''Marriage'' is the third
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
by American rock duo
Deap Vally. It was released on November 19, 2021, via
Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl is a British independent record label, based in Acton, London, England. It was founded in 1986 by former manager and booking agent Martin Goldschmidt and his business partner Pete Lawrence. Goldschmidt remains the current owner an ...
.
The album title alludes to the way both members see their relationship as bandmates; at one point they even attended
couples therapy
Couples therapy (also known as couples' counseling, marriage counseling, or marriage therapy) is a form of psychotherapy that seeks to improve intimate relationships, resolve interpersonal conflicts and repair broken bonds of love.
History
Marri ...
.
In order to reduce their sense of boredom with the band, they decided to work with guests. ''Marriage'' features collaborations with
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall (born 23 June 1975) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. She first gained attention with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on ''Later... with Jools Holland'', and h ...
,
Peaches
The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and the glossy-skinned, non-fuzzy varieties called nectarines. Peac ...
,
Jennie Vee (
Eagles of Death Metal),
Ayse Hassan (
Savages),
Jenny Lee Lindberg
Jennifer Lee Lindberg (born July 30, 1981) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, record producer and painter, best known as the bassist of the indie rock band Warpaint. In 2015, Lindberg released her first solo album, '' Right On!'', under ...
(
Warpaint) and
Jamie Hince (
The Kills
The Kills are an English-American rock music, rock duo formed by American singer Alison Mosshart, Alison "VV" Mosshart and English guitarist Jamie Hince, Jamie "Hotel" Hince. They are signed to Domino Recording Company, Domino Records. Their fi ...
).
They have referred to the album as their "
rumspringa".
The duo asked the collaborators to feel no pressure, wanting the songs to be free and uncommitted to specific genres.
They claim that having released an album with
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The band currently consists of Wayne Coyne (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards), Steven Drozd (guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, vocals), Derek Brown ...
(under the moniker
Deap Lips) had no influence in the more collaborative approach of ''Marriage'', since the partnerships were already contemplated before ''Deap Lips''.
The album was recorded in several venues around the United States, including
Dave Grohl
David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...
's Studio 606, Allen Salmon's Nashville studio and Josiah Mazzaschi's Cave Studio.
The track "Billions" challenges society's celebration of
billionaires
A billionaire is a person with a net worth of at least 1,000,000,000, one billion units of a given currency, usually of a major currency such as the United States dollar, euro, or pound sterling. It is a sub-category of the concept of the ultr ...
and their influence on people's life goals
while "Better Run" was inspired by the
Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases
In October 2017, ''The New York Times'' and ''The New Yorker'' reported that dozens of women had accused the American film producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse over a period of at least 30 years. Over 80 women i ...
.
Reception
Mark Deming of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
, wrote that "though Deap Vally have found new ways to dress up their music on Marriage, at their core they haven't changed that much -- this is still a smart, powerful rock band with sharp wit and an abundance of well-deserved confidence -- but the added details and textures make a difference, and this music points to a more interesting future for them than one might have imagined after Femejism."
Writing for
Mondo Sonoro
''Mondo Sonoro'', sometimes shortened to ''la Mondo'', is a Spanish magazine established in 1994 which focuses on current alternative music, alternative, popular music, popular and indie music, as well as national emerging bands. Co-founded by Serg ...
, Raul Julián said the band "keeps offering nothing new" and that the album is "unable to have a bigger intention than to entertain", but conceded that they do what they do "very well".
Hannah Broughton, from ''
The Line of Best Fit
''The Line of Best Fit'' is an independent online magazine based in London, concentrating on new music.
It publishes independent music reviews, features, interview, and media. Founded by Richard Thane in February 2007 and currently edited by P ...
'', considered that "the slower tracks
..add a new weight to the duo's onslaught" and that "they've successfully pushed themselves to create something a bit different". She concluded her review saying that ''Marriage'' "is an impressively balanced album with highs and lows
..Deap Vally have really come into their own here, encompassing everything you could ask for from a rock album."
Ims Taylor of ''
DIY'' said "it's immediately evident" that the band is "striking out to a magnitude unreached so far. They said the album "is the sound of Deap Vally tapping back into what makes them tick, and lays the groundwork for their most exciting era yet."
Track listing
References
{{Authority control
2021 albums
Deap Vally albums
Cooking Vinyl albums