Butterfly Blue is the debut studio album by Australian singer songwriter Mallrat. It was announced on 2 March 2022, alongside single, "Teeth".[4] Upon announcement, Mallrat said "I've always valued music that is interesting, beautiful, and unpretentious. Something timeless and not reactive. Butterfly Blue was made with that in mind. It's a demonstration of not pretending to be anyone else."[4]
| Butterfly Blue | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 13 May 2022[1] | |||
| Label | Dew Process, Universal Music Australia | |||
| Mallrat chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Butterfly Blue | ||||
Butterfly Blue was released on 13 May 2022 and peaked at number 6 on the ARIA Charts.
Mallrat promoted the album with an Australian regional tour in November and December 2022. In February 2023, Mallrat announced the 2023 Butterfly Blue Australian shows, commencing on 12 May 2023, on the eve of the album's first birthday, performing in state capitals.[6]
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| NME |   [7] |
| The AU Review | [8] |
| Irish Times | [9] |
| Pitchfork | 6.8/10[10] |
| DIY | [11] |
Retailer JB Hi-Fi said "Butterfly Blue features over a dozen clever and open-hearted tracks, it draws you in close and shows you the world through her wide, hopeful eyes."[12]
Kristen S. Hé form NME said "Butterfly Blue is easily one of 2022s most charming Australian pop albums" calling "Rockstar" an "obvious highlight". Hé also said, "Much of the Australian alt-pop artist’s debut screams potential hit – these compelling compositions are still perfect for bedrooms, but could captivate festival stages, too."[7]
Dylan Marshall from The AU Review said "Mallrat has a distinct sound that anyone who has listened to radio in the past six years would recognise. Often floating vocals, matched with clever pop hooks and at times minimalist beats, her songs branch across genres of country, folk and hip hop." Marshall said "Butterfly Blue may just be the pop record of 2022".[8]
Andrea Cleary from Irish Times called the album "a spirited debut, unmoored by a singular genre". Cleary said the Azealia Banks track is "a slightly jarring moment, coming in on track three, but Shaw pulls us back from the whiplash – just about." Cleary concluded the review saying "Mallrat's charm comes best when she blends the simplicity of teenage dreams with a gentle touch on the console. A charming debut, Butterfly Blue is bedroom pop writ large.[9]
Quinn Moreland from Pitchfork said "Across 11 songs, Mallrat explores desire and distance: Her songwriting is preoccupied with lovers who remain just out of reach and stars that momentarily align only to burn out" closing the review saying "Too frequently on Butterfly Blue, Mallrat gets lost in loose daydreams. When she latches onto particulars, she soars."[10]
Charlotte Marston from DIY said "Butterfly Blue sees Mallrat emerge as somewhat of a transformed entity, one that is fully-grown and glimmering."[11]
Teeth was featured in the end credits of Bishal Dutta's 2023 film It Lives Inside.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wish on an Eyelash" | 0:58 | |
| 2. | "To You" |
| 3:08 |
| 3. | "Surprise Me" (featuring Azealia Banks) |
| 2:51 |
| 4. | "Your Love" |
| 3:22 |
| 5. | "Heart Guitar" |
| 4:15 |
| 6. | "Teeth" |
| 3:09 |
| 7. | "Rockstar" | 3:29 | |
| 8. | "I’m Not My Body, It’s Mine" |
| 3:35 |
| 9. | "Obsessed" |
| 3:36 |
| 10. | "Arm's Length" |
| 3:28 |
| 11. | "Butterfly Blue" |
| 4:21 |
| 12. | "Fade into You" | 4:13 |
Charts
edit| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] | 6 |
References
edit- ^ Ackroyd, Stephen (3 March 2022). "Mallrat has announced her debut album, 'Butterfly Blue' – check out new track 'Teeth'". Dork. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Langford, Jackson (28 September 2020). "Mallrat announces new single 'Rockstar' for release this week". NME Australia. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "First Play: Mallrat kicks off new era with "Your Love"". ABC. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "Mallrat "Teeth"". Stereo Gum. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Mallrat teams up with Azealia Banks for atmospheric new single "Surprise Me"". Hot Press. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Mallrat Announces 2023 'Butterfly Blue' Australian Headline Shows". Music Feeds. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Mallrat – 'Butterfly Blue' review: sublime pop portraits". NME. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Album of the Week: Mallrat's Butterfly Blue may just be the pop record of 2022". The AU Review. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Mallrat: Butterfly Blue – Bedroom pop with its eye on bigger settings". Irish Times. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b "ALBUMS Butterfly Blue by Mallrat". Pitchfork. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Album Review MALLRAT BUTTERFLY BLUE". DIY. May 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "MALLRAT – aka Grace Shaw – debut album". Facebook. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Mallrat – Butterfly Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2023.