Grey Tickles, Black Pressure

2015 studio album by John Grant

Grey Tickles, Black Pressure is the third solo album by American musician John Grant. It was released via Bella Union on October 9, 2015.

Production

The album's title stems from the literal translation of two foreign phrases: "grey tickles" is an Icelandic phrase for approaching middle age, while "black pressure" is the Turkish term for a nightmare.^[1] Grant stated that he wanted to get "angrier and moodier" on the album, although he enjoyed the process of making it more than his previous two.^[2]

The album's trailer features Grant in the midst of a psychotic break, covered in blood and wielding a croquet mallet as a weapon. He described it as a fantasy of "what [he] would like to do every time somebody calls [him] a faggot".^[2] The album features three guests: English singer Tracey Thorn features on the track "Disappointing", American singer Amanda Palmer provides backing vocals on "You & Him", and English drummer Budgie plays the drums on every track. The latter would also go on tour as Grant's drummer.

Reception

The album received acclaim.^[4] NME named it "one of the albums of the year" and praised both its personal lyrics and pop melodies.^[15] On their own lists of the best albums of the year, The Guardian and Rough Trade respectively placed it at No. 38^[16] and No. 11.^[17] Time named the 11th track on the album, "Disappointing", as the fifth best song of 2015.^[18]

Accolades

Track listing

All tracks are written by John Grant

Personnel

Primary musicians

• John Grant – lead vocals, keyboards, synth programming and sequencing
• Pétur Hallgrímsson – guitar
• Jakob Smári Magnússon – bass
• Budgie – drums

Additional musicians

• Amanda Palmer – additional vocals (track 5)
• Tracey Thorn – additional vocals (track 11)
• Fiona Brice – additional vocals, string, brass and vocal arrangements (written and conducted by), violin
• Tierannye Sparks – additional vocals
• Alisa Alexander – additional vocals
• Bobby Sparks – keyboards
• John Congleton – synth programming and sequencing, drum programming and sequencing
• David Monsch – bass clarinet
• Matt Milewski – violin
• Natalie Floyd – violin
• Sarah Carmichael – violin
• Buffi Jacobs – cello
• Debbie Brooks – cello
• Keith Jourdan – trumpet
• Peter Clagett – trumpet
• David Pierce – trombone
• Carl Murr – trombone
• Simon Willats – tuba
• Heather Test – French horn
• Wes Baggaley – spoken word (track 1)
• Olafur Darri Olafsson – spoken word (track 1)
• Petra Hallberg – spoken word (track 1)
• Jeppe Kjellberg – spoken word (track 1)
• Billy Novik – spoken word (track 1)
• Karl Neukauf – spoken word (track 1)
• Carys Connolly – spoken word (track 14)

Charts

References

1. "John Grant announces third solo album". Bella Union. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
2. "Why Is John Grant So Bloody Upset". Out. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
3. "Grey Tickles, Black Pressure by John Grant reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
4. "Reviews for Grey Tickles, Black Pressure by John Grant". Metacritic. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
5. Phares, Heather. "Grey Tickles, Black Pressure – John Grant". AllMusic. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
6. Petridis, Alexis (October 1, 2015). "John Grant: Grey Tickles, Black Pressure review – trauma, jokes and joy". The Guardian. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
7. Gill, Andy (October 9, 2015). "John Grant, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure – album review: Melancholy masterpieces with an electro-funk groove raise a smile". The Independent. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
8. Murphy, Lauren (October 9, 2015). "John Grant: Grey Tickles, Black Pressure | Album of the Week". The Irish Times. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
9. Trynka, Paul (October 2, 2015). "John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure". Mojo. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
10. Empire, Kitty (October 4, 2015). "John Grant: Grey Tickles, Black Pressure review – the most chipper of Grant's solo works". The Observer. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
11. "John Grant: Grey Tickles, Black Pressure". Q (352): 110. November 2015.
12. Kennedy, Jake (November 2015). "John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure". Record Collector (446). Retrieved April 20, 2019.
13. Walters, Barry (October 6, 2015). "Grey Tickles, Black Pressure". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
14. "John Grant: Grey Tickles, Black Pressure". Uncut (222): 70. November 2015.
15. Grey Tickles, Black Pressure - review. NME. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
16. "The Best Albums of 2015". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. December 2, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
17. "Albums of the Year 2015". roughtrade.com. 2015-11-25. Archived from the original on 2015-12-05. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
18. "Best Songs of 2015". Time. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
19. "Ultratop.be – John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
20. "Ultratop.be – John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
21. "Dutchcharts.nl – John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
22. "Lescharts.com – John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
23. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 42, 2015". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
24. "Italiancharts.com – John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
25. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
26. "Norwegiancharts.com – John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
27. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
28. "John Grant – Chart history (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
29. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 11, 2024.