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Nothing's Real

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Nothing's Real
Studio album by
Shura
Released8 July 2016 (2016-07-08)
Recorded2014–2016
Studio
  • The Neighbourhood (London)[a]
  • Echo (Los Angeles)[b]
  • Wendyhouse (London)[c]
  • The Spaceship (London and California)[c]
GenreElectropop[1]
Length49:00
LabelPolydor
Producer
Shura chronology
White Light EP
(2015) 		Nothing's Real
(2016) 		Forevher
(2019)
Singles from Nothing's Real
  1. "Touch"
    Released: 4 March 2014
  2. "Indecision"
    Released: 26 October 2014[2]
  3. "2Shy"
    Released: 10 March 2015[3]
  4. "White Light"
    Released: 10 July 2015[4]
  5. "What's It Gonna Be?"
    Released: 30 June 2016[5]
  6. "The Space Tapes"
    Released: 8 July 2016[6]
  7. "311215"
    Released: 23 September 2016[7]
  8. "Nothing's Real"
    Released: 4 November 2016[8]

Nothing's Real is the debut studio album by English singer Shura, released on 8 July 2016 by Polydor Records. The album was met with positive reviews from music critics.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.8/10[9]
Metacritic79/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Clash8/10[12]
Exclaim!7/10[1]
The Guardian[13]
musicOMH[14]
NME4/5[15]
Pitchfork7.7/10[16]
PopMatters[17]
Q[18]
Rolling Stone[19]

Nothing's Real received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 79, based on 18 reviews.[10] Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote that Nothing's Real "boasts richer songwriting and wider-ranging sounds than might have been expected", concluding that the album "marks Shura as the kind of smart pop star the 2010s need."[11] Rob Mesure of musicOMH called the album "beautifully constructed" and stated, "The sound might be '80s, but this is undeniably now, and Shura a new star in 2016's increasingly bible-black night."[14] Andrew Paschal of PopMatters commented that the album is "packed with solid, infectious, deeply catchy pop songs, most all of which can stand alone just as easily as they can run with the pack."[17] Writing for Pitchfork, Laura Snapes remarked that Shura is "at the vanguard of a scene of young queer pop stars who are updating the '80s model of self-sufficient, fully liberated mainstream pop", adding that the album "offers a fresh vision for pop's new reality."[16]

Lisa Henderson of Clash opined, "Previously heard tracks still stand up as pop juggernauts but there's an obvious growth that has happened during the two-year wait; sonically and lyrically, Shura is at her most urgent and incisive."[12] Harriet Gibsone of The Guardian felt that the album's "more uptempo moments are especially promising; melodies so satisfying she should consider handing them to a major-league artist in need of a reboot."[13] Hannah Ziegler of Exclaim! viewed the album as "a neon sugar rush that occasionally fizzles out with filler tracks", commenting that it "ultimately leaves a lasting impression".[1] Joe Levy of Rolling Stone dubbed the album "a tangle of glam and glum" and wrote that Shura's videos "make clear the subjects of these songs ['What's It Gonna Be?', '2Shy' and 'Indecision'] are often women, but on record her work is open-ended—a map to a treasure that's just never there."[19] Hannah J. Davies of Q magazine expressed, "Avoiding the abstract experimentalism of her sample-heavy single 'The Space Tapes', she gives a fine display of how to be both retro and radio-friendly."[18]

Accolades

Accolades for Nothing's Real
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
The Guardian The Best Albums of 2016 40 [20]
Idolator The 10 Best Albums of 2016 5 [21]
musicOMH Top 50 Albums of 2016 12 [22]
The Skinny Top 50 Albums of 2016 19 [23]
The Sunday Times 100 Best Records of the Year 35 [24]
Variance 50 Best Albums of 2016 39 [25]

Commercial performance

Nothing's Real debuted at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 4,777 copies in its first week.[26]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."(I)"
1:29
2."Nothing's Real"
  • Denton
  • Pott
  • Pott
  • Shura
4:07
3."What's It Gonna Be?"
3:34
4."Touch"
  • Denton
  • Pott
  • Pott
  • Shura
3:34
5."Kidz 'n' Stuff"
5:10
6."Indecision"
  • Denton
  • Pott
  • Pott
  • Shura
3:32
7."What Happened to Us?"
  • Denton
  • Pott
  • Pott
  • Shura
4:09
8."(II)"
  • Denton
  • Pott
  • Pott
  • Shura
0:45
9."Tongue Tied"
  • Kurstin
  • Denton
  • McDonald
3:50
10."Make It Up"
  • Denton
  • Pott
  • Pott
  • Shura
3:31
11."2Shy"
  • Denton
  • Pott
  • Pott
  • Shura
4:38
12."White Light" / "311215" (hidden track)
  • Denton
  • Pott ("White Light") / Denton ("311215")
  • Pott
  • Shura
10:41
Total length:49:00
Digital edition bonus track[27]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."The Space Tapes"
  • Denton
  • Pott
Shura9:33
Total length:58:33

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Nothing's Real.[28]

Musicians

  • Shura – synths (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12a, 12b); programming (track 1); vocals (tracks 2–7, 9–12b); keyboards (tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12a, 12b); backing vocals, programming (track 4); percussion (tracks 4, 12a); guitar (tracks 10, 12b); synth bass (track 12a)
  • Joel Laslett Pott – guitar (tracks 1–7, 9–11); keyboards, synths (all tracks); programming (tracks 2–4, 6, 7, 10–12a); bass (tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11); backing vocals (tracks 2, 3, 7, 11); percussion (tracks 4, 6, 7, 10–12a); piano (tracks 4, 11); synth bass (tracks 4, 6, 12a); additional programming (track 9); electric guitar (track 12a)
  • Luke Saunders – synths (tracks 1, 12a); synth bass, programming (track 1); guitar (tracks 2, 5, 7); backing vocals (tracks 2, 7); bass guitar (tracks 6, 12a); electric guitar, keyboards (track 12a)
  • Matt Ritson – drums, additional beats, percussion, samples (track 2)
  • Will Ritson – drums, percussion, PO-12 (track 2)
  • Kirsty Mangan – strings (track 2)
  • Rachel Lander – strings (track 2)
  • Greg Kurstin – keyboards, drums, bass (tracks 3, 9); guitar (track 9)
  • Al Shux – programming, percussion, synth bass, keyboards, synths (track 5)
  • Maxwell Cooke – synth bass (track 5)
  • Ally Wilkinson – drums (tracks 5, 7, 11, 12a); percussion (tracks 7, 11, 12a)
  • Stephen Roberts – drums (tracks 6, 9, 10); percussion (tracks 6, 10)
  • Dan Grech-Marguerat – additional programming (track 12a)
  • Giacki Watterson – beat programming (track 12b)
  • Jonny Pilcher – piano (track 12b)

Technical

  • Joel Laslett Pott – production (tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 10–12b); recording engineering (all tracks); additional production (tracks 3, 9)
  • Shura – production (tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 10–12b); additional production (tracks 3, 9)
  • Daniel Moyler – recording engineering (tracks 1–3, 5–7, 9–12b)
  • David Wrench – mixing (tracks 1, 5–11, 12b)
  • Marta Salogni – mixing assistance (tracks 1, 5–11, 12b)
  • Steph Marziano – mixing assistance (tracks 1, 5–11, 12b)
  • Tom Stanley – recording engineering (tracks 2, 5–8, 11, 12a)
  • Carey Willetts – recording engineering (track 2)
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (tracks 2–4)
  • Michael Freeman – mixing assistance (tracks 2–4)
  • Geoff Swan – mixing assistance (tracks 2–4)
  • Greg Kurstin – production, recording engineering (tracks 3, 9)
  • Alex Pasco – recording engineering (tracks 3, 9)
  • Julian Burg – recording engineering (tracks 3, 9)
  • Al Shux – production, recording engineering (track 5)
  • Dan Grech-Marguerat – mixing (track 12a)
  • Mandy Parnell – mastering

Artwork

  • Mat Maitland – art direction
  • Shura – art direction
  • Louise Pomeroy – illustrations
  • Andrew Whitton – photography

Charts

Chart performance for Nothing's Real
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[29] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[30] 73
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[31] 130
Irish Albums (IRMA)[32] 73
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[33] 8
Scottish Albums (OCC)[34] 15
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 35
UK Albums (OCC)[36] 13
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[37] 12
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[38] 3

Notes

  1. ^ All tracks
  2. ^ Tracks 3 and 9
  3. ^ a b Track 5

References

  1. ^ a b c Ziegler, Hannah (6 July 2015). "Shura: Nothing's Real". Exclaim!. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Indecision (2014) | Shura". 7digital. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  3. ^ "2Shy – Single by Shura". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  4. ^ "White Light – Single by Shura". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  5. ^ "What's It Gonna Be? (Tourist Remix) – Single by Shura". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  6. ^ "The Space Tapes (2016) | Shura". 7digital. United Kingdom. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  7. ^ "311215 – Single by Shura". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Nothing's Real (Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas Remix) – Single by Shura". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Nothing's Real by Shura reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Reviews for Nothing's Real by Shura". Metacritic. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  11. ^ a b Phares, Heather. "Nothing's Real – Shura". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  12. ^ a b Henderson, Lisa (18 July 2016). "Shura – Nothing's Real". Clash. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  13. ^ a b Gibsone, Harriet (7 July 2016). "Shura: Nothing's Real review – languid, introverted blog-pop". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  14. ^ a b Mesure, Rob (9 July 2016). "Shura – Nothing's Real". musicOMH. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  15. ^ Bartleet, Larry (13 July 2016). "Shura – 'Nothing's Real' Review". NME. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  16. ^ a b Snapes, Laura (15 July 2016). "Shura: Nothing's Real". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  17. ^ a b Paschal, Andrew (2 September 2016). "Shura: Nothing's Real". PopMatters. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  18. ^ a b Davies, Hannah J. (August 2016). "Q Review: New Albums". Q. No. 362. p. 117. ISSN 0955-4955.
  19. ^ a b Levy, Joe (29 July 2016). "Review: Shura's 'Nothing's Real' Is a Downer Glam Gem". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  20. ^ "The best albums of 2016: the full list". The Guardian. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  21. ^ "The 10 Best Albums Of 2016". Idolator. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  22. ^ "musicOMH's Top 50 Albums Of 2016". musicOMH. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Top 50 Albums of 2016". The Skinny. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  24. ^ "100 best records of the year". The Sunday Times. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  25. ^ "50 Best Albums of 2016". Variance. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  26. ^ Jones, Alan (15 July 2016). "Official Charts Analysis: Biffy Clyro in at No. 1 with Ellipsis". Music Week. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  27. ^ "Nothing's Real by Shura". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  28. ^ Nothing's Real (liner notes). Shura. Polydor Records. 2016. 4784174.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ "ARIA Hitseekers – Week Commencing 18th July 2016" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 1377. 18 July 2016. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Ultratop.be – Shura – Nothing's Real" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  31. ^ "Ultratop.be – Shura – Nothing's Real" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  32. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Shura". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  33. ^ "Heatseeker Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 18 July 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Shura – Nothing's Real". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  36. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  37. ^ "Shura Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  38. ^ "Shura Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
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