Flowers for Vases / Descansos
| Flowers for Vases / Descansos | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 5, 2021 | |||
| Studio | Williams' Home (Nashville) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:30 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | Daniel James | |||
| Hayley Williams chronology | ||||
| ||||
Flowers for Vases / Descansos (stylized as FLOWERS for VASES / descansos) is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter and Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams. It was released without prior announcement through Atlantic Records on February 5, 2021, nine months after its predecessor Petals for Armor (2020), and two months after the extended play Petals for Armor: Self-Serenades (2020).[4] Departing from the art pop sound of the singer's previous material, Flowers for Vases is an intimate folk album with sparse guitars, piano chords, and spare drums.
Background[edit]
After the release of Petals for Armor: Self-Serenades in December 2020, which includes a demo for "Find Me Here", Williams's website started redirecting to the Flowers for Vases webpage playing 15-second demo tracks of the project songs on January 22, 2021. On January 29, she started sending gifts to fans, including body parts of a doll with the note "Plant Me", and a special package including a Sanctuary candle and a CD with "My Limb", asking for fans to leak the song.[5][6] Williams stated that the album is her own equivalent of Taylor Swift's Folklore (2020).[7]
On February 4, Williams announced Flowers for Vases / Descansos via social media a day before its release, including the album's credits, also explaining that the album serves as a prequel or "detour" from her first studio album Petals for Armor.[4][8]
Critical reception[edit]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 79/100[9] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| The A.V. Club | B[1] |
| Consequence of Sound | B[3] |
| DEAD PRESS! |   [10] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[11] |
| Gigwise | [12] |
| Kerrang! | 3/5[13] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 7/10[14] |
| NME |   [15] |
| Pitchfork | 6.8/10[16] |
Flowers for Vases / Descansos was met with positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from publications, the album received an average score of 79 based on 15 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[9]
| Publication | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Blunt | Half-Year Review: The 10 (and a Half) Best Albums of 2021 So Far | 5
|
| Chorus.fm | The Best Albums of 2021 (So Far) | 8
|
| The Guardian | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 39[17]
|
| i-D | 15 of the Best Albums of 2021 So Far | — |
| Official Charts | The Best Songs and Albums of 2021 So Far: Official Charts Staff Picks | — |
| Rolling Stone | The Best Albums of 2021 So Far | — |
| Spin | The 30 Best Albums of 2021 (So Far) | — |
Track listing[edit]
All songs were written by Hayley Williams and produced by Daniel James.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "First Thing to Go" | 2:59 |
| 2. | "My Limb" | 2:53 |
| 3. | "Asystole" | 3:05 |
| 4. | "Trigger" | 4:04 |
| 5. | "Over Those Hills" | 3:12 |
| 6. | "Good Grief" | 2:38 |
| 7. | "Wait On" | 3:10 |
| 8. | "KYRH" | 2:34 |
| 9. | "Inordinary" | 4:44 |
| 10. | "HYD" | 3:42 |
| 11. | "No Use I Just Do" | 2:09 |
| 12. | "Find Me Here" | 2:11 |
| 13. | "Descansos" | 1:59 |
| 14. | "Just a Lover" | 3:03 |
| Total length: | 42:30 | |
Personnel[edit]
- Hayley Williams – all instruments, all vocals, writer
- Daniel James – producer, engineer
- Carlos de la Garza – mixing
- Heba Kadry – mastering
- Denyse Tontz – mix engineering assistant
- Lindsey Byrnes – creative direction, photography
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[18] | 18 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[19] | 92 |
| US Billboard 200[20] | 189 |
| US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[21] | 21 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[22] | 33 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Miller, Shannon (February 8, 2021). "Hayley Williams' Flowers For Vases/Descansos dreamily wades between grief and acceptance". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Olivier, Bobby (February 11, 2021). "Hayley Williams' Flowers For Vases/Descansos Is Her Saddest, Quietest Music Yet". Spin. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- ^ a b "Hayley Williams Lays It Bare on Intimate Sophomore Record FLOWERS for VASES / descansos: Review". Consequence of Sound. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Shaffer, Claire (February 4, 2021). "Hayley Williams Teases New Album 'Flowers for Vases / Descansos'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Ouça 'My Limb', a nova música de Hayley Williams!". Paramore Brasil. January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ "Tudo o que sabemos sobre Flowers for Vases, possível novo álbum de Hayley". Paramore Brasil. January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ "Hayley Williams is releasing 'Flowers For Vases / Descansos' tomorrow". NME. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (February 5, 2021). "Hayley Williams Releases New Album FLOWERS for VASES / descansos: Listen". Pitchfork.
- ^ a b "Flowers for Vases/descansos by Hayley Williams Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: Hayley Williams - Flowers For Vases / Descansos". DEAD PRESS!. February 7, 2021. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ "Hayley Williams lets her softer side shine on Flowers for Vases / Descansos". Entertainment Weekly. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "Album Review: Hayley Williams - FLOWERS for VASES/descansos". Gigwise. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "Album review: Hayley Williams – FLOWERS for VASES / descansos". Kerrang!. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "Hayley Williams' emotional purge continues into delicate, and often haunting, acoustic terrain". The Line of Best Fit. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "Hayley Williams – 'Flowers for Vases / descansos' review: the pensive prequel to 'Petals For Armor'". NME. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ Gordon, Arielle (February 11, 2021). "Hayley Williams: FLOWERS for VASES / descansos Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben; Snapes, Laura (December 17, 2021). "The 50 best albums of 2021". theguardian.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- ^ "Hayley Williams Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Hayley Williams Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Hayley Williams Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
