Dry Food is the debut album by US band Palehound. It was released on 14 August 2015 on record label Exploding in Sound.
Dry Food | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 14 August 2015 | |||
Recorded | October 2014 | |||
Studio | Rare Book Room, Brooklyn | |||
Length | 28:37 | |||
Label | Exploding in Sound, Heavenly | |||
Producer | Gabe Wax | |||
Palehound chronology | ||||
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Singles from Dry Food | ||||
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Background and release
Ellen Kempner released their debut EP as Palehound in October 2013 on Exploding In Sound.[1]After its release Kempner dropped out of Sarah Lawrence College, went through a break-up, and moved from New York to Boston, during which time they wrote the songs for Dry Food.[2][3]
Dry Food was recorded in October 2014.[3] Kempner wrote all the musical arrangements, and played all instrumental parts except the drums.[3]Lead single "Molly" was released in June 2015, and Stereogum noted a similarity to the sound of Kempner's roommate Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz.[4] In 2016 Heavenly Recordings re-released the single as a 7", with a cover of Kelly Clarkson's Miss Independent as the B-side.[5]
The album was released in the US on 14 August 2015 via Exploding In Sound, and in the UK on 4 March 2016 via Heavenly.[6][7] In February and March 2016 Palehound toured the UK and Europe to support the album.[8]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.4/10[9] |
Metacritic | 78/100[10] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Consequence | B[12] |
DIY | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Loud and Quiet | 7/10[14] |
MusicOMH | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Paste | 7.8/10[16] |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10[17] |
Record Collector | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | 7/10[20] |
On review aggregator Metacritic the album holds a score of 78/100, based on 11 reviews, indicating a "generally favorable" reception.[10]
Mike Katzif of NPR praised Kempner's skill as a guitarist, and wrote that "Dry Food is the sound of Ellen Kempner coming into her own musically."[21]Will Hermes of Rolling Stone wrote that Kempner "plays the hell out of a guitar",[19] and James Reed of the Boston Globe also praised their "guitar prowess."[22]
Track listing
All songs written by Ellen Kempner.
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Molly" | 02:52 |
2. | "Healthier Folk" | 03:11 |
3. | "Easy" | 03:17 |
4. | "Cinnamon" | 03:34 |
5. | "Dry Food" | 04:28 |
6. | "Dixie" | 03:29 |
7. | "Cushioned Caging" | 03:05 |
8. | "Seekonk" | 04:41 |
Total length: | 28:37 |
Personnel
- Ellen Kempner – guitar, bass, vocals, writing, arrangements
- Jesse Weiss – drums (tracks 1, 7, 8)
- Max Almario – drums (tracks 4, 5)
- Max Kupperberg – drums (tracks 2, 3, 4)
- Sam Owens – keyboards (tracks 2, 5)
Technical
- Gabe Wax – production
- Heba Kadry – mastering
Artistic
- Ellen Kempner – artwork
- Caitlin Bechdel – layout