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Bloom (Troye Sivan album)

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Bloom
Studio album by
Troye Sivan
Released31 August 2018 (2018-08-31)
Genre
Length36:49
Label
Producer
Troye Sivan chronology
Blue Neighbourhood
(2015) 		Bloom
(2018) 		In a Dream
(2020)
Alternative cover
Japanese edition cover
Japanese edition cover
Singles from Bloom
  1. "My My My!"
    Released: 10 January 2018
  2. "The Good Side"
    Released: 19 January 2018
  3. "Bloom"
    Released: 2 May 2018
  4. "Dance to This"
    Released: 13 June 2018
  5. "Animal"
    Released: 9 August 2018

Bloom is the second studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Troye Sivan, released on 31 August 2018 through EMI Music Australia and Capitol Records. The album follows up his 2015 debut studio album, Blue Neighbourhood, and features guest appearances from Gordi and Ariana Grande. It was preceded by the release of the singles "My My My!", "The Good Side", "Bloom", "Dance to This" and "Animal".

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2018, the album was nominated for three awards; Album of the Year, Best Male Artist and Best Pop Release.[4]

Composition

[edit]

Bloom has been called Sivan's "sex album",[5] as well as "darker", "more guitar-driven" and "more danceable" than his previous material.[6][7] It has also been described as containing material about defiant gay expression;[6] the first song, "Seventeen", is about a sexual experience Sivan had with a man he met on Grindr.[6] Sivan wrote most of the album with American musician Leland and Canadian musician Allie X.[5] The album's production was primarily handled by Bram Inscore, Oscar Görres, Oscar Holter and Ariel Rechtshaid.

Release and promotion

[edit]
See also: The Bloom Tour

"My My My!" was released as the lead single from the album on 10 January 2018, and was accompanied by a music video directed by Grant Singer.[8] The second single "The Good Side", was released nine days later. It is an acoustic track about a breakup, with Sivan explaining that the song is an open letter to an ex-boyfriend.[9] The title track "Bloom", a song about anal sex, which was promoted by the hashtag "#BopsBoutBottoming" that was trending on Twitter,[10] was released on 2 May as the third single.[11] "Dance to This", featuring American singer Ariana Grande, was released on 13 June as the album's fourth single.[12] The fifth single, "Animal", was released on 9 August.[13] On 14 June, Sivan announced a Target special edition would be released featuring two new songs, "This This" and "Running Shoes".[14] The album was released on 31 August 2018 by EMI Music Australia and Capitol Records.[15]

Sivan promoted the album via the Bloom Tour, which began on 21 September in Irving, Texas,[16] and ended on 30 November 2019 in Chengdu, China.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.2/10[17]
Metacritic85/100[18]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[19]
The A.V. ClubB[20]
The Guardian[21]
The Independent[22]
The Irish Times[23]
NME[24]
The Observer[25]
Pitchfork7.5/10[26]
Q[27]
Rolling Stone[28]

Bloom received widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album has an average score of 85, based on 15 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[18]

Giving the album a perfect score, The Independent's Douglas Greenwood wrote, "Making perfect pop isn't easy, but Troye Sivan is a star who's done his homework. With one foot in pop's past and another in its present, Bloom is a record that could turn its considerate maker into one of mainstream music's most revered and fascinating talents."[22] AllMusic critic Neil Z. Yeung stated that "Bloom is an unambiguous statement from Sivan, clear in its intent to celebrate the highs and lows of queer love through the eyes of a proud pop star in the making."[19] Annie Zaleski from The A.V. Club opined that "Bloom's beauty and gifts reveal themselves gradually over time."[20]

Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis stated that "the results are characterful", elaborating: "Bloom is done and dusted in 35 crisp minutes – a time at which some pop albums are reaching their mid-point – and feels like a coherent, artist-led album rather than a bet-spreading collection of songs designed to hit every popular musical base."[21] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone said, "Well beyond the already stellar dismissal of heteronormative storylines in pop love stories, Sivan finds a wealth of ways to bring about fresh reflections on age-old themes with undeniable charisma."[28] The Line of Best Fit writer Claire Biddles stated, "Bloom is an exceptional pop album, but maybe more importantly it's a beacon for queer people who struggle to reconcile our neuroses – societal and personal – with our potential for joy and love."[29]

Year-end lists

[edit]
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Clash The 40 Best Albums of 2018 29 [30]
The Guardian The 50 Best Albums of 2018 37 [31]
The Independent The 40 Best Albums of 2018 12 [32]
NME Albums of the Year 2018
29
[33]
Paper Top 20 Albums of 2018
14
[34]
Rolling Stone The 20 Best Pop Albums of 2018
7
[35]
Slant Magazine The 25 Best Albums of 2018
4
[36]
Time The 10 Best Albums of 2018 7 [37]
USA Today The Best Albums of 2018 —
[38]
PopMatters The 10 Best Pop Albums of 2018 2 [39]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Bloom debuted at number three in Australia, making it Sivan's second highest-charting studio album in his home country.[40] It opened at number four on the US Billboard 200 with 72,000 album-equivalent units, including 59,000 pure album sales.[41] It is his highest-charting release and best sales week to date on the Billboard 200.[41]

Track listing

[edit]
Bloom track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Seventeen"
  • Inscore
  • McLaughlin[c]
3:38
2."My My My!"
Görres3:24
3."The Good Side"
4:28
4."Bloom"
Holter3:42
5."Postcard" (featuring Gordi)
  • Inscore
  • McLaughlin[c]
3:36
6."Dance to This" (featuring Ariana Grande)
Holter3:51
7."Plum"
  • Sivan
  • McLaughlin
  • Görres
  • Ghaleb
  • Hughes
Görres3:06
8."What a Heavenly Way to Die"
  • Sivan
  • McLaughlin
  • Inscore
  • Hughes
  • Inscore
  • McLaughlin[c]
3:07
9."Lucky Strike"
Hope3:28
10."Animal"
  • Sivan
  • McLaughlin
  • Inscore
  • Hughes
  • Rechtshaid
  • Latham
  • Josiah Sherman
4:25
Total length:36:49
Target (US), HMV (UK) and Japan deluxe edition bonus tracks[42][43][44]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."This This"
  • Sivan
  • McLaughlin
  • Inscore
  • Hughes
Inscore3:33
12."Running Shoes"
  • Uzowuru
  • Kleinman
3:46
Total length:44:07
LP version – Side A hidden track[45]
No.TitleLength
6."Seventeen (Reprise)"1:11
Total length:37:58
Spotify alternate track listing[46]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."My My My!"
Görres3:25
2."Bloom"
Holter3:42
3."Lucky Strike"
Hope3:28
4."Seventeen"
  • Inscore
  • McLaughlin[c]
3:38
5."The Good Side"
4:29
6."Dance to This" (featuring Ariana Grande)
Holter3:51
7."Plum"
  • Sivan
  • McLaughlin
  • Görres
  • Ghaleb
  • Hughes
Görres3:06
8."Postcard" (featuring Gordi)
  • Inscore
  • McLaughlin[c]
3:36
9."What a Heavenly Way to Die"
  • Sivan
  • McLaughlin
  • Inscore
  • Hughes
  • Inscore
  • McLaughlin[c]
3:07
10."Animal"
4:25
Total length:36:47

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[c] signifies a vocal producer

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[75] Gold 35,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Edition Format Label Ref.
Various 31 August 2018 Standard
EMI Australia
[76]
United States Urban Outfitters limited LP Capitol
[45]
Target exclusive CD
[42]
Japan Japan deluxe Universal Japan
[44]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (28 August 2018). "Troye Sivan 'Bloom' Review: Rich, Confident, Important Pop Music". Stereogum. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  2. ^ Kheraj, Alim (2 September 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom review – thrillingly honest dance pop". The Observer. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  3. ^ Damshenas, Sam (31 August 2018). "We ranked every song from Troye Sivan's new album Bloom". Gay Times. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  4. ^ Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (28 November 2018). "And the ARIA Award Goes To..." Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b Lamphier, Jason (17 May 2018). "To Sir, With Love: Troye Sivan Meets Elton John (Cover Exclusive)". Out. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Schneier, Matthew (10 May 2018). "Troye Sivan Is a New Kind of Pop Star: Here, Queer and Used to It". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  7. ^ Puckett, Lily (28 May 2018). "Troye Sivan announces the Bloom Tour". The Fader. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  8. ^ Cox, Jamieson (11 January 2018). ""My My My!" by Troye Sivan Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  9. ^ McNeilage, Ross (18 January 2018). "Troye Sivan Releases Heartbreakingly Gorgeous 'The Good Side'". MTV UK. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  10. ^ Geffen, Sasha (4 May 2018). ""Bloom" by Troye Sivan Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  11. ^ Hunt, El (3 May 2018). "Troye Sivan shares new single 'Bloom'". NME. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  12. ^ DeVille, Chris (13 June 2018). "Troye Sivan – "Dance To This" (Feat. Ariana Grande)". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  13. ^ Daw, Stephen (8 August 2018). "Troye Sivan Teases Final 'Bloom' Single 'Animal' With Help From Boyfriend Jacob Bixenman". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Troye Sivan – Bloom (Target Exclusive)". Target. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  15. ^ Downing, Megan (29 August 2018). "troye sivan 'bloom': track by track album review". MTV. Retrieved 31 August 2018. Bloom is released on 31st August on EMI Australia, Capitol.
  16. ^ Spanos, Brittany (31 May 2018). "Troye Sivan Announces North American 'Bloom' Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Bloom by Troye Sivan reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Bloom by Troye Sivan Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  19. ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. "Bloom – Troye Sivan". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  20. ^ a b Zaleski, Annie (31 August 2018). "Troye Sivan, Bloom". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  21. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (30 August 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom review – out and proud pop in full flower". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  22. ^ a b Greenwood, Douglas (30 August 2018). "Troye Sivan, Bloom album review: A harmonious and vital pop record". The Independent. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  23. ^ Bruton, Louise (31 August 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom review – The sweet and sour of a gay man's formative years". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  24. ^ Hunt, El (29 August 2018). "Troye Sivan – 'Bloom' review". NME. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  25. ^ Kheraj, Alim (2 September 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom review – thrillingly honest dance pop". The Observer. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  26. ^ Cox, Jamieson (31 August 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  27. ^ Solomon, Kate (October 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom". Q. No. 390. p. 116.
  28. ^ a b Spanos, Brittany (29 August 2018). "Review: Troye Sivan Explores Innocence and Experience on 'Bloom'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  29. ^ Biddles, Claire (29 August 2018). "Troye Sivan's Bloom is a queer pop triumph". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  30. ^ "The 40 Best Albums of 2018". Clash. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  31. ^ "The 50 best albums of 2018". The Guardian. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
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  36. ^ "The 25 Best Albums of 2018 - Feature". Slant Magazine. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  37. ^ Bruner, Raisa (16 November 2018). "The 10 Best Albums of 2018". Time. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  38. ^ McDermott, Maeve; Ryan, Patrick. "Best Albums of 2018". USA Today. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  39. ^ Sawdey, Ewan. "The 10 Best Pop Albums of 2018". PopMatters. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  40. ^ a b "Australiancharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  41. ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (9 September 2018). "Eminem Earns Ninth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Kamikaze'". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  42. ^ a b "Troye Sivan - Bloom (Target Exclusive)". Target. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  43. ^ "Troye Sivan Bloom (Hmv exclusive)". HMV. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  44. ^ a b "ブルーム - トロイ・シヴァン". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
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  68. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
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  74. ^ "Australian Artist (ARIA) End of Year Albums Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  75. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  76. ^ "Troye Sivan - Bloom CD". Troye Sivan Official Store. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
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