Today, Tune-Yards release their fifth studio album, sketchy.
The 11-track record balances self-inspection and reflection with bombastic rallying cries, reminiscent of the furious tones of early days Tune-Yards. The result is a colorful and joyous record with lyrics that cut to the bone. Merrill Garbus says of the album, “I started remembering that people come to us to be entertained, to move, to feel joy. And together, I think, we can wake up.”
+ Buy sketchy. on limited yellow opaque vinyl, standard black vinyl, and CD, from the 4AD Store here +
+ Buy sketchy. on exclusive blue translucent vinyl from your local indie store here +
+ Stream on the platform of your choice here +
Praise for sketchy.
“Fizzing with a creative fire” – Uncut (8/10)
“By opening up melodically as well as rhythmically, Garbus and Brenner better reveal the big heart at the centre of Tune-Yards” – Mojo ****
“11 tracks of technicolour indie pop” – DIY ****
“This could be a new peak for Tune-Yards and they couldn’t have timed this release any better for society’s collective sanity if they tried” – Dork ****
“A tried and true favorite” – NPR All Songs Considered
“Fluid and full of surprises” – The Sunday Times
“Surreal” – Rolling Stone
“Some of the most intriguing, eclectic, and thought-provoking music in the world of indie” – Stereogum
“Reflects the truth of life” – SF Weekly
“Rhythmic, eccentric pop” – Brooklyn Vegan
“With singular and directed focus, the album addresses some of the most pressing social, cultural, and political concerns” – Exclaim!
“sketchy. marks another milestone in a career-spanning effort to push any and all boundaries” – Flood
The album features previously released singles ‘nowhere, man’, ‘hold yourself.’ and ‘hypnotized’. The latter two of which were performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live! respectively marking a visual representation of the depths of the album – ‘hold yourself.’ was a vibrant, buoyant performance while the band crafted a moving and remarkable performance of ‘hypnotized’ that channelled Merrill’s puppeteer past.
Tune-Yards – sketchy.
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1. nowhere, man
2. make it right.
3. hypnotized
4. homewrecker
5. silence pt. 1 (when we say “we”)
6. silence pt. 2 (who is “we”?)
7. hold yourself.
8. sometime
9. under your lip
10. my neighbor
11. be not afraid.