| A Way Forward | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 5, 2021 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 44:05 | |||
| Label | PIAS Recordings | |||
| Producer | Abe Seiferth Nick Millhiser | |||
| Nation of Language chronology | ||||
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| Singles from A Way Forward | ||||
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A Way Forward is the second studio album by American synth-pop band, Nation of Language. The album was released on November 5, 2021 and was their last to feature original bassist Michael Sue-Poi before his departure in 2022.
The album was announced on June 3, 2021, with the release of the first single "Across That Fine Line". Three variations of the vinyl record were made available: a standard black color, a red and blue blend sold from Rough Trade Records, and a coke-bottle-clear color sold through the band's webstore. Rough Trade also offered a bonus CD which features alternate versions of the tracks "A Word & A Wave", "In Manhattan" and "Miranda", plus a remix of the band's 2020 single "A Different Kind of Life" by producer Nick Millhiser.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 76/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
| God Is in the TV | 8/10[3] |
| Mojo | [4] |
| NME | [5] |
| Paste | 8.2/10[6] |
| Pitchfork | 7.0/10[7] |
The album received a Metacritic score of 76 out of 100, which indicates generally favorable reviews.[1]
Austin Brown of Pitchfork said, "The band’s decision to expand their swagger and invest in more complex synth work pushes them to new territory, and the most remarkable digressions from their comfort zone point towards a future beyond pastiche."[8] Similarly, Allmusic's Marcy Donelson writes how, "the detailing and variable arrangements here, combined with engaging songs, lift A Way Forward above the level of genre exercise, occasionally into something more compositional".[9]
All lyrics are written by Nation of Language; all music is composed by Ian Richard Devaney, Aidan Noell, and Michael Sue-Poi.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In Manhattan" | 3:53 |
| 2. | "Across That Fine Line" | 5:25 |
| 3. | "Wounds of Love" | 3:19 |
| 4. | "Miranda" | 3:42 |
| 5. | "The Grey Commute" | 3:37 |
| 6. | "This Fractured Mind" | 5:20 |
| 7. | "Former Self" | 5:10 |
| 8. | "Whatever You Want" | 4:53 |
| 9. | "A Word & A Wave" | 3:52 |
| 10. | "They're Beckoning" | 4:49 |
| Total length: | 44:05 | |
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[10] | 13 |
