Today We're the Greatest
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Today We're the Greatest
| type = studio
| artist = Middle Kids
| cover = Middle Kids - Today We're the Greatest.png|border=yes
| alt =
| released = 19 March 2021
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 40:38
| label = Domino
| producer = Lars Stalfors
| prev_title = New Songs for Old Problems
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Faith Crisis Pt 1
| next_year = 2024
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Today We're the Greatest
| type = studio
| single1 = R U 4 Me?
| single1date = 14 October 2020{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/r-u-4-me-single/1534077414/|title=R U 4 Me? – Single by Middle Kids on Apple Music|via=Apple Music|date=14 October 2020|accessdate=16 October 2020}}
| single2 = Questions
| single2date = January 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/middle-kids-announce-new-album-today-were-the-greatest-2856046/ |title=Middle Kids announce new album, Today We're the Greatest|work=NME Australia |date=14 January 2021 |accessdate=15 January 2021 |author=Jackson, Langford}}
| single3 = Cellophane (Brain)
| single3date = 11 February 2021{{cite web|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/middle-kids-share-new-single-cellophane-brain-23040/|title=Middle Kids Share New Single, "Cellophane (Brain)"|website=Rolling Stone Australia|date=11 February 2021|access-date=11 February 2021}}
| single4 = Stacking Chairs
| single4date = 5 March 2021{{cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/charts/singles-to-radio/|title=Sinlgles to Radio issues 1331|website=The Music Network|date=5 March 2021|access-date=5 March 2021}}
| single5 = Today We're the Greatest
| single5date = 19 March 2021{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/middle-kids-share-today-were-the-greatest-title-track-with-stunning-new-video-2902184|title=Middle Kids share "Today We're the Greatest" title track with stunning new video|website=NME Australia|date=17 March 2021|access-date=22 November 2021}}
}}
}}
Today We're the Greatest is the second studio album by Australian alternative-indie rock band Middle Kids, released on 19 March 2021. The album peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Charts. At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, the album won Best Rock Album.{{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}}{{cite web | url = https://www.aria.com.au/awards/news/genesis-owusu-the-kid-laroi-spacey-jane-rufus-du-sol-big-winners-at-the-2021-aria-awards-in-partnership-with-youtube-music | title = Genesis Owusu, The Kid Laroi, Spacey Jane, RÜFÜS DU SOL big winners at the 2021 ARIA Awards in partnership with YouTube Music | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association | date = 24 November 2021 | access-date = 24 November 2021 }} At the J Awards of 2021, the album was nominated for 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}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last1=Donelson |first1=Marcy |title=Today We're the Greatest – Middle Kids |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/today-were-the-greatest-mw0003472624 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=26 April 2024}}
| rev2 = Clash
| rev2score = 8/10{{cite web |last1=Beech |first1=Dave |title=Middle Kids – Today We’re The Greatest |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/middle-kids-today-were-the-greatest/ |website=Clash |access-date=26 April 2024}}
| rev3 = Dork
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=McQueen |first1=Edie |title=Middle Kids – Today We’re The Greatest |url=https://readdork.com/albums/middle-kids-today-were-the-greatest/ |website=Dork |access-date=26 April 2024}}
| rev4 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev4score = 8/10{{cite web |last1=Bocci |first1=Maria |title=Middle Kids remind us of the good, the bad and the in-between on Today We’re The Greatest |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/middle-kids-today-were-the-greatest-album-review |website=The Line of Best Fit |access-date=26 April 2024}}
| rev5 = Paste
| rev5score = 8.1/10{{cite web |last1=Salmon |first1=Ben |title=Middle Kids Make Anthems Sound Easy on Today We’re the Greatest |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/middle-kids/today-were-the-greatest-album-review |website=Paste |access-date=26 April 2024 |date=19 March 2021}}
| rev6 = The Sydney Morning Herald
| rev6score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Mathieson |first=Craig |date=19 March 2021 |title=Music reviews: Middle Kids, Azita, Jesswar and Avgenicos Brothers |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/music-reviews-middle-kids-azita-jesswar-and-avgenicos-brothers-20210315-p57aqb.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240426110942/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/music-reviews-middle-kids-azita-jesswar-and-avgenicos-brothers-20210315-p57aqb.html |archive-date=26 April 2024 |access-date=26 April 2024 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}
}}
Today We're the Greatest received positive acclaim from critics. Writing for The Sydney Morning Herald, Craig Mathieson called it "an impressive record" that "believes in discovery and leans towards affirmation". Ben Salmon of Paste said the album "sounds great, and whatever it lacks in the element of surprise, it makes up for with consistency." Compared to their previous album, Lost Friends (2018), Dave Beech of Clash concluded Today We're the Greatest "is calmer and more considered record," and "harbours warmth and richness in abundance, but a sense of fragility and vulnerability also." Reviewing for Dork, Edie McQueen praised the sonic details with the incorporation of "the tweeting of birds, the patter of rain, and even the beating heart of members’ Hannah Joy and Tim Fitz’s unborn son, taken from a sonogram."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Hannah Joy and Tim Fitz, except where noted
| headline = Today We're the Greatest track listing
| title1 = Bad Neighbours
| writer1 =
| extra1 =
| length1 = 3:10
| title2 = Cellophane (Brain)
| writer2 =
| extra2 =
| length2 = 3:30
| title3 = R U 4 Me?
| writer3 =
| extra3 =
| length3 = 2:49
| title4 = Questions
| writer4 =
| extra4 =
| length4 = 2:53
| title5 = Lost in Los Angeles
| writer5 =
| extra5 =
| length5 = 3:48
| title6 = Golden Star
| writer6 =
| extra6 =
| length6 = 3:43
| title7 = Summer Hill
| writer7 =
| extra7 =
| length7 = 4:21
| title8 = Some People Stay in our Hearts Forever
| writer8 =
| extra8 =
| length8 = 3:06
| title9 = Run with You
| writer9 =
| extra9 =
| length9 = 3:25
| title10 = I Don't Care
| writer10 = {{hlist|Joy|Fitz|Martin Doherty}}
| extra10 =
| length10 = 2:58
| title11 = Stacking Chairs
| writer11 =
| extra11 =
| length11 = 3:08
| title12 = Today We're the Greatest
| writer12 = {{hlist|Joy|Fitz|Tommy English}}
| extra12 =
| length12 = 3:47
| total_length = 40:38
}}
Personnel
Middle Kids
- Hannah Joy – writing {{Small|(all tracks)}}, vocals, guitars, synth, piano
- Tim Fitz – writing {{Small|(all tracks)}}, bass guitar, guitars, banjo, pedal steel, synth, piano
- Harry Day – Ludwig drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- Martin Doherty – writing {{Small|(track 10)}}
- Tommy English – writing {{Small|(track 12)}}
- Nate Willet – guitars {{Small|(track 10)}}
- Brendan Champion – brass {{Small|(track 4)}}
- Daniel Chae – strings {{Small|(track 1)}}
Technical
- Lars Stalfors – producer, mixing, engineering
- Tim Fitz – co-producer
- Joe Laporta – mastering
- Kye Berzle – producer, engineering {{Small|(track 7)}}
- Scott Horscroft – co-producer {{Small|(track 12)}}
- Maclay Heriot – photos
- Ben Lewis Giles – design
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Today We're the Greatest ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-03-29|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=29 March 2021|access-date=26 March 2021}}
| 5 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Scotland|87|date=20210326|rowheader=true|access-date=27 March 2021}} |