New York, NY (Top40 Charts / Republic Records) JAMES BLAKE uncovers his highly anticipated second full-length album, Overgrown [Republic Records] in stores and via digital retailers today. Based solely on pre-orders alone, the album made its debut at #1 on iTunes Electronic Albums chart.
The celebrated singer, songwriter, and producer has grown immensely on his journey into a veritable critical-darling and online phenomenon, but his mystique is only blossoming further.
Before its official release, Overgrown has received immense acclaim from fans and press alike. Counting Kanye West , Stevie Wonder , Jay-Z, and Joni Mitchell amongst a myriad of high-profile supporters, the press reaction has been overwhelmingly positive to say the least. Cultural cornerstone US Weekly officially joins "Team BLAKE" bestowing 3-out-of-4 stars on the album days before its release. Meanwhile, UK international tastemaker NME gave the offering a rating of 8-out-of-10. Internationally, it's topped iTunes charts globally, reaching #1 in Denmark, #2 in Germany and Australia, and #3 in the UK.
The first single"Retrograde" offered a gateway into this landscape with rapturous synths and his potent vocals. Elsewhere, the title track builds from soft piano into an emotional and evocative refrain. Delicate electronics warble next to his warm falsetto on "Take a Fall for Me" as legendary Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA slides through a wisely wild verse. The conclusion, "Our Love Comes Back", strains an angelic melody through resounding piano chords punctuated by elegant electronics. Each subsequent listen offers a different yet divine experience.
BLAKE will kick off his tour in the United States at the sold out Coachella Festival on April 14 and then return for the second weekend April 21. In addition, he'll be headlining his own tour beginning April 16, allowing listeners to dive into his world headfirst.
Upon releasing his eponymous first collection stateside, JAMES BLAKE was instantly embraced by both music fans and critical gatekeepers. Acclaim abounded across the board. It was ranked one of the top albums of 2011 by Pitchfork, Mojo, and Uncut. Rolling Stone wrote, "Like Radiohead, BLAKE's sonic empty spaces highlight human distance", while Spin added an apropos description, "Using lo-fi digital techniques to play up rough edges and raw emotion, BLAKE's rare talent is to make music so naked seem unshakable".
JAMES BLAKE 's growth can be heard, seen, and felt firsthand on Overgrown.
Confirmed Tour Dates:
| 4/14/13 |
Coachella |
Indio, CA |
| 4/16/13 |
Mezzanine |
San Francisco, CA |
| 4/18/13 |
Rio Theatre |
Santa Cruz, CA |
| 4/21/13 |
Coachella |
Indio,CA |
| 4/23/13 |
Neptune |
Seattle, WA |
| 4/24/13 |
Wonder Ballroom |
Portland, OR |
| 4/25/13 |
Commodore Ballroom |
Vancouver, BC |
| 4/27/13 |
The Depot |
Salt Lake City, UT |
| 4/28/13 |
Ogden Theatre |
Denver, CO |
| 4/29/13 |
Liberty Hall |
Lawrence, KS |
| 5/1/13 |
First Avenue |
Minneapolis, MN |
| 5/2/13 |
Metro |
Chicago, IL |
| 5/3/13 |
Majestic Theatre |
Detroit, MI |
| 5/4/13 |
Danforth Music Hall |
Toronto, ON |
| 5/6/13 |
Metropolis |
Montreal, QC |
| 5/8/13 |
House of Blues Boston |
Boston, MA |
| 5/9/13 |
Terminal 5 |
New York, NY |
| 5/11/13 |
Theatre of Living Arts |
Philadelphia, PA |
| 5/12/13 |
9:30 Club |
Washington, DC |
| 5/13/13 |
Cats Cradle |
Carrboro, NC |
| 5/14/13 |
Masquerade |
Atlanta, GA |
