History (Molly Nilsson album)

History
Studio album by
Molly Nilsson
Released14 December 2011 (2011-12-14)
Recorded2010–2011
StudioLighthouse Studios, Berlin
GenreSynth-pop
Length41:55
Label
  • Dark Skies Association
ProducerMolly Nilsson
Molly Nilsson chronology
Follow the Light
(2010) 		History
(2011) 		The Travels
(2013)
Singles from History
  1. "Skybound"
    Released: 21 October 2011
  2. "Hotel Home"
    Released: 2 December 2011
  3. "Intermezzo: The Party"
    Released: 30 April 2012
  4. "In Real Life"
    Released: 3 September 2012
  5. "I Hope You Die"
    Released: 19 September 2012

History is the fourth studio album by Swedish singer-songwriter Molly Nilsson, released on 14 December 2011. It was Nilsson's final album to be entirely self-released, as she started collaborating with Night School Records afterwards. History has been cited as Nilsson's "breakout" album, including by herself.[1][2]

Background

Regarding the album's concept and title, Nilsson explained:

Each song tells a story, and together they form a narrative. [No one's] life weighs more than another, yet not everyone ends up in the history books. I took this opportunity to feel what it's like to hold the pen that writes history.[3]

Release

History was originally self-released through Nilsson's own label Dark Skies Association. The CD version was released on 14 December 2011 and the vinyl version followed in April 2012.[4][5] In association with Night School Records, History was then released as a digital download on 31 January 2019,[6] while reissues of the CD and vinyl versions followed on 29 March 2019.[7] It was again reissued on vinyl on 29 September 2023.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Éclat[10]
Pitchfork7/10[11]

History received positive reviews. Emilie Friedlander of Pitchfork, in a positive review, said that the album is "carried by the commanding, almost Nico-like ominousness of [Nilsson's] voice".[11] Tim Sendra, writing for AllMusic, praised Nilsson's "wonderfully idiosyncratic music" and noted its emotional impact.[9] In a positive review for German Éclat magazine, Marlena Julia Dorniak described Nilsson's music as "morbid", "melancholic", and "magical".[10]

"I Hope You Die" was positively highlighted as a standout song by several writers.[11][9][10] Friedlander noted that it demonstrates the "over-the-topness of Nilsson's aesthetic most forcefully".[11] Sendra praised it for its "heartbreakingly honest" lyrics, while Dorniak commended its combination of a "danceable beat" with "tragically romantic" lyrics.[9][10] The song also quickly became a "fan favorite".[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Molly Nilsson.

History track listing
No.TitleLength
1."In Real Life"4:06
2."You Always Hurt the One You Love"3:01
3."I Hope You Die"4:28
4."The Bottles of Tomorrow"2:03
5."Hiroshima Street"3:51
6."Intermezzo: The Party"2:55
7."Hotel Home"4:49
8."City of Atlantis"3:41
9."QWERTY (Censored Version)"4:35
10."The Clocks"3:31
11."Skybound"4:38
Total length:41:55

References

  1. ^ a b Blair, Ed (24 January 2022). "Where to Start Exploring the Dazzling World of Molly Nilsson". Bandcamp. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Hooligan of the Heart Scarf". Dark Skies Association. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  3. ^ Ritchie, Kevin (4 October 2012). "Molly Nilsson - Press-shy Swedish songwriter opens up". Now. Archived from the original on 2017-10-01. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Molly Nilsson - History (2011, CDr)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Molly Nilsson - History (2012, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Molly Nilsson - History (2019, File)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Molly Nilsson - History (2019, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  8. ^ "History: LP - Dark Skies Association". Dark Skies Association. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d Sendra, Tim. "History Review by Tim Sendra". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d Dorniak, Marlena Julia (27 April 2012). "Molly Nilsson - History - Rezension des Musikmagazins éclat". Éclat (in German). Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d Friedlander, Emilie (17 April 2012). "Molly Nilsson: History Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 October 2023.