{{use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{use list-defined references|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox album | name = Plastic Eternity | type = studio | artist = Mudhoney | cover = Mudhoney - Plastic Eternity.jpg | alt = A colorful, swirled background with the band and album name melting | released = {{Start date|2023|04|07}} | recorded = November 2021<ref name="Osman"/> | studio = Crackle & Pop, Seattle, Washington, United States | genre = {{hlist|Grunge|psychedelic rock<ref name="bv" /><ref name="amg" /><ref name="tin" />}} | length = {{duration|m=42|s=06}} | label = Sub Pop | producer = Johnny Sangster | prev_title = Real Low Vibe: Reprise Recordings 1992–1998 | prev_year = 2020 | next_title = | next_year = }} '''''Plastic Eternity''''' is the eleventh studio album by American grunge band Mudhoney, released on April 7, 2023, and their eighth released on Sub Pop. It has received positive reviews from critics.
==Recording, release, and promotion== ''Plastic Eternity'' features the first Mudhoney songs written with someone outside the band, producer Johnny Sangster, who appears on several tracks. Most of the songs on the album were not completely written prior to entering the studio, which is uncharacteristic for the band.<ref name="music" /> When the band felt that certain songs needed another key change or a bridge, Sangster was helpful in coming up with suggestions. According to singer Mark Arm "there was sort of the fog of recording where no one was taking notes of who actually came up with whatever idea. [Sangster] was definitely coming up with ideas. So you know, why not credit him?"<ref name="Osman"/> It also marks the first Mudhoney album<ref name="popwell"/> where drummer Dan Peters takes a more active role in the songwriting, contributing riffs and chord progressions to the tracks "Human Stock Capital", "One or Two" and "Little Dogs".<ref name="flood"/><ref name="mxdwn"/> The album was written during the COVID-19 pandemic and recorded in nine days at the Seattle studio Crackle & Pop before bassist Guy Maddison moved to Australia. The album was promoted by the single "Almost Everything" and a world tour.<ref name="spin" /> Singles "Move Under" and "Little Dogs" followed.<ref name="sg" />
April 7, 2023 was proclaimed Mudhoney Day by King County, Washington to coincide with the album release.<ref name="sg" />
==Reception== {{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="amg" /> | rev2 = ''The Fire Note'' | rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="firenote"/> | rev3 = ''Louder'' | rev3Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="ls" /> | rev4 = ''Louder Than War'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="louderthanwar"/> | rev5 = ''New Noise Magazine'' | rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Pizzola"/> | rev6 = ''PopMatters'' | rev6Score = 7/10<ref name="pop" /> | rev7 = Stereoboard.com | rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="stereoboard"/> | rev8 = ''Wall of Sound'' | rev8Score = 9/10<ref name="wallofsound"/> }}
''Plastic Eternity'' received positive reviews from critics noted at review aggregator Metacritic. It has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100, based on six reviews.<ref name="mc" />
''Glide Magazine'' notes unexpected moments in the music, such as the inclusion of love ballad "Little Dogs" and the publication sums up the review that the recording is "a fun alternative album that channels political fury into a fiery collection of aggressive rock".<ref name="glide" /> For ''Louder Sound'', Everett True gave this album 3.5 out of five stars, opining that "Mudhoney remain their own, inherent force of nature".<ref name="ls" /> Editors of AllMusic Guide scored ''Plastic Eternity'' 3.5 out of five stars, with critic Mark Deming commenting that the band continues to be innovative decades into their career and "are capable of surprising us (and themselves) thirty-five years in, and judging from the results, it won't be the last time they'll pull that off".<ref name="amg" />
In ''The Irish News'', David Roy informed readers of Mudhoney Day, encouraging them to listen to the band's music exclusively for 24 hours and noted the diversity of this release, with tracks that "switch[...] off between slow ‘n’ woozy and loud 'n' frustrated to fine effect".<ref name="tin" /> ''BrooklynVegan''{{'}}s Bill Pearis connects this release to the rest of Mudhoney's catalogue and opines that "''Plastic Eternity'' may not be as essential as ''Superfuzz Bigmuff'' or ''Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge'', but it's always good to have them back".<ref name="bv" /> ''The Stranger'' listed nine releases from Pacific Northwest musicians for Bandcamp Friday, a celebration on the streaming music service, and included ''Plastic Eternity''.<ref name="stranger" />
Online music venue Bandcamp highlighted this release and reviewed Mudhoney's catalogue, calling this album "a ripper that reaffirms their place in the annals of American hardcore and punk rock".<ref name="bc" /> A retrospective from ''Louder Sound'' ranked ''Plastic Eternity'' fifth out of the band's eleven studio albums.<ref name="lsranked" />
Christopher J. Lee of ''PopMatters'' rated this release a seven out of 10, noting the important legacy of the band for grunge and also how the lyrics are modern and the production is professional, as well as praising the humorous lyrics, but noting that the album "will be a hit-or-miss affair for some listeners, partly due to its length".<ref name="pop" />
==Track listing== All songs written by Mark Arm, Guy Maddison, Dan Peters, and Steve Turner, except where noted. #"Souvenir of My Trip" – 2:35 #"Almost Everything" (Arm, Maddison, Peters, Johnny Sangster, Turner) – 4:25 #"Cascades of Crap" – 3:11 #"Flush the Fascists" – 2:51 #"Move Under" – 3:33 #"Severed Dreams in the Sleeper Cell" – 4:55 #"Here Comes the Flood" – 3:21 #"Human Stock Capital" – 2:08 #"Tom Herman's Hermits" – 2:55 #"One or Two" (Arm, Maddison, Peters, Sangster, Turner) – 3:53 #"Cry Me an Atmospheric River" (Arm, Maddison, Peters, Sangster, Turner) – 2:56 #"Plasticity" – 2:12 #"Little Dogs" – 3:11
==Personnel== Adapted from the album liner notes.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Plastic Eternity|others=Mudhoney |date=2023|publisher=Sub Pop|id=SP1445}}</ref>
'''Mudhoney''' *Mark Arm – vocals, guitar *Guy Maddison – bass guitar, synthesizer *Dan Peters – drums, percussion, guitar, vocals *Steve Turner – guitar, vocals
'''Additional personnel''' *Jeff Kleinsmith – art direction, design *Nicholas Law – cover illustration *Emily Rieman – photography *Johnny Sangster – backing vocals, organ, guitar, recording, mixing, production *Bob Weston – mastering
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Chart performance for ''Plastic Eternity'' |- ! scope="col"| Chart ! scope="col"| Peak ! scope="col"| Duration (weeks) |- {{album chart|Scotland|42|date=20230420|rowheader=true|access-date=April 14, 2023}} |1 |- {{album chart|UKIndependent|17|date=20230420|rowheader=true|access-date=April 14, 2023}} |1 |}
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="amg">{{Cite web |publisher=AllMusic Guide |last=Deming |first=Mark |accessdate=2023-04-07 |language=en-US |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/plastic-eternity-mw0003908587 |title=Mudhoney – ''Plastic Eternity''}}</ref> <ref name="bc">{{Cite web |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/lists/mudhoney-album-guide |title=After Thirty-Five Years Mudhoney Is As Acerbic As Ever |last=Cohan |first=Brad |date=2023-04-17 |accessdate=2023-04-18 |publisher=Bandcamp}}</ref> <ref name="bv">{{Cite web |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en-US |last=Pearis |first=Bill |title=Indie Basement (4/7): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/album-reviews-facs-mudhoney-marta-tricky-erlend-oye-public-interest-james-holden/ |date=2023-04-07 |accessdate=2023-04-07}}</ref> <ref name="glide">{{Cite magazine |magazine=Glide Magazine |title=Mudhoney Prove Angry As Eer On Politically Charged 'Platic Eternity |date=2023-04-04 |accessdate=2023-04-05 |lang=en-US |url=https://glidemagazine.com/290071/mudhoney-prove-angry-as-eer-on-politically-charged-platic-eternity-album-review/}}</ref> <ref name="ls">{{Cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/35-years-on-mudhoney-are-as-feral-and-incisive-and-sarcastic-as-ever |last=True |first=Everett |language=en-GB |title=35 years on, Mudhoney are as feral and incisive and sarcastic as ever |date=2023-04-07 |accessdate=2023-04-07 |work=Louder Sound}}</ref> <ref name="lsranked">{{Cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/every-mudhoney-album-ranked-worst-to-best |last=Burrows |first=Alex |language=en-GB |title=Every Mudhoney album ranked from worst to best |date=2023-04-17 |accessdate=2023-04-18 |work=Louder Sound}}</ref> <ref name="mc">{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/plastic-eternity |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |website=Metacritic |accessdate=2023-04-08 |language=en-US |title=Plastic Eternity by Mudhoney}}</ref> <ref name="music">{{Cite web |url=https://themusic.com.au/features/mudhoney-mark-arm-on-becoming-a-rock-n-roll-lifer/EpuoBAcGCQg/12-04-23 |magazine=The Music |language=en-AU |title=Mudhoney's Mark Arm On Becoming A 'Rock'n'Roll Lifer' |last=Bell |first=Steve |date=2023-04-12 |accessdate=2023-04-12}}</ref> <ref name="pop">{{Cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/mudhoney-plastic-eternity-review |website=PopMatters |last=Lee |first=Christopher J. |accessdate=2023-04-13 |date=2023-04-12 |title=Mudhoney: Plastic Eternity (Album Review)}}</ref> <ref name="sg">{{Cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2219223/mudhoney-little-dogs/music/ |title=Mudhoney – "Little Dogs" |date=2023-04-04 |accessdate=2023-04-05 |last=Rettig |first=James |publisher=Stereogum}}</ref> <ref name="spin">{{Cite magazine |magazine=Spin |lang=en-US |url=https://www.spin.com/2023/01/mudhoney-new-album-plastic-eternity/ |title=Mudhoney Keeps Rocking On New Album, ''Plastic Eternity'' |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |date=2023-01-24 |accessdate=2023-04-05}}</ref> <ref name="stranger">{{Cite journal |journal=The Stranger |language=en-US |date=2023-04-07 |accessdate=2023-04-08 |last1=Seling |first1=Megan |last2=Smith |first2=Suzette |title=Nine Pacific Northwest Picks for Bandcamp Friday April 2023 |url=https://www.thestranger.com/music/2023/04/07/78937822/nine-pacific-northwest-picks-for-bandcamp-friday-april-2023}}</ref> <ref name="tin">{{Cite news |newspaper=The Irish News |last=Roy |first=David |language=en-IE |title=Noise Annoys: Mudhoney celebrate Mudhoney Day, release Plastic Eternity, Friday Fest brings long loud Good Friday to Oh Yeah |url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/music/2023/04/07/news/noise_annoys_mudhoney_s_plastic_eternity_friday_fest-3186876/ |date=2023-04-07 |accessdate=2023-04-08}}</ref> <ref name="Osman">{{Cite web |publisher=New Noise Magazine |last=Osman |first=Tom |date=12 May 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024 |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-mark-arm-mudhoney-plastic-eternity/ |title=Interview: Mudhoney's Mark Arm talks about new record 'Plastic Eternity'}}</ref> <ref name="popwell">{{Cite web |publisher=Popwell |last=Floyd |first=Jamison |date=6 April 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024 |url=https://popwell.net/back-to-work-with-mudhoney/ |title=Back to Work With Mudhoney}}</ref> <ref name="flood">{{Cite web |publisher=Flood Magazine |last=LeSuer |first=Mike |date=7 April 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024 |url=https://floodmagazine.com/130087/mudhoney-plastic-eternity-track-by-track/ |title=Mudhoney Walk Us Through Their Apocalypse-Anticipating New LP Plastic Eternity Track by Track}}</ref> <ref name="mxdwn">{{Cite web |publisher=mxdwn |last=Holloway |first=Antara |date=27 November 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024 |url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2023/11/27/features/mxdwn-interview-mudhoneys-mark-arm-talks-plastic-eternity-fall-tour-and-advice-for-his-younger-self/ |title=mxdwn Interview: Mudhoney’s Mark Arm Talks Plastic Eternity, Fall Tour and Advice for His Younger Self}}</ref> <ref name="firenote">{{Cite web |publisher=The Fire Note |last=Newcomb |first=Brian Q. |date=12 April 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024 |url=https://thefirenote.com/reviews/mudhoney-plastic-eternity-album-review/ |title=Mudhoney: Plastic Eternity [Album Review]}}</ref> <ref name="louderthanwar">{{Cite web |publisher=Louder Than War |last=Ironside |first=Gus |date=3 April 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024 |url=https://louderthanwar.com/mudhoney-plastic-eternity-album-review/ |title=Mudhoney: Plastic Eternity – Album Review}}</ref> <ref name="Pizzola">{{Cite web |publisher=New Noise Magazine |last=Pizzola |first=Thomas |date=13 April 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024 |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/reviews/album-review-mudhoney-plastic-eternity/ |title=Album Review: Mudhoney – Plastic Eternity}}</ref> <ref name="stereoboard">{{Cite web |publisher=Stereoboard.com |last=Morgan |first=Tom |date=11 April 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024 |url=https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/239152/9 |title=Mudhoney - Plastic Eternity (Album Review)}}</ref> <ref name="wallofsound">{{Cite web |publisher=Wall of Sound AU |last=Valentine |first=Simon |date=3 April 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024 |url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2023/04/03/mudhoney-plastic-eternity-album-review/ |title=Mudhoney – Plastic Eternity (Album Review)}}</ref> }}
==External links== *{{Official website}} *[https://www.subpop.com/news/2023/01/24/mudhoneys_plastic_eternity_the_groups_new_album_will_be_available_april_7th_2023_worldwide Press release from Sub Pop] *{{Discogs master}} *{{MBrgID}} *[https://floodmagazine.com/130087/mudhoney-plastic-eternity-track-by-track/ Mudhoney Walk Us Through Their Apocalypse-Anticipating New LP ''Plastic Eternity'' Track by Track] by ''FLOOD Magazine''
{{Mudhoney}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2023 albums Category:Mudhoney albums Category:Sub Pop albums Category:Albums produced by Johnny Sangster Category:Psychedelic rock albums by American artists