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Humble as the Sun

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2024 studio album by Bob Vylan
Humble as the Sun
A man with a long beard and hair smiling with eyes closed and wearing a circle wire frame in the shape of the sun around his head.
Studio album by Bob Vylan
Released5 April 2024 (2024-04-05)
Studio
Length34:42
LabelGhost Theatre
Producer
Bob Vylan chronology
Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life
(2022)
Humble as the Sun
(2024)
Singles from Humble as the Sun
  1. "Dream Big"
    Released: 21 July 2023
  2. "He's a Man"
    Released: 27 October 2023
  3. "Hunger Games"
    Released: 5 January 2024
  4. "Makes Me Violent"
    Released: 1 March 2024

Humble as the Sun is the third studio album by London-based duo Bob Vylan, released on 5 April 2024 through Ghost Theatre. It received acclaim from critics.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.1/10
Metacritic82/100
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10
Classic Rock8/10
DIY
MusicOMH
NME
Uncut

Humble as the Sun received a score of 82 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on eight critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Classic Rock stated that "Bob Vylan have become the loudest, most vital voice of righteous rage in a beaten-down nation", while Uncut felt that "The charisma, charm, galvanising dynamism and radical positivity of frontman Bobbie, aka Pascal Robinson-Foster, works better on stage than in the studio; even so, his hilarious takedowns of Marx-quoting armchair revolutionaries and Brexit-voting Top Gear fans reveal a sharp, self-aware wit behind the headbanging polemic."

DIY's Lisa Wright felt that the album "largely ups the pace, from the electronic, Prodigy-nodding beats of 'Reign' to the prowling punk of 'Dream Big'", writing that the "purposeful shift in perspective nonetheless tweaks the message from aggression to defiance". Jazz Hodge of Clash called the duo "an inspiration to anyone fortunate enough to listen to their music" as they have "a confidence to say what needs to be said". opining that the album "couldn't have come at a more important time".

MusicOMH's John Murphy called it "a huge step up" as "every track on this album grabs the listener and demands attention" with "simmering anger bubbling throughout which makes it one of the most compelling releases of the year". Aliya Chaudhry of NME found that the album "broadens the duo's musical scope" and its "variety keeps things interesting, but it also allows the duo to flex their musical muscles" as "they've traded in some of their previous blistering punk for a more relaxed pace on certain tracks, but without sacrificing any intensity".

Year-end lists

Select year-end rankings for Humble as the Sun
Publication/critic Accolade Rank Ref.
BBC Radio 6 Music 26 Albums of the Year 2024 -
Rough Trade UK Albums of the Year 2024 88

Track listing

Humble as the Sun track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Humble as the Sun"4:10
2."Reign"4:46
3."GYAG (Get Yourself a Gun)"3:20
4."Dream Big"3:05
5."Hunger Games"3:40
6."Right Here"2:49
7."Makes Me Violent"3:19
8."He's a Man"2:38
9."Ring the Alarm"3:11
10."I'm Still Here"3:44
Total length:34:42

Personnel

Musicians

  • Bobby Vylan – lead vocals (all tracks); guitar, bass (tracks 1, 3–7, 9); live drums (3, 5), background vocals (7); additional guitars, programming (8); organ (9)
  • Jonny Breakwell – organ (track 1), programming (2), additional vocals (3), piano (7, 9), background vocals (7)
  • Mikey Sorbello – live drums (tracks 1, 10)
  • Hannah Koppenburg – piano, Rhodes (track 1)
  • Jerub – additional vocals (track 1)
  • Andy Gangadeen – live drums (tracks 2, 6)
  • Kelechi Okafor – additional vocals (track 2)
  • Luke Pickering – programming (track 3)
  • Adam Betts – live drums (tracks 4, 7, 10)
  • Vylan Kids Choir – additional vocals (track 4)
  • Tim Bazell – live drums, additional guitars (track 5)
  • Rex Roulette – additional guitars (tracks 5, 7); guitar, bass (10)
  • Henri Davies – programming (track 5)
  • Jorge "Saucy" Felizardo – background vocals (track 7)
  • Laurie Vincent – guitar, bass (track 8)

Technical

  • Bobby Vylan – production (tracks 1–7, 9), recording (all tracks)
  • Laurie Vincent – production, recording (track 8)
  • Rex Roulette – production, recording (track 10)
  • Jonny Breakwell – mixing (all tracks), co-production (tracks 1-9), recording (1, 2, 4, 6-10)
  • Kevin Tuffy – mastering
  • Luke Pickering – recording (track 3)
  • Tim Bazell – recording (track 5)
  • Henri Davies – additional production (track 5)
  • Adam Beer – recording assistance (tracks 2, 4, 6–9)

Visuals

  • Bobby Vylan – art direction
  • KJ Price – cover photo

Charts

Chart performance for Humble as the Sun
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) 11
UK Albums (OCC) 22
UK Independent Albums (OCC) 3
UK R&B Albums (OCC) 1

References

  1. "Humble As The Sun by Bob Vylan reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Humble as the Sun by Bob Vylan Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  3. ^ Hodge, Jazz (2 April 2024). "Bob Vylan – Humble as the Sun | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Bob Vylan – Humble as the Sun". Uncut. May 2024. p. 78.
  5. ^ Wright, Lisa. "Bob Vylan – Humble as the Sun review". DIY. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  6. ^ Murphy, John (7 April 2024). "Bob Vylan – Humble as the Sun | Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  7. ^ Chaudhry, Aliya (8 April 2024). "Bob Vylan – Humble as the Sun review: electrifying, experimental and empowering". NME. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Bob Vylan – Humble as the Sun". Uncut. April 2024. p. 31.
  9. BBC Radio 6 Music. "Albums of the Year 2024". BBC.com. Retrieved 27 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. "Albums of the Year 2024". roughtrade.com. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  11. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  12. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  13. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  14. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
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