Kim Deal - Nobody Loves You More (Album Review) via 4AD
The album Nobody Loves You More has been years in the making, with its earliest tracks written and recorded in 2011, shortly after Deal’s tour with the Pixies. The final song, “A Good Time Pushed,” was completed in late 2022, produced in collaboration with the late Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago.
The album also draws on contributions from both past and current members of The Breeders, as well as Fay Milton and Ayse Hassan of Savages, Raymond McGinley of Teenage Fanclub, and Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs.
Over the years, Kim Deal has released a series of singles between 2013 and 2014 and is best known for her role in two of the most influential bands of the ‘80s and ‘90s: The Pixies (1986–1993) and as the frontwoman of The Breeders. Now, in 2024, she is set to release her long-awaited full-length album Nobody Loves You More on November 22nd.
Deal has also produced records for Guided By Voices, collaborated vocally with Sonic Youth, and built a legacy of distinctive work across the indie and alternative music scenes. Given her extensive career, some might wonder: why a full-length album now?
The record starts off with the lead single ‘Nobody Loves You More’ – which has this really beautiful orchestral section, and surfy guitars, and swing drums to really set the tone, followed by ‘Coast’ which i feel gives off some really familiar sounds from some of her previous projects aka ‘Surfer Rosa’ guitars, and general feel overall
She takes an even sharper turn with ‘Crystal Breath’, the album’s more traditional second single. Featuring stripped-back instrumentation and fragmented, breakbeat-style drums, the track channels the raw energy of Deal’s early work but with a modern twist.
On ‘Are You Mine’, she ventures into ‘50s-style surf pop, her voice floating over lap steel notes, a sentiment she carries into the shimmering, theatrical track ‘Summertime’. Still, she doesn’t shy away from her indie rock roots, reimagining the gritty grunge of early Breeders tracks with songs like ‘Disobedience’ and ‘Wish I Was’ has really dreamy tones to it
By the time ‘Ben Big’ kicks in things really head in a new direction, which is almost off-Kilter, In ‘Bats in the Afternoon Sky’, Deal provides a breath of relief, softly cooing over muted kicks and a distorted electric piano, with no need for words. It’s like a dream within a dream, subtly lifting the weight of expectation while reaffirming what we’ve always known
By you the tail end of this record, Summerland, Come Running and A Good Time Pushed to tie out this long-awaited solo record by Kim Deal, i think any mature listeners of her previous works with resonate with this album, and enjoy it as much as i have