{{use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{use list-defined references|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox album | name = Hellmode | type = studio | artist = Jeff Rosenstock | cover = Jeff Rosenstock - Hellmode.jpg | alt = A pink-tinted collage of photos and drawings with "HELLMODE" written in a blackletter font across the middle | released = August 31, 2023 | recorded = Summer 2022 | studio = * EastWest Studios, Hollywood, California * The Atomic Garden, East Oakland, California | genre = Punk rock | length = 41:03 | label = Polyvinyl | producer = Jack Shirley | prev_title = Ska Dream | prev_year = 2021 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{Singles | type = studio | single1 = Liked U Better | single1date = May 23, 2023 | single2 = Doubt | single2date = June 27, 2023 | single3 = Healmode | single3date = July 27, 2023 }}}} '''''Hellmode''''' (stylized in all caps) is the fifth{{efn|Not including ''Ska Dream'' (2021).<ref name="Clash rev" /><ref name="e!" /><ref name="Pitchfork rev" />}} solo studio album by American musician Jeff Rosenstock, released through Polyvinyl Record Co. on August 31, 2023. It has received positive reviews from critics.
== Writing and recording == Most of the songs on the album were fleshed out when Rosenstock spent a few days staying near Joshua Tree National Park; he went there to write after a tour was canceled due to COVID in early 2022.<ref name="Going Off Track" />
Rosenstock recorded the album in summer 2022 with producer Jack Shirley.<ref name="Doubt1" /> The album was primarily recorded at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, California, and the Atomic Garden in East Oakland.<ref name="Bandcamp" />
On recording the album, Rosenstock said, "I had a day where I was just running shit from ''Hellmode'' through the fucking echo chambers that were used on ''Pet Sounds''. That's huge for me! What a fucking dream. We had a parking spot in the back. It certainly energized me. I was like, 'How do we get this to sound like something from those major label punk records in the '90s—the ones that sounded good, the ones that sounded like the band went somewhere real and had somebody record it well and have that punch?' I don't know if the space necessarily made that so or anything, but it was cool to see all the names on the wall and feel like we were part of that continuum of music. We're a bunch of scrappy weirdos and we don't often feel like we're a part of it."<ref name="paste" />
== Release == ''Hellmode'' was announced on June 27, 2023, with a release date of September 1.<ref name="Doubt2" /> Along with the announcement, Rosenstock released the second single, "Doubt".<ref name="Doubt2" /> "Doubt" also came with a music video made by members of the team behind the cartoon series ''Craig of the Creek'', for which Rosenstock composes the score.<ref name="Doubt2" /> Prior to the announcement, the lead single "Liked U Better" was released on May 23.<ref name="Liked U Better" /> The third single, "Healmode", was released on July 27, with a lyric video by Dan Potthast starring a snail named Champ.<ref name="Healmode1" /><ref name="Healmode2" />
The album was surprise-released a day early on August 31.<ref name="surprise early release" />
==Reception== {{Music ratings | title =''Hellmode'' ratings | MC =84/100<ref name="Metacritic" /> | rev1 =AllMusic | rev1score ={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllMusic rev" /> | rev2 =''Clash'' | rev2score =9/10<ref name="Clash rev" /> | rev3 =''Exclaim!'' | rev3score =8/10<ref name="e!" /> | rev4 =''The Line of Best Fit'' | rev4score =8/10<ref name="tlobf" /> | rev5 =''Paste'' | rev5score =7.5/10<ref name="Paste rev" /> | rev6 =''Pitchfork'' | rev6score =8.0/10<ref name="Pitchfork rev" /> }} {{Metacritic album prose|Hellmode|positive|84|6}}<ref name="Metacritic" /> ''Exclaim!''{{'}}s Adam Feibel called ''Hellmode'' "an album of fun, catchy punk anthems" which "hits all the right notes" that are "quintessential Rosenstock".<ref name="e!" /> Editors at ''Stereogum'' named ''Hellmode'' Album of the Week, with critic Patrick Hosken characterizing the album as "rife with climate anxiety, mental anguish, ''and'' tender acoustic moments" that has two halves of "amplified apprehension and a handful of songs based around the acoustic guitar".<ref name="sg" /> ''Pitchfork''{{'}}s Nina Corcoran called the album "the prettiest" Rosenstock has made, "but it still gets you riled up."<ref name="Pitchfork rev" /> AllMusic's Mark Deming claimed that "Rosenstock has a hard time being comfortable with happiness, and while it doubtless makes life stressful for him, it's great for his muse, and ''Hellmode'' is loaded with great songs."<ref name="AllMusic rev" />
=== Year-end lists === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ ''Hellmode'' on year-end lists ! scope="col" | Publication ! scope="col" | {{tooltip|#|Placement}} ! scope="col" | {{tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" | ''Beats Per Minute'' | 42 | <ref>{{Cite news |last=Poland |first=Dana |date=December 12, 2023 |title=''BPM''{{'}}s Top 50 Albums of 2023 |work=Beats Per Minute |url=https://beatsperminute.com/bpms-top-50-albums-of-2023/ |access-date=December 14, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Exclaim!'' | 36 | <ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnabe |first=Dylan |date=November 30, 2023 |title=''Exclaim!''{{'}}s 50 Best Albums of 2023 |work=Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/exclaim_50_best_albums_of_2023/page/2 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | The Needle Drop | 1 | <ref>{{Cite news |last=Fantano |first=Anthony |date=December 23, 2023 |title=Top 50 Albums of 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlloTwEBBE8 |access-date=February 3, 2024 |work=The Needle Drop}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Our Culture Mag'' | 40 | <ref>{{Cite news |last=Pappis |first=Konstantinos |date=December 1, 2023 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2023 |work=Our Culture Mag |url=https://ourculturemag.com/2023/12/01/the-50-best-albums-of-2023/ |access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''The Ringer'' | 12 | <ref>{{Cite news |last=Harvilla |first=Rob |date=December 6, 2023 |title=The 27 Best Albums of 2023 |work=The Ringer |url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2023/12/6/23989332/best-albums-2023-sza-lana-olivia-100-gecs |access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Treble'' | 48 | <ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Ed |date=December 5, 2023 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2023 |work=Treble |url=https://www.treblezine.com/50-best-albums-of-2023/ |access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref> |}
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = | extra_column = | total_length = {{Track listing total length|3:21|1:31|2:50|4:28|3:48|4:46|3:22|2:43|2:34|4:31|7:09}}
| all_writing = Jeff Rosenstock. Song titles are stylized in all caps | all_lyrics = | all_music =
| title1 = Will U Still U | length1 = 3:21
| title2 = Head | length2 = 1:31
| title3 = Liked U Better | length3 = 2:50
| title4 = Doubt | length4 = 4:28
| title5 = Future Is Dumb | length5 = 3:48
| title6 = Soft Living | length6 = 4:46
| title7 = Healmode | length7 = 3:22
| title8 = Life Admin | length8 = 2:43
| title9 = I Wanna Be Wrong | length9 = 2:34
| title10 = Graveyard Song | length10 = 4:31
| title11 = 3 Summers | length11 = 7:09 }}
==Personnel== {{columns-start}} === Musicians === * Jeff Rosenstock – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, saxophones, clarinet, organ, synthesizers, piano * John DeDomenici – bass * Kevin Higuchi – drums, percussion * Mike Huguenor – electric guitar * Dan Potthast – acoustic guitar, Wurlitzer electronic piano, vocals * Chris Farren and Laura Stevenson – additional vocals * Jeremy Hunter – trombone (1) * Skylar Suorez – vibraphone (7) * Christine Mackie – trash can (8) * Gilbert Armendaríz, Lauren Brief, Sim Castro, Laura Hammond, PUP, and Neil Sharma – "International Vox & Clap Co. Class of 2022" {{column}} === Technical === * Jack Shirley – producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer, mastering engineer * Jeff Rosenstock – mixing engineer, photography, layout * Logan Taylor – assistant engineer * Dave Alegre – illustrations * Hiro Tanaka – photography * Rick Johnson – front of house engineer {{columns-end}} === Recording === * Recorded at EastWest Studios (Hollywood, California) and the Atomic Garden (East Oakland, California), with additional home recording by Jeff Rosenstock, Jeremy Hunter, and Skylar Suorez * Pre-production at Balboa Studios (Los Angeles, California)
==Charts== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Chart performance for ''Hellmode'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|UKDigital|52|date=20230908|rowheader=true|access-date=December 6, 2023}} |}
==See also== *List of 2023 albums
==References== {{notelist}} {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="e!">{{Cite magazine |magazine=Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/jeff_rosenstock_hellmode_album_review |title=Jeff Rosenstock's ''Hellmode'' Is a Soundtrack to Modern Living |department=Music |language=en-CA |first=Adam |last=Feibil |issn=1207-6600 |date=2023-08-29 |accessdate=2023-08-31}}</ref> <ref name="paste">{{Cite magazine |magazine=Paste |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/jeff-rosenstock/jeff-rosenstock-hellmode-interview |title=Jeff Rosenstock Pulls Hope from His Washing Machine of Chaos |department=Features |language=en-US |first=Matt |last=Mitchell |issn=1540-3106 |date=2023-08-30 |accessdate=2023-08-31}}</ref> <ref name="sg">{{Cite web |website=Stereogum |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2234362/jeff-rosenstock-hellmode/reviews/album-of-the-week/ |title=Jeff Rosenstock ''Hellmode'' Review |department=Album of the Week |language=en-US |first=Patrick |last=Hosken |date=2023-08-29 |accessdate=2023-08-31}}</ref> <ref name="Doubt2">{{Cite news |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=June 27, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock Announces New Album ''Hellmode'', Shares Video for New Song "Doubt" |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/jeff-rosenstock-announces-new-album-hellmode-shares-video-for-new-song-doubt-watch/ |access-date=June 27, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Liked U Better">{{Cite news |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock Announces 2023 North American Tour, Shares Video for New Song |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/jeff-rosenstock-announces-2023-north-american-tour-shares-video-for-new-song-watch/ |access-date=June 27, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Healmode1">{{Cite news |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=July 27, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock – "Healmode" |work=Stereogum |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2231401/jeff-rosenstock-healmode/music/ |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Healmode2">{{Cite news |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=July 27, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock shares new song, accompanying essay, & video starring a snail |work=BrooklynVegan |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/jeff-rosenstock-shares-new-song-accompanying-essay-video-starring-a-snail/ |access-date=August 28, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="surprise early release">{{Cite news |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=August 31, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock gives ''Hellmode'' surprise early release |work=brooklynvegan |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/jeff-rosenstock-gives-hellmode-surprise-early-release-listen/ |access-date=August 31, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Doubt1">{{Cite news |last=Fu |first=Eddie |date=June 27, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock Announces New Album ''Hellmode'', Shares "Doubt" |work=Consequence |url=https://consequence.net/2023/06/jeff-rosenstock-hellmode-doubt-stream/ |access-date=June 27, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="tlobf">{{Cite news |last=Kohner |first=Kyle |date=30 August 2023 |title=A vulnerable Jeff Rosenstock makes a chaotic world bearable on ''Hellmode'' |work=The Line of Best Fit |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/jeff-rosenstock-hellmode-makes-a-chaotic-world-bearable |access-date=August 31, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Bandcamp">{{Cite news |title=''Hellmode'' {{!}} Jeff Rosenstock |work=Bandcamp |url=https://jeffrosenstock.bandcamp.com/album/hellmode |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Going Off Track">{{Cite AV media |url=https://shows.acast.com/6227e8c5ee21f60012554cb6/episodes/64eebd8afc643000112395ae |title=Going Off Track - Jeff Rosenstock |date=August 30, 2023 |type=podcast |access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="AllMusic rev">{{Cite news |last=Deming |first=Mark |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock - ''Hellmode'' |work=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hellmode-mw0004032979 |access-date=September 6, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Pitchfork rev">{{Cite news |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=September 5, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock: ''Hellmode'' Album Review |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/jeff-rosenstock-hellmode/ |access-date=September 5, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Metacritic">{{Cite news |title=''Hellmode'' by Jeff Rosenstock Reviews and Tracks |work=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/hellmode/jeff-rosenstock |access-date=September 5, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Paste rev">{{Cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Sam |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock Wrestles With Collapse on ''Hellmode'' |work=Paste |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/jeff-rosenstock/jeff-rosenstock-hellmode-review |access-date=September 8, 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Clash rev">{{Cite news |last=Roseblade |first=Nick |date=August 31, 2023 |title=Jeff Rosenstock – ''Hellmode'' |work=Clash |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/jeff-rosenstock-hellmode/ |access-date=September 8, 2023}}</ref> }}
==External links== *{{Discogs master}} *{{MBrgID}}
{{Jeff Rosenstock}} {{Authority control}} Category:2023 albums Category:Jeff Rosenstock albums Category:Polyvinyl Record Co. albums Category:Punk rock albums by American artists Category:Albums recorded at EastWest Studios Category:Albums produced by Jack Shirley