How to Be a Human Being
2016 studio album by Glass Animals
How to Be a Human Being is the second studio album by English indie rock group Glass Animals . It was released on 26 August 2016 by Wolf Tone and Caroline International in Europe, and Harvest Records in the United States.[ 16] The album received generally favourable reviews from music critics, who complimented its "sense of wonder" and "immediate impression", but felt it was somewhat premature.[ 17] There are a total of 11 songs on the track listing, along with 11 characters illustrated on the cover art. Each song, along with its unique personality and quirks, represents a person on the album. The album was nominated for the 2017 Mercury Prize .
Background
Following the release of their debut studio album Zaba , Glass Animals began an aggressive tour which saw them play over 140 concerts in Europe, Australia, the United States and Mexico. They appeared at Glastonbury , Falls Music Festival and Southbound in 2014, Coachella , Wakarusa , Bonnaroo , Firefly , Glastonbury again, Lollapalooza , Osheaga and Reading and Leeds in 2015, and the Forecastle Festival in 2016.[ 18]
How to Be a Human Being was simultaneously announced with the release of "Life Itself" and its respective music video.[ 19] The foursome toured Australia for their second time, before they returned to North America for the album's release. Four days after the album was released, the band appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! , their third appearance on primetime television.[ 20]
The band wrote 11 songs based on 11 different characters, many of which were inspired by people they met and stories they were told during their travels while promoting Zaba . Each character was portrayed on the album cover, and some appeared in music videos for their respective songs. Among the actors portraying the characters were Brock Brenner, Dorian Hampton, Camila Ivera, Pat Janssen and Heidi Kaufman.[citation needed ]
The album made a debut on US charts with first week sales of 14,575 copies, with 10,117 being pure album sales.[ 21] [ 22]
Track listing
Title Writer(s) 1. "Life Itself" 4:41 2. "Youth" Bayley 3:51 3. "Season 2 Episode 3" 4:04 4. "Pork Soda" Bayley 4:14 5. "Mama's Gun" 4:27 6. "Cane Shuga" Bayley 3:17 7. "[Premade Sandwiches]" Bayley 0:36 8. "The Other Side of Paradise" Bayley 5:21 9. "Take a Slice" Bayley 3:50 10. "Poplar St" Bayley 4:23 11. "Agnes" Bayley 4:32 Total length: 43:16
Notes
On CD copies of the album, "Premade Sandwiches" is put at the end of the track "Cane Shuga" instead of being its own track
Personnel
Glass Animals
Dave Bayley – vocals, programming , production (all tracks), guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 8–10), percussion (1–5, 8–11); keyboards, synthesizer (1, 3–5, 8–11); art direction, design
Drew MacFarlane – programming (1, 3–11), percussion (1–5, 8–11), keyboards, synthesizer (1, 3–5, 8–11), additional vocals (3, 8), guitar (4, 5, 9, 10), piano (11)
Edmund Irwin-Singer – programming (1, 3–11), keyboards (1, 3–5, 8–11), percussion (1–5, 8–11); piano, synthesizer (1, 3–5, 8–11)
Joe Seaward – drums, percussion (1–5, 8–11); additional vocals (4), programming (6, 7)
Additional personnel
Tom Coyne – mastering
David Wrench – mixing (1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11)
Matt Wiggins – mixing (2, 4, 6, 7, 10), engineering (all tracks)
Riley MacIntyre – engineering assistance
Marta Salogni – mixing assistance
Mat Cook – art direction, design
Neil Krug – photography
Charlie Seaward – flute (5)
Paul Epworth – executive production
Charts
Certifications
References
^ "iTunes – Music – Life Itself – Single" . iTunes . 18 May 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016 .
^ "Glass Animals unveil new song "Youth" and video – watch" . 27 July 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016 .
^ "Season 2 Episode 3 – Single" . iTunes . 23 August 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016 .
^ "How To Be A Human Being by Glass Animals reviews" . AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved 20 October 2019 .
^ "Reviews for How To Be a Human Being by Glass Animals" . Metacritic . Retrieved 22 February 2018 .
^ Phares, Heather. "How to Be a Human Being – Glass Animals" . AllMusic . Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ Freebairn, Mandy (1 September 2016). "Glass Animals – How To Be a Human Being" . Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 1 September 2016 .
^ Milton, Jamie (25 August 2016). "Glass Animals – How to be a Human Being" . DIY . Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (2 September 2016). "Glass Animals: How to Be a Human Being — review" . Financial Times . Retrieved 11 May 2019 .
^ Gibsone, Harriet (25 August 2016). "Glass Animals: How to Be a Human Being review – colourful stories, awkward grooves" . The Guardian . Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ "Glass Animals 'How To Be A Human Being' (Wolf Tone)" . Mixmag . 9 September 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016 .
^ Prior, Clive (October 2016). "Glass Animals: How to Be a Human Being". Mojo (275): 100.
^ Bartleet, Larry (24 August 2016). "Glass Animals – 'How To Be A Human Being' Review" . NME . Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ Segal, Victoria (November 2016). "Glass Animals: How to Be a Human Being". Q (365): 107.
^ Moss, Will (9 August 2016). "Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being" . The Skinny . Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ "Glass Animals – How To Be A Human Being" . discogs. Retrieved 22 December 2016 .
^ How to Be a Human Being by Glass Animals , retrieved 22 December 2016
^ "Search for setlists: artist:(Glass Animals) | setlist.fm" . www.setlist.fm . Retrieved 23 December 2016 .
^ "Glass Animals Announce New Album 'How To Be A Human Being', Share Video For First Single 'Life Itself' – Music Feeds" . Music Feeds . 8 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016 .
^ "Watch Glass Animals Perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live!" . Paste . Retrieved 23 December 2016 .
^ "HITS Daily Double" . Archived from the original on 2 September 2016.
^ "HITS Daily Double" . Archived from the original on 2 September 2016.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "Glass Animals Chart History (Canadian Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "Lescharts.com – Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart" . Recorded Music NZ . 5 September 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2020 .
^ "Swisscharts.com – Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "Glass Animals | Artist | Official Charts" . UK Albums Chart . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "Glass Animals Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "Glass Animals Chart History (Top Rock Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved 18 October 2020.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Albums" (PDF) . Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 16 May 2024 .
^ "British album certifications – Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being" . British Phonographic Industry .
Dave Bayley
Drew MacFarlane
Ed Irwin-Singer
Joe Seaward
Studio albums Singles