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A Billion Heartbeats

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2020 studio album by Mystery Jets
A Billion Heartbeats
Studio album by Mystery Jets
Released3 April 2020 (2020-04-03)
GenreAlternative, Indie Rock
Length48:10
LabelCaroline International
ProducerBlaine Harrison, Matthew Twaites, Mystery Jets
Mystery Jets chronology
Curve of the Earth
(2016) 		A Billion Heartbeats
(2020)
Singles from A Billion Heartbeats
  1. "Hospital Radio"
    Released: 8 July 2019
  2. "Screwdriver"
    Released: 5 August 2019
  3. "History Has Its Eyes on You"
    Released: 30 August 2019
  4. "Wrong Side of the Tracks"
    Released: 13 September 2019
  5. "Petty Drone"
    Released: 2020

A Billion Heartbeats is the sixth studio album by English indie rock band Mystery Jets. It was released on 3 April 2020.

Background

The first single released from the album was "Hospital Radio" on 8 July 2019, and it was first played on Steve Lamacq's BBC Radio 6 Music show. The next single, "Screwdriver", was released on the 5 August 2019, alongside the announcement of the album name, tour dates and release date of 27 September 2019.

On 17 September 2019, the band announced the postponement of the album's release and tour due to the hospitalisation of singer Blaine Harrison. They announced the rescheduled album release date for the 3 April 2020, with the tour following in April–May.

The band were forced to reschedule the tour again to November–December 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, however the album release still went ahead as planned, but only digitally.

As a result of the postponed release, two EPs were released - Petty Drone and A Billion Heartbeats, each having all the released tracks up to that point.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic87/100
Review scores
SourceRating
The Daily Telegraph
DIY
The Independent
The Line of Best Fit9/10
musicOMH
NME

A Billion Heartbeats received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 87, based on seven reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".

Most critics were impressed with the rousing sound displayed on the record; Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph praised the anthemic and intention sound of the album, stating that: "This is the sound of a group breaking out of their shell and demanding to be heard." DIY Magazine reviewer Elly Watson agreed, calling the album a "rallying call for change and action", whilst also positing that the record will become an "undoubtedly influential album." Alice Jenner of The Line of Best Fit echoed these calls, suggesting that "it's not a far stretch from their already established sound" but retains a sound which is "slightly heavier and a bit more raw in places".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mystery Jets

A Billion Heartbeats track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Screwdriver"5:23
2."Petty Drone"4:45
3."History Has Its Eyes on You"3:54
4."A Billion Heartbeats"4:56
5."Endless City"3:56
6."Hospital Radio"6:03
7."Cenotaph"5:11
8."Campfire Song"4:27
9."Watching Yourself Slowly Disappear"4:58
10."Wrong Side of the Tracks"4:37
Total length:48:10

Personnel

Mystery Jets

  • Blaine Harrison – vocals, keyboards, guitar
  • Kapil Trivedi – drums
  • Jack Flanagan – bass
  • William Rees – guitar, vocals

Charts

Chart performance for A Billion Heartbeats
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) 30
UK Albums (OCC) 85

References

  1. Geoghegan, Kev (8 July 2019). "Hospital radio inspires Mystery Jets song". BBC News. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  2. "Mystery Jets take on the alt-right, announce new album and tour - NME". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. Stickler, Jon. "Mystery Jets Reschedule 'A Billion Heartbeats' Release, Share New Track Petty Drone - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  4. ^ "A Billion Heartbeats by Mystery Jets – Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  5. McCormick, Neil (3 April 2020). "This week's best new albums: Ren Harvieu, Mystery Jets and more". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. Watson, Elly (2 April 2020). "Album Review: Mystery Jets – A Billion Heartbeats". DIY. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  7. Bray, Elisa (3 April 2020). "Mystery Jets review, A Billion Heartbeats: An empowering message of positivity". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  8. Jenner, Alice (2 April 2020). "As an ode to the NHS, A Billion Heartbeats finds bittersweet timing, and Mystery Jets at their best". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  9. Hogwood, Ben (5 April 2020). "Mystery Jets – A Billion Heartbeats". musicOMH. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  10. Reilly, Nick (3 April 2020). "Mystery Jets – A Billion Heartbeats review: a timely plea for compassion and kindness". NME. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  11. McCormick, Neil (3 April 2020). "This week's best new albums: Ren Harvieu, Mystery Jets and more". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  12. Subscribe (2 April 2020). "Mystery Jets - A Billion Heartbeats". diymag.com. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  13. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
Mystery Jets
Studio albums
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