{{use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{use list-defined references|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox album | name = Changephobia | type = studio | artist = Rostam Batmanglij | cover = Rostam Batmanglij - Changephobia.jpg | alt = A photograph of a man lying on a roof holding a guitar and smiling | caption = Cover to the standard edition; the deluxe edition replace the black bars with yellow | released = {{start date|2021|06|04}} | recorded = | studio = *Electro-Vox Studio, Los Angeles, California, US *Matsor Projects, Los Angeles, California, US | genre = | length = {{Duration|m=38|s=10}} | language = English | label = Matsor Projects | producer = Rostam Batmanglij | prev_title = Half-Light | prev_year = 2017 | next_title = The Persian Version | next_year = 2023 }} {{quote-box|align=right|width=20%|"I definitely wanted to shed the skin of some of those hallmarks that I had come to be known for over the years. I got to the point where I could no longer make any more music that relied on classical music as an inspiration. That may change in the future, but I got to a point where I just said, 'The next thing has to come from a different place'."|—Rostam Batmanglij on changing his songwriting process for ''Changephobia''<ref name="diyint" />}} '''''Changephobia''''' is the second full-length solo album by American indie rock musician Rostam Batmanglij. The album has received positive reception from critics and appeared on several best-of lists for the year. It was followed by two volumes of remixes later in the year.<ref name="as" />
==Reception== Editors at ''AnyDecentMusic?'' scored this album a 7.3 out of 10, based on 15 reviews.<ref name="adm" /> {{MCalbum|Changephobia|positive|76|14}}<ref name="mc" />
{{Music ratings | MC = 76/100<ref name="mc" /> | rev1 = ''AnyDecentMusic?''<ref name="adm" /> | rev1score = 7.3/10 | rev2 = ''The A.V. Club''<ref name="avc" /> | rev2score = B+ | rev3 = AllMusic<ref name="amg" /> | rev3score = 4/5 | rev4 = ''DIY''<ref name="diy" /> | rev4score = 4/5 | rev5 = ''Dork''<ref name="dork" /> | rev5score = 3/5 | rev6 = ''Exclaim!''<ref name="e!" /> | rev6score = 8/10 | rev7 = ''Mojo''<ref name="mojo" /> | rev7score = 4/5 | rev8 = Pitchfork<ref name="pm" /> | rev8score = 7.2/10 }}
At ''The A.V. Club'', Tatiana Tenreyro scored this album a B+, calling it "a fitting record for sunny summer days, leaning into a stripped-down sound that combines pop with jazz".<ref name="avc" /> Editors at AllMusic rated this album 4 out of 5 stars, with critic Heather Phares writing "on ''Changephobia'', [Batmanglij's] approach is a little more concise and considered" than 2017's ''Half-Light'' "but just as evocative", continuing that his music is "more artful and heartfelt than ever".<ref name="amg" /> ''DIY''{{'}}s Sean Kerwick scored ''Changephobia'' 4 out of 5 stars, characterizing it as "beautifully constructed, surprising and brimming with invention".<ref name="diy" /> Writing for ''Dork'', Jamie Macmillan gave this album 3 out of 5 stars, writing that "though there are delightful moments popping up every now and then, everything feels just a little too light and struggles to really take hold in your memory, it's relentless insistence on skipping onto the next thing making everything feel just that bit too fleeting".<ref name="dork" /> In ''Exclaim!'', Ian Gormedy rated this release 8 out of 10, summing up, "it's the most coherent vision—lyrically and sonically—of Rostam as a solo artist so far".<ref name="e!" />
Oliver Kuscher of ''The Line of Best Fit'' gave this album an 8 out of 10, stating that "the record has a beautifully cohesive groove, the many disparate parts seamlessly fitting together in typical Rostam fashion".<ref name="tlobf" /> In ''Loud and Quiet'', Rosie Ramsden rated ''Changephobia'' a 7 out of 10, stating that the album's strength lies in cohesion between different-sounding songs, summing up that "they are tied together by a melodic thread that inspires a change of pace that encourages us to pause and take stock of our lives and beliefs and relationships".<ref name="landq" /> Tom Doyle of ''Mojo'' rated this release 4 out of 5 stars for being "a quiet beauty" with vocals reminiscent of Paul Simon.<ref name="mojo" /> Simone Fraser scored ''Changephobia'' 3 out of 5 stars, critiquing that "the multi-talented musician's downfall is sometimes that he wraps melodies in so many layers that it barely has a chance to breathe", while praising the album as "cohesive despite an experimental and genre-defying sound".<ref name="nme" />
Max Freedman of ''Paste'' gave ''Changephobia'' a 6.8 out of 10, summing it up as Batmanglij's "most compact work yet, which is alternately a boon and a crutch".<ref name="paste" /> A 7.2 out of 10 came from Will Gottsegen of Pitchfork Media, who compared it to Haim's ''Women in Music Pt. III'' and praised "songs that locate their intoxicating highs in the restless spontaneity he writes about so frequently".<ref name="pm" /> Colin McGuire of ''PopMatters'' rated this album 7 out of 10 for being "an album that's as concise as it is provoking and as pleasant as it is interesting".<ref name="pop" /> A brief review in ''Rolling Stone'' praised the production on this album for making "pleasantly ornate pop with classical flourishes" and rated it 3 out of 5 stars.<ref name="rs" /> Writing for ''Slant Magazine'', Eric Mason gave this release 3.5 out of 5 stars, ending "while Batmanglij has reduced the vast variety of sounds and distortion of his debut, the warmth of his vision remains".<ref name="slant" /> ''Uncut''{{'}}s Bud Scoppa wrote that in this music, "Rostam juxtaposes elements of the postmodern sonic recipe he helped dream up for Vampire Weekend with novel touches, forming the flexible framework for deeply personal emotions" and scored it 7 out of 10.<ref name="uncut" />
In a mid-year wrap-up of the 25 best albums of 2021, ''The A.V. Club''{{'}}s Gabrielle Sanchez stated that Batmanglij "steps firmly out of his former band's [Vampire Weekend] shadow... with a lush, romantic sophomore solo album".<ref name="2021avc" /> Mikael Wood of ''Los Angeles Times'' rated this the third best album of the year, comparing the sounds to Chet Baker and Charlie Parker.<ref name="2021lat" /> Sean Maunier also rated it number three for 2021, calling it as "ambitious and multifaceted as its creator" and "asks what it means to live in a world that is constantly turning itself upside down, and more pressingly, the joys and connections we manage to find with each other in the constant flux".<ref name="2021mw" /> Critic Lindsay Zoladz of ''The New York Times'' considered ''Changephobia'' a runner-up for the shortlist of the best albums of the year.<ref name="2021nyt" /> A Pitchfork Media ranking of the 100 best songs of 2021 included "4Runner" at 80 and Peyton Thomas wrote that this "twelve-string tribute to the open road would make anyone swoon".<ref name="2021pm" />
==Track listing== #"These Kids We Knew" (Rostam Batmanglij) – 2:28 #"From the Back of a Cab" (Batmanglij) – 2:47 #"Unfold You" (Batmanglij, Nick Hakim, Wes Miles, and Cassia O'Reilly) – 3:54 #"4Runner" (Batmanglij and Brad Oberhofer) – 3:49 #"Changephobia" (Batmanglij) – 3:50 #"Kinney" (Batmanglij) – 3:19 #"Bio18" (Batmanglij and Ramesh Srivastava) – 4:01 #"(Interlude)" (Batmanglij and Henry Solomon) – 1:59 #"To Communicate" (Batmanglij) – 3:27 #"Next Thing" (Batmanglij) – 4:30 #"Starlight" (Batmanglij) – 4:06
'''Bonus tracks on the expanded edition''' #<li value="12">"Train in Vain (Stand by Me) (Mick Jones and Joe Strummer) – 3:28 #"Fruits of My Labor" (Lucinda Williams) – 4:35
"Unfold You" contains a sample of "Papas Fritas" by Nick Hakim and "4Runner" contains a sample spoken word by Tess Brown-Lavoie.
==Personnel== *Rostam Batmanglij – 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, Hammond B3, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, bass guitar, harmonica, drums, congas, shaker, tambourine, percussion, snapping, vocals, backing vocals, saxophone arrangement, drum programming, synthesizer programming, sampling, engineering, mixing, production *Chris Allgood – mastering assistance *Olivia Bee – photography *Michael Blasky – tenor saxophone on "Kinney" *Rich Costey – mixing on "4Runner" *Tom Elmhirst – mixing on "These Kids We Knew", "From the Back of a Cab", "Unfold You", "Changephobia", "Kinney", "Bio18", and "Starlight" *Dave Fridmann – mixing on "To Communicate" *Danielle Haim – drums on "These Kids We Knew", *Jack Hallenbeck – synthesizer on "These Kids We Knew", engineering on "These Kids We Knew" and "4Runner" *Michael Harris – engineering on "Unfold You", "Changephobia", "Bio18", "To Communicate", "Next Thing", and "Starlight" *Nate Head – congas on "Bio18", drums on "Next Thing" *Christine Im – layout *Emily Lazar – mastering at The Loft, New York City, New York, United States *Julian McClanahan – backing vocals on "Changephobia" *Joey Messina-Doerning – drums on "Changephobia", engineering *Henry Solomon – baritone saxophone on "Unfold You", "Changephobia", "Kinney", "Bio18", "(Interlude)", "Next Thing", and "Starlight"; saxophone arrangement *Shane Stoneback – engineering *Gabriel Strum – synthesizer on "Starlight"
==See also== *2021 in American music *List of 2021 albums
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="2021avc">{{Cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-best-albums-of-2021-so-far-1847198024 |title=The best albums of 2021 so far, from Japanese Breakfast to Ratboys |language=en-US |website=The A.V. Club |accessdate=2023-12-15 |date=2021-07-09 |first=Gabrielle |last=Sanchez |department=Best Of}}</ref> <ref name="2021lat">{{Cite news |issn=2165-1736 |oclc=3638237 |language=en-US |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |last=Wood |first=Mikael |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-12-15/10-best-albums-2021-jazmine-sullivan-olivia-rodrigo-rostam-lil-nas-x |date=2021-12-15 |accessdate=2023-12-15 |title=The 10 best albums of 2021 |department=Music}}</ref> <ref name="2021mw">{{Cite news |language=en-US |newspaper=Metro Weekly |last=Maunier |first=Sean |url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2022/01/the-10-best-albums-of-2021/ |date=2022-01-09 |accessdate=2023-12-15 |title=The 10 Best Albums of 2021, from Lucy Dacus to Allison Russell |department=Arts + Entertainment / Music}}</ref> <ref name="2021nyt">{{Cite news |issn=1553-8095 |oclc=1645522 |language=en-US |newspaper=The New York Times |last=Zoladz |first=Lindsay |title=Best Albums of 2021 |department=The Best of 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/02/arts/music/best-pop-albums.html |date=2021-12-02 |accessdate=2023-12-15}}</ref> <ref name="2021pm">{{Cite web |publisher=Pitchfork Media |language=en-US |department=Lists & Guides |accessdate=2023-12-15 |first=Peyton |last=Thomas |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-songs-2021/ |title=The 100 Best Songs of 2021 |date=2021-12-06}}</ref> <ref name="adm">{{Cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12877/_.aspx |title=Changephobia by Rostam reviews {{!}} AnyDecentMusic |language=en-US |website=AnyDecentMusic? |accessdate=2023-12-15 |date=n.d.}}</ref> <ref name="amg">{{Cite web |url=https://allmusic.com/album/mw0003489052 |title=Rostam – Changephobia |language=en-US |website=AllMusic |publisher=RhythmOne |accessdate=2023-12-15 |first=Heather |last=Phares |date=n.d.}}</ref> <ref name="as">{{Cite magazine |department=Reviews > Album Reviews |language=en-US |magazine=American Songwriter |issn=0896-8993 |oclc=17342741 |last=Vitagliano |first=Joe |date=2021-12-02 |accessdate=2023-12-15 |url=https://americansongwriter.com/vampire-weekends-rostam-shares-part-ii-of-changephobia-remixes-read-his-track-by-track-breakdown/ |title=Vampire Weekend's Rostam Shares Part II of 'Changephobia' Remixes—Read His Track-By-Track Breakdown}}</ref> <ref name="avc">{{Cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/rostam-soundtracks-summer-love-with-the-jazzy-changepho-1847032459 |title=Album Review: Rostam soundtracks summer love with the jazzy ''Changephobia'' |language=en-US |website=The A.V. Club |accessdate=2023-12-15 |date=2021-06-04 |first=Tatiana |last=Tenreyro |department=Reviews}}</ref> <ref name="diy">{{Cite magazine |magazine=DIY |url=https://diymag.com/review/album/rostam-changephobia-album-review |title=Rostam – ''Changephobia'' review |language=en-GB |accessdate=2023-12-15 |date=2021-06-03 |first=Sean |last=Kerwick |department=Album Review}}</ref> <ref name="diyint">{{Cite magazine |magazine=DIY |url=https://diymag.com/interview/rostam-changephobia-june-2021-interview |title=Rostam: The Only Constant Is Change |language=en-GB |accessdate=2023-12-15 |date=2021-07-15 |first=Sean |last=Kerwick |department=Interview}}</ref> <ref name="dork">{{Cite magazine |language=en-GB |oclc=1065354071 |url=https://readdork.com/albums/rostam-changephobia/ |first=Jamie |last=Macmillan |department=Album & EP Reviews |date=2023-12-15 |title=Rostam – Changephobia |magazine=Dork}}</ref> <ref name="e!">{{Cite magazine |issn=1207-6600 |language=en-CA |magazine=Exclaim! |last=Gormedy |first=Ian |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/rostam_changephobia_album_review |date=2021-05-31 |accessdate=2023-12-15 |title=Rostam's 'Changephobia' Proves He's Actually Pretty Good at Switching Things Up}}</ref> <ref name="landq">{{Cite magazine |issn=2049-9892 |language=en-GB |magazine=Loud and Quiet |department=Reviews |issue=146 |date=2021-05-31 |accessdate=2023-12-15 |url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/rostam-changephobia/ |title=Rostam – Changephobia |last=Ramsden |first=Rosie}}</ref> <ref name="mc">{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/changephobia/rostam |title=Changephobia by Rostam Reviews and Tracks – Metacritic |language=en-US |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |accessdate=2023-12-15 |date=n.d.}}</ref> <ref name="mojo">{{Cite magazine |magazine=Mojo |language=en-GB |date=July 2021 |last=Doyle |first=Tom |title=Filter Albums |page=87 |department=Mojo Filter |editor-last=Bulley |editor-first=Jenny |issue=332 |issn=1351-0193}}</ref> <ref name="nme">{{Cite magazine |issn=0028-6362 |department=Reviews |language=en-GB |magazine=NME |last=Fraser |first=Simone |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/rostam-changephobia-review-2955898 |title=Rostam – 'Changephobia' review: Vampire Weekend producer's left turn |date=2021-06-03 |accessdate=2023-12-15}}</ref> <ref name="paste">{{Cite magazine |issn=1540-3106 |department=Music > Reviews > Rostam |language=en-US |magazine=Paste |date=2021-07-02 |accessdate=2023-12-15 |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/rostam/changephobia-album-review |title=Rostam: 'Changephobia' Album Review}}</ref> <ref name="pm">{{Cite web |publisher=Pitchfork Media |language=en-US |department=Albums |accessdate=2023-12-15 |first=Will |last=Gottsegen |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/rostam-changephobia/ |title=Rostam: Changephobia Album Review |date=2021-06-04}}</ref> <ref name="pop">{{Cite web |website=PopMatters |department=Reviews |language=en-US |accessdate=2023-12-15 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/rostam-changephobia-album-review |title=Rostam: Changephobia (Album Review) |last=McGuire |first=Colin |date=2021-06-16}}</ref> <ref name="rs">{{Cite magazine |issn=0035-791X |department=Album Reviews |language=en-US |magazine=Rolling Stone |page=77 |title=Quick Hits |date=June 2021 |issue=1352}}</ref> <ref name="slant">{{Cite magazine |department=Music |language=en-US |magazine=Slant Magazine |date=2021-05-30 |accessdate=2023-12-15 |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/with-changephobia-rostam-breezily-embraces-a-lack-of-control/ |title=Rostam 'Changephobia' Review: A Breezy Embrace of Lack of Control |first=Eric |last=Mason}}</ref> <ref name="tlobf">{{Cite web |language=en-US |website=The Line of Best Fit |department=Album Reviews |last=Kuscher |first=Oliver |date=2021-06-05 |accessdate=2023-12-15 |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/rostam-changephobia-album-review |title=On Changephobia Rostam embraces growth and clarity}}</ref> <ref name="uncut">{{Cite magazine |magazine=Uncut |language=en-GB |date=July 2021 |last=Scoppa |first=Bud |title=New Albums |page=33 |issn=1368-0722}}</ref> }}
==External links== *{{Discogs master}} *{{MBrgID}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2021 albums Category:Rostam Batmanglij albums Category:Albums produced by Rostam Batmanglij