{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Crab Day | type = studio | artist = Cate Le Bon | cover = Crab Day (Front Cover).jpg | border = yes | alt = | released = {{Start date|2016|4|15|df=y}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = Panoramic House (Stinson Beach, California) | genre = * Neo-psychedelia * indie pop * art pop | length = {{Duration|m=36|s=38}} | label = * Drag City * Turnstile * Caroline International | producer = * Josiah Steinbrick * Noah Georgeson | prev_title = Mug Museum | prev_year = 2013 | next_title = Reward | next_year = 2019 | misc = {{Singles | name = Crab Day | type = studio | single1 = Wonderful | single1date = 29 February 2016 }} }} '''''Crab Day''''' is the fourth studio album by the Welsh musician Cate Le Bon, released on 15 April 2016 by Drag City, Turnstile Music, and Caroline International. It was produced by Josiah Steinbrick and Noah Georgeson and recorded at Panoramic House, a hilltop mansion in the coastal town of Stinson Beach, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/04/16/474413801/the-world-is-absolute-nonsense-the-cosmic-quest-of-cate-le-bon |title='The World Is Absolute Nonsense': The Cosmic Quest Of Cate Le Bon |publisher=NPR Music |first=Paula |last=Mejia |date=2016-04-16 |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> The artist Phil Collins created a short film set in Berlin to coincide with the release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/cate-le-bon-reveals-new-11-minute-short-film-crab-day|title=Cate Le Bon reveals new 11-minute short film Crab Day|last=Day|first=Laurence|date=11 April 2016|website=thelinebestfit.com|publisher=|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>
==Recording== After the experience working with American musician Tim Presley as DRINKS, Le Bon changed her working method. She created short demos and used different instruments. Lyrics were written after the music had been completed. She described the process as "the songs were mapped out in my head and I had vocal melodies, just not lyrics".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/longread/cate-le-bon-something-changed|title=Cate Le Bon: Something Changed|last=Nash|first=Ed|date=4 August 2016|website=thelinebestfit.com|publisher=|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> When the songs had been developed, they were rehearsed over five days together with Stephen Black (bass), H. Hawkline (guitar) and Stella Mozgawa (drums).<ref name=":0" /> Upon entering the studio, recording was completed over five days after which Le Bon completed her vocals and overdubs. It was followed by the process of selecting the songs and running order for the album.<ref name=":0" />
==Critical reception== {{Album ratings | MC = 75/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/crab-day/cate-le-bon |title=Crab Day – Cate Le Bon |publisher=Metacritic. CBS Interactive |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/crab-day-mw0002912921 |title=Crab Day – Cate Le Bon |website=AllMusic |first=James Christopher |last=Monger |date=2016-04-14 |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Consequence of Sound'' | rev2score = B−<ref name="CoS">{{cite magazine|url=https://consequence.net/2016/04/album-review-cate-le-bon-crab-day/ |title=Cate Le Bon – Crab Day |magazine=Consequence of Sound |first=Brenna |last=Ivey |date=2016-04-15 |access-date=2016-04-27}}</ref> | rev3 = ''DIY'' | rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="DIY">{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2016/04/15/cate-le-bon-crab-day-album-review |title=Cate Le Bon – Crab Day |publisher=DIY |first=El |last=Hunt |date=2016-04-15 |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Drowned in Sound'' | rev4score = 7/10<ref name="DIS">{{cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19369/reviews/4149964 |title=Cate Le Bon – Crab Day |publisher=Drowned in Sound |first=Amanda |last=Farah |date=2016-04-13 |accessdate=2016-04-27 |archive-date=2016-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424131408/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19369/reviews/4149964 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Guardian'' | rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="theguardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/14/cate-le-bon-crab-day-review |title=Cate Le Bon: Crab Day review – a rubber-band-ball of energy and invention |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Kate |last=Hutchinson |date=2016-04-14 |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> | rev6 = ''MusicOMH'' | rev6score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="musicOMH">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/cate-le-bon-crab-day |title=Cate Le Bon – Crab Day |publisher=musicOMH |first=Chris |last=White |date=2016-04-09 |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> | rev7 = ''The New York Times'' | rev7score = (favorable)<ref name="NYT">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/arts/music/review-cate-le-bon-evokes-pop-outliers.html |title=Review: Cate Le Bon Evokes Pop Outliers |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Ben |last=Ratliff |date=2016-04-13 |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> | rev8 = ''NME'' | rev8score = 3/5<ref name="NME">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/cate-le-bon/16450 |title=Cate Le Bon - 'Crab Day' |publisher=NME |first=Mark |last=Beaumont |date=2016-04-20 |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev9score = 8.1/10<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21636-crab-day/ |title=Cate Le Bon: Crab Day |publisher=Pitchfork Media |first=Laura |last=Snapes |date=2016-04-15 |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> | rev10 = ''Under the Radar'' | rev10score = 7/10<ref name="UtR">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/cate_le_bon_crab_day/ |title=Cate Le Bon: Crab Day |magazine=Under the Radar |first=Marty |last=Hill |date=2016-04-19 |accessdate=2016-04-27}}</ref> }} ''Crab Day'' received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 75, based on 21 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="MC"/>
Laura Snapes of Pitchfork Media gave the album a favorable review, stating, "''Crab Day'' is a voyage into doubt led by a queasy compass, and a ringleader who's prepared to stake out uncertain territory. Le Bon always keeps you guessing, making the old traditions of guitar-oriented rock feel arbitrary, too. Her nervy assessments of the world are filled with equal parts suspense and heart, and beautifully zany riffs, where the feeling of being frayed by uncertainty comes together into a strangely comforting patchwork."<ref name="pitchfork"/>
===Accolade=== {|class="wikitable" |- ! Publication ! Accolade ! Year ! Rank |- | Rough Trade | Albums of the Year | 2016 | {{center|89<ref>{{cite web|url=https://roughtrade.com/albums-of-the-year|title=Albums of the Year|work=Rough Trade|date=November 14, 2016|accessdate=November 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116015644/https://roughtrade.com/albums-of-the-year|archive-date=November 16, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} |}
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = Cate Le Bon | headline = Side A | title1 = Crab Day | length1 = 3:51 | title2 = Love Is Not Love | length2 = 3:03 | title3 = Wonderful | length3 = 2:38 | title4 = Find Me | length4 = 2:53 | title5 = I'm a Dirty Attic | length5 = 3:08 }} {{Track listing | headline = Side B | title6 = I Was Born on the Wrong Day | length6 = 2:19 | title7 = We Might Revolve | length7 = 3:49 | title8 = Yellow Blinds, Cream Shadows | length8 = 4:04 | title9 = How Do You Know? | length9 = 3:27 | title10 = What's Not Mine | length10 = 7:26 | total_length = 36:38 }}
==Personnel== Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Crab Day''.<ref name="booklet">{{cite AV media notes |title=Crab Day |type=LP liner notes |others=Cate Le Bon |publisher=Drag City |year=2016 |id=DC653}}</ref>
'''Musicians''' * Cate Le Bon – guitar, piano {{small|(1, 2, 6)}}, percussion {{small|(6, 9, 10)}}, synthesizer {{small|(4, 5, 7)}}, marimba {{small|(3, 8)}} * Josiah Steinbrick – bass {{small|(6)}}, piano {{small|(3, 10)}}, percussion {{small|(6, 9)}} * Stephen Black – bass {{small|(1–5, 7–10)}}, clarinet {{small|(1, 8, 10)}}, saxophone {{small|(2–4, 6–10)}} * H. Hawkline – guitar {{small|(1–3, 6, 9, 10)}}, marimba {{small|(7, 10)}}, synthesizer {{small|(4, 10)}} * Stella Mozgawa – drums {{small|(1–5, 7–10)}}
'''Production and artwork''' * Josiah Steinbrick – production * Noah Georgeson – production, mixing * Samur Khouja – engineering * JJ Golden – mastering * Isabel Vollrath – kimono jacket * Christian Fritzenwanker – make up * Ivana Klickovic – cover photography, insert photography * H. Hawkline – sleeve
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Discogs master|987557}}
{{Cate Le Bon}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Cate Le Bon albums Category:2016 albums Category:Drag City (record label) albums Category:Albums produced by Noah Georgeson Category:Albums produced by Josiah Steinbrick