{{about|the album by Ariel Pink}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album | name = Before Today | type = studio | artist = Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti | cover = Before Today.jpg | alt = | released = {{start date|2010|6|8}} | recorded = 2009–2010 | venue = | studio = {{hlist|House of Blues Studios ({{nowrap|Encino, CA}})|various band members' home studios<ref>[http://www.4ad.com/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti/news/~announce-album-d/ ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423214229/http://www.4ad.com/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti/news/~announce-album-d/ |date=April 23, 2010 }}</ref>}} | genre = * Pop<ref>{{cite web|author1=nme|title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – 'Mature Themes'|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/reviews-ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti-13589|website=NME|date=August 16, 2012}}</ref> *hypnagogic pop<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryce |first1=Andrew |title=Review: Ariel Pink- Mature Themes |url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/11512 |website=Resident Advisor |access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref> * indie rock<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mrozek|first1=Patryk|title=Pom Pom|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/pom-pom/78611/|website=Prefix Mag|date=November 25, 2014}}</ref> * experimental pop<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Stewart |title=Music: Record Reviews |journal=The List |date=May 27, 2020 |issue=657 |page=76 |url=https://archive.list.co.uk/the-list/2010-05-27/76/ |access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> | length = 44:48 | label = 4AD | producer = {{hlist|Sunny Levine|Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti|Van Deferens Organization}} | prev_title = Worn Copy | prev_year = 2003 | next_title = Mature Themes | next_year = 2012 }}
'''''Before Today''''' is the eighth studio album by American recording artist Ariel Pink, credited to "Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti", and released on June 8, 2010. The album marked Pink's debut on the record label 4AD.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/123506-ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti-before-today-new-album-mp3 |title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today (new album / MP3) |publisher=PopMatters |access-date=2011-09-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Dombal |first=Ryan |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/38401-ariel-pink-announces-new-album/ |title=Ariel Pink Announces New Album | News |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2010-04-06 |access-date=2011-09-01}}</ref> It was his first official LP of new recordings since 2003's ''Worn Copy'' and his first written and recorded with a supporting band, referred to in the liner notes as "Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti".
The album was critically acclaimed upon release, with ''Pitchfork'' placing the album at #9 on its list of "The Top 50 Albums of 2010".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7893-the-top-50-albums-of-2010/5 |title=Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2010 | Features |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2010-12-16 |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114053530/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7893-the-top-50-albums-of-2010/5/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lead single "Round and Round" was also ranked by ''Pitchfork'' as the best track of 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7895-the-top-100-tracks-of-2010/10/ |title=Staff Lists: The Top 100 Tracks of 2010 | Features |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2010-12-13 |access-date=2011-09-01}}</ref>
==Composition== thumb|left|Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti performing in 2010
The album's opening track, "Hot Body Rub" previously appeared (in an alternative version) on an EP ''Ariel Pink with Added Pizzazz'', which was a collaboration between Vas Deferens Organization (as producers) and Ariel Pink who are friends to each other. VDO provided production for this track, as well as thanks to one of its members, Eric Lumbleau, Pink made friends with Gonzales family who appeared on it.<ref name="Niklas Records">Jakub Krawczynski (2011, August). [http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3613614/presskity/vdo_presskit_en.pdf "Vas Deferens Organization and Brad Laner: Transcontinental Conspiracy presskit".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120064729/http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3613614/presskity/vdo_presskit_en.pdf |date=2012-01-20 }} Retrieved 9 September 2012.</ref>
The album contains several homages to vintage rock and pop songs, including "Bright Lit Blue Skies," written by Ronn Campisi and performed by the Rockin' Ramrods in 1966, and "Beverly Kills," which draws heavily on Ago's 1982 track "For You" and Olivia Newton-John's "Physical."<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ariel-pink-uncovers-a-sixties-garage-nugget-63809/|title=Ariel Pink Uncovers a Sixties Garage Nugget|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=21 January 2011}}</ref> "Reminiscences" is an instrumental cover of an Ethiopian pop song, "I Remember a Man" by Yeshimebet Dubale. {{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
==Critical reception and legacy== {{Music ratings | ADM = 7.9/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/1858/Ariel-Pinks-Haunted-Graffiti-Before-Today.aspx |title=Before Today by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti reviews |publisher=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> | MC = 85/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/before-today/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti |title=Reviews for Before Today by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/before-today-mw0001987213 |title=Before Today – Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=November 16, 2019 |last=Phares |first=Heather}}</ref> | rev2 = ''The A.V. Club'' | rev2Score = B<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti-ibefore-todayi-41891 |title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today |work=The A.V. Club |date=June 8, 2010 |access-date=February 7, 2016 |last=Murray |first=Noel}}</ref> | rev3 = ''The Guardian'' | rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jun/03/ariel-pink-before-today |title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today |work=The Guardian |date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=February 7, 2016 |last=Cragg |first=Michael}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Irish Times'' | rev4Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews/ariel-pink-s-haunted-graffiti-1.677013 |title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=June 11, 2010 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |last=Carroll |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Carroll (journalist)}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Mojo'' | rev5Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today |journal=Mojo |issue=200 |date=July 2010 |page=93}}</ref> | rev6 = ''NME'' | rev6Score = 8/10<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti/11354 |title=Album review: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – 'Before Today' (4AD) |journal=NME |date=June 7, 2010 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |last=Malone |first=Ailbhe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001442/http://www.nme.com/reviews/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti/11354 |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev7Score = 9.0/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14324-before-today/ |title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today |work=Pitchfork |date=June 7, 2010 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |last=Richardson |first=Mark}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Q'' | rev8Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today |journal=Q |issue=288 |date=July 2010 |page=136}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Spin'' | rev9Score = 7/10<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti-today-4ad |title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, 'Before Today' (4AD) |journal=Spin |date=June 8, 2010 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |last=Beta |first=Andy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617053825/http://www.spin.com/reviews/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti-today-4ad |archive-date=June 17, 2011}}</ref> | rev10 = ''Uncut'' | rev10Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today |journal=Uncut |issue=158 |date=July 2010 |page=105}}</ref> }}
Exclaim! named "Before Today" the No. 15 Pop & Rock Album of 2010.<ref name="Exclaim!'s Year in Review - Top Pop & Rock Albums of 2010">{{cite web|title=Pop & Rock Year in Review|work=Exclaim!|url=http://exclaim.ca/Features/YearInReview/pop_rock_year_in_review_2010/Page/15|access-date=2011-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210143757/http://exclaim.ca/Features/YearInReview/pop_rock_year_in_review_2010/Page/15|archive-date=2010-12-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> Exclaim! writer Dimitri Nasrallah said that "Before Today is a hard-earned victory lap for Pink, not only the most triumphantly realized album of his left-of-centre catalogue, but a much-needed second wind for an artist who very nearly finished off the decade as another minor curiosity in outsider-pop's long lineage." The album placed seventh in ''The Wire''{{'}}s annual critics' poll.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=2010 Rewind: Records of the Year Top Ten |date=January 2011 |magazine=The Wire |issue=323 |page=36 |location=London |url=https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/8039/spread/36 |url-access=subscription |via=Exact Editions}} {{subscription required}}</ref>
As of 2011, it has sold 25,942 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marathonpacks.tumblr.com/post/2728942718/data |title=Data |website=marathonpacks.tumblr.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421005740/http://marathonpacks.tumblr.com/post/2728942718/data |archive-date=21 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = Standard edition | all_writing = | total_length = 44:48
| title1 = Hot Body Rub | length1 = 2:26
| title2 = Bright Lit Blue Skies | length2 = 2:25
| title3 = L'estat (Acc. to the Widow's Maid) | length3 = 4:26
| title4 = Fright Night (Nevermore) | length4 = 3:35
| title5 = Round and Round | length5 = 5:08
| title6 = Beverly Kills | length6 = 3:56
| title7 = Butt-House Blondies | length7 = 3:27
| title8 = Little Wig | length8 = 5:46
| title9 = Can't Hear My Eyes | length9 = 3:19
| title10 = Reminiscences | length10 = 2:34
| title11 = Menopause Man | length11 = 4:00
| title12 = Revolution's a Lie | length12 = 3:49 }} {{Track listing | headline = Bandcamp edition | title13 = Mistaken Wedding | length13 = 04:00 | title14 = Shades Away | length14 = 02:14 | title15 = Phantasthma | length15 = 03:18 | title16 = Hold Your Breath and Wait | length16 = 05:00 }}
== Personnel == === Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti === *Ariel Pink *Aaron Sperske *Cole M.G.N. *Kenny Gilmore *Tim Koh
=== Guest musicians === *Tamara Cauble – violin (#1) *Aaron González – bass guitar (#1) *Dennis González – trumpet (#1) *Stefan González – drums (#1) *Jim Lehnert – alto & baritone sax (#1) *Eric Lumbleau – vocals (#1) *Chris Cohen – backing vocals (#9) *Max "Sax" Kaplan – saxophone (#9) *Nedelle Torrisi – backing vocals (#9)
=== Technical === *Van Deferens Organization – production & engineering (#1) *Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – producers (#2–12) *Sunny Levine – producer, engineer (#2–12) *HG – engineer (#2–12) *Rik Pekkonen – engineer (#2–12) *John Golden – mastering (#1–4, 6–12) *Christian Wright – mastering (#5) *Douglas Lee – artwork
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Ariel Pink}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Before Today}} Category:2010 albums Category:Ariel Pink albums Category:Albums recorded in a home studio Category:Experimental pop albums Category:4AD albums