Knower Forever
Studio album by
Knower
ReleasedJune 2, 2023 (2023-06-02)
Length45:33
LabelSelf-released
ProducerLouis Cole
Knower chronology
Life
(2016)		 Knower Forever
(2023)
Singles from Knower Forever
  1. "I'm the President"
    Released: May 1, 2023 (2023-05-01)
  2. "The Abyss"
    Released: May 17, 2023 (2023-05-17)
  3. "Crash the Car"
    Released: June 2, 2023 (2023-06-02)

Knower Forever (stylized in all caps) is the fifth studio album by American jazz-funk band Knower. It was released on June 2, 2023, exclusively on Bandcamp, before a wide release on streaming services on October 2, 2023.

Background and release

Knower Forever was Knower's first full-length album in seven years, following 2016's Life.[1] Knower announced Knower Forever on May 1, 2023, alongside the release of lead single "I'm the President".[2] On May 17, 2023, Knower released a music video for "The Abyss", the second single from the album.[3]

In advance of the album's release on June 2, 2023, Knower co-founder Louis Cole announced that Knower Forever would not be initially released on music streaming services, explaining via video, "It’s just going to be available on our Bandcamp only for like four to six months because we’re honestly trying to make some money on this for like four to six months and those other services don’t really, you know, pay very well," adding that "if you buy the album and then you put it on YouTube you’re a piece of crap and I will kill you."[4]

Alongside the album's release on Bandcamp, Knower released the album's third single "Crash the Car" on streaming services on June 2, 2023.[4] The band released Knower Forever on streaming services on October 2, 2023, four months after its Bandcamp release.[5]

Critical reception

Knower Forever received positive reviews from critics. James Sissler of Live for Live Music called the album's lead single "I'm the President" "aggressively funky and unashamedly silly," contrasting it with the "breathtaking melodies and epic orchestration" of the album's third single "Crash the Car".[4] Stereogum included "I'm the President" in a "Best Songs of the Week" list, noting its "horn flourishes, a backing choir, and a completely wild song structure that leapfrogs from bass-driven funk to high school marching band to mind-bending free jazz."[6] Bandcamp Daily included the album in their "Best Albums of 2023" list, with reviewer Zoe Camp writing, "the Los Angeles-based duo of Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi are certainly at home basking in muzak's creature comforts, from the hermetically sealed vocals of city pop ('Crash The Car') to the tonal warmth of smooth jazz ('The Abyss')."[7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Knower Forever"Louis Cole2:26
2."I'm the President"
4:07
3."The Abyss"
  • Cole
  • Artadi
3:02
4."Real Nice Moment"
  • Cole
  • Artadi
4:31
5."It's All Nothing Until It's Everything"
  • Cole
  • Artadi
5:08
6."Nightmare"
  • Cole
  • Artadi
5:50
7."Same Smile, Different Face"Cole2:15
8."Do Hot Girls Like Chords"
  • Cole
  • Artadi
3:32
9."Ride That Dolphin"
  • Cole
  • Artadi
3:28
10."It Will Get Real"
  • Cole
  • Artadi
4:26
11."Crash the Car"
  • Cole
  • Artadi
5:36
12."Bonus Track" (Bandcamp exclusive)Cole1:11
Total length:45:33

Personnel

Adapted from Bandcamp.[8]

Musicians

  • Genevieve Artadi – vocals (2–11), tambourine (12)
  • Louis Cole – drums (2–6, 8–12), synthesizer (1), piano (7)
  • Sam Wilkes – bass (2, 5, 8, 9, 11)
  • MonoNeon – bass (3, 4, 6, 10, 12)
  • Jacob Mann – keyboard (2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11)
  • Paul Cornish – keyboard and piano (2, 4, 8, 9, 11)
  • Rai Thistlethwayte – keyboard and piano (3–6, 10, 12)
  • Chiquita Magic – keyboard (10, 12)
  • Adam Ratner – guitar (8, 11)
  • Sam Gendel – saxophone (3, 4, 10, 12)
  • David Binney – saxophone (11)

Strings (1, 2, 5, 7, 11)

  • Leah Zeger – violin
  • Lily Honigberg – violin
  • Megan Shung – violin
  • Yu-Ting Wu – violin
  • Chrysanthe Tan – violin
  • Sabrina Parry – violin
  • Nora Germain – violin
  • Tylana Renga – violin
  • Tom Lea – viola
  • Ethan Moffitt – viola
  • Daniel Jacobs – viola
  • Lauren Baba – viola
  • Isaiah Gage – cello
  • Chris Votek – cello
  • Niall Ferguson – cello
  • Emily Elkin – cello
  • Karl McComas-Reichl – bass
  • Logan Kane – bass

Brass (1, 2, 11)

  • Robert Murray – tuba
  • Corbin Jones – sousaphone
  • Kyle Richter – sousaphone
  • Jon Hatamiya – trombone
  • Vikram Devasthali – trombone
  • Mariel Austin – trombone
  • Nick Platoff – bass trombone
  • Aidan Lombard – trumpet
  • Aaron Janik – trumpet
  • Andris Mattson – trumpet
  • Chris Clarkson – trumpet

Flute (2)

  • Rob Sheppard
  • Amber Navran
  • Henry Solomon

Choir (2, 4, 9, 11)

  • Kathryn Shuman
  • Mikaela Elson
  • Dyasono
  • Micaela Tobin
  • Jessica Freedman
  • Rayah Clarkson
  • Alexandra Domingo
  • Sharon Kim
  • Linnea Sablosky
  • Katharine Eames
  • Glynis Davies
  • Michael Kohl
  • Jeff Eames
  • VJ Rosales
  • Brett McDermid
  • Luc Kleiner
  • Sean Fitzpatrick

References

  1. ↑ Sissler, James (14 May 2023). "Louis Cole Drops 'Some Unused Songs', Announces First KNOWER Album Since 2016 [Listen/Video]". L4LM. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. ↑ Rettig, James (1 May 2023). "Louis Cole & Genevieve Artadi Announce New Knower Album: Hear "I'm The President"". Stereogum. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Rettig, James (17 May 2023). "Knower Share New Single "The Abyss": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Sissler, James (4 June 2023). "KNOWER FOREVER: Louis Cole To Kill Anyone Who Shares 1st KNOWER Album In 7 Years [Listen]". Live For Live Music. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  5. ↑ KNOWER (2 October 2023). "knower album available everywhere". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Brodsky, Rachel (5 May 2023). "The 5 Best Songs Of The Week". Stereogum. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Camp, Zoe (4 December 2023). "The Best Albums of 2023: F – K". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "KNOWER FOREVER, by KNOWER". KNOWER. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
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