, due to its sheer scale and ambition. However, after a few listens you'll be in no doubt that Genesis Owusu is one of the most exciting names of the year". Steven Loftin of The Line of Best Fit said, "Owusu's debut offering not only manages to deftly balance style with substance, but does so with a jubilance that gives as much reason to curl up your own most toothy grin". Simone Ziaziaris of The Sydney Morning Herald said, "via forays into multiple musical genres, Smiling with No Teeth creates a space both for Owusu to express his own personal experiences, and for others to question nuanced complexities". Jenessa Williams of DIY said, "like Gorillaz, Outkast or even The Weeknd before him, he plays well with dark and sinister, throwing theatrical voice in a musical hall of mirrors with real versatility". Cyclone Wehner of NME said, "with Smiling With No Teeth, Genesis Owusu has delivered a riveting album that underscores the power of self-knowledge, perspective and art – one that should be cranked loud". Thomas H Green of The Arts Desk found that the album "brings to mind an overdose of references, but the musical magpie-ism is more Prince than pastiche". Rachel Brodsky of The Independent said, "with strong, clear-eyed subtext, overlaid by compositions that touch on every influence from TV on the Radio to Prince, Childish Gambino and Radiohead, Smiling With No Teeth is not so much an album as it is a memoir". Sofie Lindevall of Gigwise said that the album "has plenty of not only good, but great, songs and whether you are a fan of high energy hip-hop, raw punk-esque guitars or soulful R&B, there is something on the album for you".
=Mid-year lists=
class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable plainrowheaders" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|+Smiling with No Teeth on mid-year lists ! scope="col"| Publication ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| List ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number"| Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
scope="row"| The Music
| The Music{{'}}s Top 25 Albums Of 2021 (So Far) | {{N/a}} | {{center|{{cite web |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/top-25-albums-2021-so-far/xLLc1tnY29o/01-07-21/ |title=Are these the best albums of 2021 so far? |work=The Music |date=1 July 2021 |access-date=8 July 2021 |author= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701062453/https://themusic.com.au/news/top-25-albums-2021-so-far/xLLc1tnY29o/01-07-21/ |archive-date=1 July 2021 |url-status=live}}}} |
---|
=Year-end lists=
class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable plainrowheaders" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|+Smiling with No Teeth on end of year lists ! scope="col"| Publication ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| List ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number"| Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
scope="row"| Double J
| The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 11 | {{center|{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/50-best-albums-of-2021/13661034 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2021 |work=Double J |date=9 December 2021 |access-date=13 December 2021 |author= }}}} |
---|
scope="row"| NME
| The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 29 |work=NME |date=10 December 2021 |access-date=13 December 2021 |author= }}}} |
scope="row"| Paste
| The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 50 |work=Paste |date=29 November 2021 |access-date=30 November 2021 |author= }}}} |
Commercial performance
Smiling with No Teeth debuted and peaked at number 27 on the ARIA Albums Chart for the chart dated 15 March 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-03-15/ |title=ARIA Top 50 Albums for week of 15 March 2021
|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |date=15 March 2021 |access-date=24 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323111954/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-03-15/ |archive-date=23 March 2021 |url-status=live}}
The album also debuted at number 3 on the ARIA Top 20 Vinyl Albums Chart,{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/2021-03-15/ |title=ARIA Top 20 Vinyl Albums for week of 15 March 2021 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |date=15 March 2021 |access-date=24 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323112111/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/2021-03-15/ |archive-date=23 March 2021 |url-status=live}} and at number 5 on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Albums Chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/australian-artist-albums-chart/2021-03-15/ |title=ARIA Top 20 Australian Albums for week of 15 March 2021
|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |date=15 March 2021 |access-date=24 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323112246/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/australian-artist-albums-chart/2021-03-15/ |archive-date=23 March 2021 |url-status=live}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Smiling with No Teeth track listing
| title1 = On the Move!
| writer1 = {{hlist|Kofi Ansah|Andrew Klippel|David Haddad}}
| length1 = 1:47
| title2 = The Other Black Dog
| writer2 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Michael Di Francesco}}
| length2 = 4:23
| title3 = Centrefold
| writer3 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Kieran John Callinan|Di Francesco|Julian Sudek}}
| length3 = 3:16
| title4 = Waitin' on Ya
| writer4 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| length4 = 5:44
| title5 = Don't Need You
| writer5 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek|Haddad}}
| length5 = 3:05
| title6 = Drown
| note6 = featuring Kirin J. Callinan
| writer6 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek|Haddad}}
| length6 = 2:57
| title7 = Gold Chains
| writer7 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| length7 = 3:38
| title8 = Smiling with No Teeth
| writer8 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| length8 = 4:59
| title9 = I Don't See Colour
| writer9 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| length9 = 2:56
| title10 = Black Dogs!
| writer10 = {{hlist|Ansah|Matt Corby}}
| length10 = 2:00
| title11 = Whip Cracker
| writer11 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| length11 = 4:41
| title12 = Easy
| writer12 = {{hlist|Ansah|Harvey Sutherland}}
| length12 = 3:02
| title13 = A Song About Fishing
| writer13 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| length13 = 3:25
| title14 = No Looking Back
| writer14 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| length14 = 3:42
| title15 = Bye Bye
| writer15 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| length15 = 4:09
| total_length = 53:44
| extra8 = Klippel
| extra14 = Klippel
| extra13 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
| extra12 = Sutherland
| extra11 = Klippel
| extra10 = Corby
| extra9 = Klippel
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| extra7 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
| extra4 = Klippel
| extra3 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Klippel|James Dring|Hammer}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Klippel|Dave Hammer}}
| extra15 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
}}{{Track listing
| title1 = The Fall
| writer1 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek|Haddad}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| writer5 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| writer4 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| writer3 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek}}
| writer2 = {{hlist|Ansah|Klippel|Callinan|Di Francesco|Sudek|Haddad}}
| length5 = 3:11
| headline = Missing Molars (Swnt Deluxe) track listing
| length4 = 4:13
| length3 = 3:12
| length2 = 3:34
| title5 = Crosses
| title4 = Fallen Branches
| title3 = Same Thing
| title2 = What Do I Fear?
| total_length = 70:12
| length1 = 2:18
| extra5 = {{hlist|Klippel|Hammer}}
}}
Notes
- The deluxe version removes the outro of "The Other Black Dog", changing the length from 4:23 to 3:30
Personnel
=Musicians=
- Genesis Owusu – writing, vocals (all tracks)
Backing band
- Kirin J. Callinan – writing, vocals, guitar (3–9, 11, 13–15)
- Michael Di Francesco – writing, bass guitar (2–9, 11, 13–15)
- Julian Sudek – writing, drums (2–9, 11, 13–15)
- Andrew Klippel – keyboard, writing (1–9, 11, 13–15)
Other musicians
- Dave Hammer – writing (5)
- David Haddad – writing (1, 6)
- Harvey Sutherland – writing (12)
- Matt Corby – writing (10)
=Technical=
- Andrew Klippel – production (1–9, 11, 13–15)
- Dave Hammer – production (1, 3, 5–7, 9, 13, 15), engineering (4, 8, 14)
- Harvey Sutherland – production (12)
- Joe LaPorta – production (5), engineering (1, 3–4, 6–10, 12–15)
- Matt Corby – production (10)
- Andrew Dawson – engineering (10)
- George Nicholas – engineering (1–9, 13–15)
- James Dring – engineering (2)
- Konstantin Kersting – engineering (12)
- Simon Cohen – engineering (2–4, 7–9, 11, 13–14)
Charts
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for Smiling with No Teeth ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
{{album chart|Australia|27|artist=Genesis Owusu|album=Smiling With No Teeth|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 23, 2021}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{ARIA Award for Album of the Year}}
=Notes=
{{Notelist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|17760016|Smiling with No Teeth}}
{{Authority control}}