Wikipedia

My Love Is Cool

My Love Is Cool is the debut studio album by English alternative rock band Wolf Alice. It was released on 22 June 2015 in the United Kingdom by Dirty Hit and on 23 June 2015 in the United States by RCA Records. The album includes the previously released singles "Bros" and "Fluffy" in re-recorded versions, and was preceded by the songs "Giant Peach" and "You're a Germ".[1] The song "Moaning Lisa Smile", which originally appeared on the band's 2014 EP Creature Songs, peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and was also included on the US edition of the album.[2] While not a single, the song "Silk" appeared on the soundtrack of T2 Trainspotting, peaking at number 39 on the Scottish charts in 2017.[3]

My Love Is Cool
Studio album by
Wolf Alice
Released22 June 2015 (2015-06-22)
Recorded2014–2015
StudioLivingston, London
Genre
Length48:52
LabelDirty Hit, RCA Records
ProducerMike Crossey
Wolf Alice chronology
Creature Songs
(2014) 		My Love Is Cool
(2015) 		Visions of a Life
(2017)
Singles from My Love Is Cool
  1. "Giant Peach"
    Released: 24 February 2015
  2. "Bros"
    Released: 17 April 2015
  3. "You're a Germ"
    Released: 10 June 2015
  4. "Freazy"
    Released: 27 November 2015
  5. "Lisbon"
    Released: 22 June 2016

The album was nominated for the 2015 Mercury Music Prize.[4] On 19 August 2016, My Love Is Cool was reissued as a limited-edition box set, containing a 12-inch double gatefold vinyl of the album, 10-inch vinyl copies of the Blush and Creature Songs EPs, and a bonus CD of demos, B-sides and rarities.[5]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[6]
Metacritic78/100[7]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [8]
The Daily Telegraph     [9]
The Guardian     [10]
The Irish Times     [11]
Mojo     [12]
NME9/10[13]
Pitchfork7.4/10[14]
Q     [15]
Rolling Stone     [16]
Uncut8/10[17]

My Love Is Cool received positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 78, based on 21 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.[7] Harriet Gibsone of The Guardian called the album "familiar but invigorating indie-rock", further stating: "while the foundations of My Love Is Cool are 90s/00s shoegaze and grunge, the London quartet defibrillate their influences with the ambition of youth. It also feels like an album that's been allowed time to gestate: despite being virtually veteran in buzzband terms, they have benefited from beefing up their sound on tour – as evidenced on the heavy romance of 'Your Loves Whore', the dirty degenerate chug of 'You're a Germ', or the cinematic 'Turn to Dust'. The awkward introversion in the lyrics – which deal with relationship strife, creepy blokes, friendship, gender and the quest for eternal love – add a sense of emotional overload driven by late nights, blood pacts and wide-eyed wonder. It's an invigorating debut with a gaunt, gallant identity of its own."[10] Harriet Gibsone, also of The Guardian, described the album musically as "grungy, dream-pop."[18]

Stephen Ackroyd of DIY praised the album, saying "My Love Is Cool isn't simply a great debut. It's not just a great album full stop. It's, in no uncertain terms, a remarkable one. The furthest from route one they could ever get, Wolf Alice aren't just sure of who they are; they own it."[19] MusicOMH's Graeme Marsh said the album is "as good a debut as you could hope to hear, a fresh injection of pure brilliance and beauty to a genre that is creaking under the weight of mediocrity and a lack of adventurous inventiveness."[20] AllMusic critic Heather Phares stated that "even if My Love Is Cool sacrifices some of Wolf Alice's earlier fury, the album is all the stronger for it."[8] Neil McCormick of The Telegraph wrote, "They don't quite sound like the finished article, but there is a virtuous sense of their trying to make music in service of something profound."[9] Pitchfork's Laura Snapes stated: "The confident diversity of My Love Is Cool indicates a band who have their own thing all figured out, who shouldn't veer from their own strange path to live up to outdated narratives that dictate what a young British band should be."[14]

Accolades

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Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Drowned in Sound Favorite Albums of 2015
4
 [21]
The Guardian The Best Albums of 2015
13
 [22]
musicOMH Top 50 Albums of 2015
6
 [23]
NME Albums of the Year 2015
4
 [24]
Q 50 Albums of the Year 2015
44
 [25]
Rough Trade Albums of the Year 2015
6
 [26]
Time Out London The 50 Best Albums of 2015
6
 [27]
Under the Radar Top 100 Albums of 2015
3
 [28]
NME Best Albums of the Decade
65
[29]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Ellie Rowsell, Joff Oddie, Theo Ellis and Joel Amey

No.TitleLength
1."Turn to Dust"3:07
2."Bros"3:44
3."Your Loves Whore"4:57
4."You're a Germ"2:53
5."Lisbon"3:26
6."Silk"4:03
7."Freazy"3:14
8."Giant Peach"4:35
9."Swallowtail"5:41
10."Soapy Water"3:42
11."Fluffy"2:44
12."The Wonderwhy" (includes hidden track "My Love Is Cool"[14])6:46
Total length:48:52
Digital deluxe edition bonus tracks[30]
No.TitleLength
13."Moaning Lisa Smile"2:40
14."Storms"3:24
15."Heavenly Creatures"3:17
16."We're Not the Same"3:04
17."Blush"4:19
18."She"3:12
19."Nosedive"2:46
20."90 Mile Beach"3:44
21."Baby Ain't Made of China"3:37
22."I Saw You (In a Corridor)"2:42
23."Every Cloud"2:54
24."White Leather"2:36
25."Leaving You"3:18
26."Freazy" (music video)3:17
27."You're a Germ" (music video)2:51
28."Bros" (music video)3:45
29."Giant Peach" (music video)4:34
30."Moaning Lisa Smile" (music video)2:48
31."Fluffy" (music video)3:16
Total length:119:56
US edition[31]
No.TitleLength
1."Turn to Dust"3:07
2."Bros"3:44
3."Your Loves Whore"4:57
4."Moaning Lisa Smile"2:42
5."You're a Germ"2:53
6."Lisbon"3:26
7."Silk"4:03
8."Freazy"3:14
9."Giant Peach"4:35
10."Swallowtail"5:41
11."Soapy Water"3:42
12."Fluffy"2:44
13."The Wonderwhy" (includes hidden track "My Love Is Cool")6:46
Total length:51:34
Limited-edition box set – bonus 10-inch vinyl (Creature Songs)[5][32]
No.TitleLength
1."Moaning Lisa Smile"2:40
2."Storms"3:24
3."Heavenly Creatures"3:17
4."We're Not the Same"3:04
Total length:12:25
Limited-edition box set – bonus 10-inch vinyl (Blush)[5][32]
No.TitleLength
1."Blush"4:19
2."She"3:12
3."Nosedive"2:47
4."Ninety Mile Beach"3:44
Total length:14:02
Limited-edition box set – bonus CD (B-Sides, Demos & Shit)[5][32]
No.TitleLength
1."The Movie of Your Life" (demo) 
2."Destroy Me" (demo) 
3."Wednesday" (demo) 
4."Bros" (demo) 
5."Every Cloud"2:54
6."White Leather"2:36
7."Leaving You"3:18
8."I Saw You (In a Corridor)"2:42
9."Baby Ain't Made of China"3:37
10."Swallowtail" (demo) 

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of My Love Is Cool.[33]

Wolf Alice

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  • Ellie Rowsell – guitars, vocals, synths, programming, piano, Omnichord, Hammond organ
  • Joff Oddie – guitars, backing vocals, synths, programming, banjo, violins
  • Theo Ellis – bass guitar, backing vocals, synths
  • Joel Amey – drums, percussion, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Swallowtail", synths, programming, guitars, Hammond organ

Additional personnel

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  • Mike Crossey – production, mixing, synths, programming
  • Jonathan Gilmore – engineering
  • Robin Schmidt – mastering
  • Rachel Thomas – cover photo
  • Samuel Burgess-Johnson – design

Charts

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Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[34] 41
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[35] 148
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[36] 83
Irish Albums (IRMA)[37] 37
Irish Independent Albums (IRMA)[38] 2
Scottish Albums (OCC)[39] 6
UK Albums (OCC)[40] 2
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[41] 1
US Billboard 200[42] 90
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[43] 12
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[44] 14

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Gold 109,020[45]

References

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  1. ^ "My Love Is Cool by Wolf Alice". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Wolf Alice Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Blondie, the Clash and Queen: Is the Trainspotting 2's soundtrack as good as the original?". TheGuardian.com. 20 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Mercury Prize shortlist". BBC. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "Wolf Alice unveil 'Lisbon' video, announce 'My Love Is Cool' box set". DIY. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  6. ^ "My Love Is Cool by Wolf Alice reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on 1 September 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Reviews for My Love Is Cool by Wolf Alice". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  8. ^ a b Phares, Heather. "My Love Is Cool – Wolf Alice". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  9. ^ a b McCormick, Neil (14 June 2015). "Wolf Alice, My Love Is Cool, review: 'feral and sophisticated'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  10. ^ a b Gibsone, Harriet (18 June 2015). "Wolf Alice: My Love Is Cool review – familiar but invigorating indie-rock". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  11. ^ Clayton-Lea, Tony (19 June 2015). "Wolf Alice: My Love is Cool | Album Review". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Wolf Alice: My Love Is Cool". Mojo. No. 260. July 2015. p. 96.
  13. ^ Beaumont, Mark (15 June 2015). "Wolf Alice – 'My Love Is Cool'". NME. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  14. ^ a b c Snapes, Laura (30 June 2015). "Wolf Alice: My Love Is Cool". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Wolf Alice: My Love Is Cool". Q. No. 347. June 2015. p. 115.
  16. ^ Dolan, Jon (12 August 2015). "My Love Is Cool". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  17. ^ Sturges, Fiona (July 2015). "Wolf Alice: My Love Is Cool". Uncut. No. 218. p. 84.
  18. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (29 September 2017). "Wolf Alice: 'It's not the 90s. No one said: here's £10m and a bag of coke'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  19. ^ Ackroyd, Stephen. "Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool album review". DIY. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  20. ^ Marsh, Graeme (17 June 2015). "Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  21. ^ "Drowned in Sound's Favorite Albums of 2015". Drowned in Sound. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  22. ^ "The Best Albums of 2015". The Guardian. 2 December 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  23. ^ "MusicOMH's Top 50 Albums Of 2015". musicOMH. 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  24. ^ "NME's Albums of the Year 2015". NME. 2 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  25. ^ "Revealed: Q's Top 50 Albums Of 2015". Q. 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Albums of the Year 2015". Rough Trade. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  27. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2015". Time Out London. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  28. ^ "Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2015". Under the Radar. 16 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  29. ^ "The Best Albums of The Decade: The 2010s". NME. 29 November 2019.
  30. ^ "My Love Is Cool (Deluxe Edition) by Wolf Alice". iTunes Store (UK). 5 February 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  31. ^ "My Love Is Cool – Wolf Alice (CD – Dirty Hit / RCA #08130)". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  32. ^ a b c "My Love Is Cool – Wolf Alice (LP – Dirty Hit #DH 139)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  33. ^ My Love Is Cool (liner notes). Wolf Alice. Dirty Hit. 2015. DH00089.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  35. ^ "Ultratop.be – Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  36. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  37. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Wolf Alice". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  38. ^ "GFK Chart-Track – Independent Albums: Week 26, 2015". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  40. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  41. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  42. ^ "Wolf Alice Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  43. ^ "Wolf Alice Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  44. ^ "Wolf Alice Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  45. ^ Jones, Alan (6 October 2017). "Official Charts Analysis: Shania Twain takes No. 1 in close battle with Wolf Alice". Music Week. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  46. ^ "British album certifications – Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool". British Phonographic Industry. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
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