Soft Sounds from Another Planet

In 2014, Michelle Zauner left the Philadelphia-based emo band Little Big League to care for her terminally ill mother in her hometown of Eugene, Oregon. Songs she wrote to cope with her grief about her mother's death became part of Psychopomp (2016), Japanese Breakfast's debut studio album. Psychopomp received unexpected critical and commercial success, rejuvenating Zauner's efforts to make music a career and leading her to sign with Dead Oceans.{{Cite web |last=Rhoades |first=Lindsey |date=2016-07-26 |title=Great Big Feeling: Japanese Breakfast's Quiet Intensity |url=https://www.bkmag.com/2016/07/26/japanese-breakfast-michelle-zauner-psychopomp-interview/ |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=Brooklyn Magazine}} However, she found herself "reliving traumatic memories" when giving interviews about the album. Zauner said she began writing Soft Sounds from Another Planet to help leave her trauma behind.{{Cite web |title=Soft Sounds From Another Planet |url=https://deadoceans.com/records/soft-sounds-from-another-planet/ |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=Dead Oceans}}

Zauner envisioned it as a concept album, a "sci-fi musical" that would tackle different themes than its predecessor. The first song she wrote for the new album was "Machinist." She found that she disliked the songs she was creating at the time.{{Cite web |last=Rettig |first=James |date=2017-06-01 |title=Q&A: Japanese Breakfast On Enduring Trauma, Reusing Old Songs, & Her New "Failed Concept Album" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1943034/qa-japanese-breakfast-on-enduring-trauma-reusing-old-songs-her-new-failed-concept-album/interviews/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} Zauner also hoped to create a "hi fi" album in contrast to Psychopomp's lo-fi palette that also maintained its predecessor's experimental and playful nature. She attributed the latter to having recently signed to Dead Oceans and consequently feeling pressured due to the budget and deadlines the label assigned her. To produce the album, Zauner contacted Craig Hendrix and the two recorded the album over a month long period in their Philadelphia studio.{{Cite web |last=Hertweck |first=Nate |date=2018-10-25 |title=Japanese Breakfast On The Pressure & Playfulness Behind 'Soft Sounds...' |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/japanese-breakfast-pressure-playfulness-behind-soft-sounds |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=www.grammy.com}}

On May 4, 2017, Japanese Breakfast released the album's lead single, "Machinist" to positive critical reviews.{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Judy |date=2017-04-05 |title=Japanese Breakfast: "Machinist" Track Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/19060-japanese-breakfast-machinist/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Pitchfork|publisher=Condé Nast }}{{Cite web |last=Gotrich |first=Lars |date=2017-05-04 |title=Japanese Breakfast's 'Machinist' Is A Melancholy Story Of Sci-Fi Love: All Songs Considered: NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/05/04/526762029/japanese-breakfasts-machinist-is-a-sci-fi-love-story |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=NPR}} It debuted alongside a music video depicting a woman who dismantles her spaceship when she tries to build a body for her robot lover. The video was directed by Zauner and Adam Kolodny.{{Cite web |last=Rettig |first=James |date=2017-05-04 |title=Japanese Breakfast – "Machinist" Video |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1939136/japanese-breakfast-machinist-video/music/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} A second single, "Boyish", was released on June 7, 2017,{{Cite web |last=Moreland |first=Quinn |date=2017-06-08 |title=Japanese Breakfast: "Boyish" |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/19186-japanese-breakfast-boyish/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Pitchfork|publisher=Condé Nast |language=en-US}} followed by its own video on February 13, 2018, which Zauner later described as her "magnum opus".{{Cite web |last=Rettig |first=James |date=2018-02-13 |title=Japanese Breakfast – "Boyish" Video |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1982882/japanese-breakfast-boyish-video/news/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Fine |first=Gabe |date=2019-03-21 |title=Japanese Breakfast Takes the Director's Seat |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/03/japanese-breakfast-takes-the-directors-seat/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=SPIN |language=en-US}} A third and final single, "Road Head", was released on July 6, 2017, alongside another music video directed by Zauner, who drew inspiration from Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai's film Fallen Angels and television series Twin Peaks.{{Cite web |last=Rettig |first=James |date=2017-07-06 |title=Japanese Breakfast – "Road Head" Video |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1950439/japanese-breakfast-road-head-video/music/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}

To promote the album, Japanese Breakfast released a video game, "Japanese BreakQuest". Players guide "J-Brekkie", a character named for the band's Twitter handle,{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=2017-09-14 |title=Japanese Breakfast's free, online RPG was a long time coming |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/9/14/16298926/japanese-breakfast-interview-play-japanese-breakfquest-online-rpg |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} to gather a band and fight an alien invasion. It was developed by Zauner and video game developer Elaine Fath and features songs from the album as 8-bit MIDI tracks by Peter Bradley.{{cite web |last=Gaca |first=Anna |date=September 14, 2017 |title=Play Japanese Breakfast's New Browser Game, Japanese BreakQuest |url=https://www.spin.com/2017/09/japanese-breakfast-breakquest-rpg-computer-game/ |access-date=June 7, 2021}}

Japanese Breakfast toured in support of the album from July 15, 2017, until November 24, 2019. Supporting acts during the tour included American singers Yohuna, Jay Som, and Half Waif; and American bands Mannequin Pussy, The Spirit of the Beehive, LVL UP, Radiator Hospital, Mothers, and Ought.{{Cite web |last=Blais-Billie |first=Braudie |date=2017-07-06 |title=Japanese Breakfast Announces Tour, Shares New Video: Watch |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/japanese-breakfast-announces-tour-shares-new-video-watch/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Pitchfork |publisher=Condé Nast |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2018-06-07 |title=Announcing "Juan's Basement" With Japanese Breakfast |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/announcing-juans-basement-with-japanese-breakfast/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Pitchfork |publisher=Condé Nast |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2018-01-26 |title=Japanese Breakfast expands 2018 tour to include dates with Belle & Sebastian |url=https://www.thepartae.com/japanese-breakfast-expands-2018-tour-to-include-dates-with-belle-sebastian/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=The Partae |language=en-US}}

{{Infobox concert

| concert_tour_name = Soft Sounds from Another Planet Tour

| artist = Japanese Breakfast

| album = Soft Sounds from Another Planet

| start_date = July 15, 2017

| end_date = November 24, 2019

| support_acts = Yohuna, Mannequin Pussy, The Spirit of the Beehive, Half Waif, Mothers, Ought

| number_of_shows = 156

| last_tour = Porches and Japanese Breakfast Tour
(2016)

| next_tour = Jubilee Tour
(2021–23)

| this_tour = Soft Sounds from Another Planet Tour
(2017–19)

| number_of_legs = 2

}}

{{Hidden|"Setlist"{{cite web|last=Hojsak|first=Sarah|title=Japanese Breakfast brings home Soft Sounds to a sold-out First Unitarian Church|url=https://xpn.org/2017/10/20/japanese-breakfast-brings-home-soft-sounds-sold-first-unitarian-church/|website=XPN|date=October 20, 2017 |access-date=April 12, 2023}}|#"Diving Woman"

1. "In Heaven"
2. "The Woman That Loves You"
3. "Road Head"
4. "Heft"
5. "The Body Is A Blade"
6. "Boyish"
7. "Jane Cum"
8. "12 Steps"
9. "This House"
10. "Triple 7"
11. "Till Death"
12. "Everybody Wants To Love You"
13. "Machinist"}}

{{Album reviews

|ADM = 7.8/10{{cite web|title=Soft Sounds From Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast reviews|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/8810/Japanese-Breakfast-Soft-Sounds-From-Another-Planet.aspx|website=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=July 18, 2017}}

|MC = 83/100{{cite web|title=Reviews and Tracks for Soft Sounds From Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/soft-sounds-from-another-planet/japanese-breakfast|website=Metacritic|access-date=July 18, 2017}}

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Sendra|first=Tim|title=Soft Sounds from Another Planet – Japanese Breakfast|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/soft-sounds-from-another-planet-mw0003050395|website=AllMusic|access-date=July 18, 2017}}

|rev2 = The A.V. Club

|rev2score = A−{{cite web|last=Shultz|first=Brian|title=Japanese Breakfast masks internal strife and insecurities with artfully upbeat experiments|url=http://www.avclub.com/live/japanese-breakfast-dears-sheer-mag-and-more-weeks--257929/entry/1548|website=The A.V. Club|date=July 14, 2017|access-date=July 18, 2017}}

|rev3 = Consequence of Sound

|rev3Score = B+{{cite web|last=Nelson|first=Geoff|title=Japanese Breakfast – Soft Sounds from Another Planet|url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/album-review-japanese-breakfast-soft-sounds-from-another-planet/|website=Consequence of Sound|date=July 5, 2017|access-date=July 18, 2017}}

|rev4 = Drowned in Sound

|rev4Score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Peirson-Hagger|first=Ellen|title=Album Review: Japanese Breakfast – Soft Sounds from Another Planet|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/20002/reviews/4151180|website=Drowned in Sound|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=July 18, 2017|archive-date=July 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717150315/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/20002/reviews/4151180|url-status=dead}}

|rev5 = Exclaim!

|rev5Score = 7/10{{cite web|last=Gormely|first=Ian|title=Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from Another Planet|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/japanese_breakfast-soft_sounds_from_another_planet|work=Exclaim!|date=July 14, 2017|access-date=July 21, 2017}}

|rev6 = The Guardian

|rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Simpson|first=Dave|title=Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from Another Planet review – dreamlike and existential|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/13/japanese-breakfast-soft-sounds-from-another-planet-review-dead-oceans|work=The Guardian|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=July 17, 2018}}

|rev7 = Pitchfork

|rev7Score = 8.0/10{{cite web|last=Reese|first=Nathan|title=Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds From Another Planet|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/japanese-breakfast-soft-sounds-from-another-planet/|website=Pitchfork|date=July 14, 2017|access-date=July 18, 2017}}

|rev8 = PopMatters

|rev8Score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Tanner|title=Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds From Another Planet|url=https://www.popmatters.com/japanese-breakfast-soft-sounds-from-another-planet-2495386080.html|website=PopMatters|date=July 20, 2017|access-date=July 17, 2018}}

|rev9 = Q

|rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|last=Solomon|first=Kate|title=Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from Another Planet|journal=Q|issue=376|date=September 2017|page=110}}

|rev10 = Uncut

|rev10Score = 8/10{{cite journal|last=Watts|first=Peter|title=Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from Another Planet|journal=Uncut|issue=243|date=August 2017|page=32}}

}}

Soft Sounds from Another Planet received widespread acclaim from music critics who praised its experimental production, eclectic range of genres and subject matter of grief and love. It received a weighted score of 83 out of 100 from review aggregate website Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim", based on 20 reviews from music critics.{{Cite web |title=Reviews and Tracks for Soft Sounds From Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/soft-sounds-from-another-planet/japanese-breakfast |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive}}

Reviewers lauded Zauner's vocals and the album's expanded sonic palette in comparison to Psychopomp. Nathan Reese of Pitchfork deemed the album's lead single, "Machinist" the band's "biggest leap forward in terms of sound" and favorably compared Zauner's vocals to shoegaze band Slowdive.{{Cite web |last=Reese |first=Nathan |date=2017-07-14 |title=Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds From Another Planet |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/japanese-breakfast-soft-sounds-from-another-planet/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} No Ripcord's Juan Edgardo Rodriguez also complimented the eclectic range of genres on the album and opined Zauner to be "at her best when she builds upon her aching vocal delivery".{{Cite web |title=Quick Takes (July 2017) |url=https://www.noripcord.com/features/quick-takes-july-2017-0 |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=No Ripcord |language=en}} Tim Sendra of AllMusic considered the album an improvement over Psychopomp and praised the songs', "spacious, expansive sound that envelops the listener in warmth (even when the synths get a little chilly.)"Sendra, Tim. {{Citation |title=Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds from Another Planet Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/soft-sounds-from-another-planet-mw0003050395 |language=en |access-date=2022-08-11}}

Under the Radar's Stephen Mayne praised the album's nuanced perspective on romance and suggested that audiences "looking for something more beautiful need look no farther than what Zauner is already offering."{{Cite web |last=Mayne |first=Stephen |date=2017-07-13 |title=Soft Sounds From Another Planet |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/japanese_breakfast_soft_sounds_from_another_planet |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Under the Radar |language=en}} The Quietus' Veronica Irwin praised the album for retaining the "heartfelt intensity" of its predecessor and Japanese Breakfast's relatable lyrics while expressing surprise at the record's sonic experimentation.{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Veronica |date=2017-07-13 |title=Japanese Breakfast Soft Sounds From Another Planet |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/22822-japanese-breakfast-soft-sounds-from-another-planet-album-review |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=The Quietus |language=en-us}}

Some reviewers meanwhile criticized the album's perceived unevenness. Brian Shultz of The A.V. Club said, "And while everything on Japanese Breakfast's proper sophomore effort isn't entirely fresh, and its structure is somewhat loose, there's a confidence and crispness to Soft Sounds that shows just how fully realized Zauner's formerly homemade experiments have become."{{Cite web |last=Shultz |first=Brian |date=2017-07-14 |title=Japanese Breakfast, The Dears, Sheer Mag, and more in this week's music reviews |url=https://www.avclub.com/japanese-breakfast-the-dears-sheer-mag-and-more-in-t-1798288454 |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en-us}} Exclaim!{{'}}s Ian Gormely noted the album's lack of focus but wrote, "In trying to put a wall between herself and her audience, she's opened a new, far more revealing side to her music and herself."{{Cite web |last=Gormely |first=Ian |date=2017-07-14 |title=Japanese Breakfast Soft Sounds from Another Planet {{!}} Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/japanese_breakfast-soft_sounds_from_another_planet |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Exclaim! |language=en-ca}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Michelle Zauner

| total_length = 37:11

| title1 = Diving Woman

| length1 = 6:33

| title2 = Road Head

| length2 = 3:15

| title3 = Machinist

| length3 = 3:37

| title4 = Planetary Ambience

| length4 = 1:17

| title5 = Soft Sounds from Another Planet

| length5 = 3:21

| title6 = Boyish

| length6 = 3:34

| title7 = 12 Steps

| length7 = 2:37

| title8 = Jimmy Fallon Big!

| length8 = 2:36

| title9 = The Body Is a Blade

| length9 = 3:40

| title10 = Till Death

| length10 = 2:57

| title11 = This House

| length11 = 3:02

| title12 = Here Come the Tubular Bells

| length12 = 0:41

}}

Adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|title=Soft Sounds from Another Planet – Japanese Breakfast (Credits)|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/soft-sounds-from-another-planet-mw0003050395/credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=July 18, 2017}}

• David Bartler – saxophone
• Asher Brooks – trumpet
• Jorge Elbrecht – mixing
• David Hartley – engineer
• Craig Hendrix – engineer, producer
• Michael Johnson – engineer
• Heba Kadry – mastering
• Craig Scheihing – photography
• Todd Schied – engineer
• Nathaniel David Utesch – design
• Michelle Zauner – vocals, guitars, producer

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{{Japanese Breakfast}}

Category:2017 albums

Category:Dead Oceans albums

Category:Japanese Breakfast albums