Reason in Decline

Reason in Decline
Reason in Decline
Studio album by Archers of Loaf
Released	October 21, 2022
Studio	Drop of Sun Studios (Asheville, North Carolina)
Genre	Indie rock
Length	35:17
Label	Merge
Producer	Archers of Loaf; Adam McDaniel;
Archers of Loaf chronology

Reason in Decline is an album by the American band Archers of Loaf, released in 2022.^[2]^[3] It was their first album in 24 years.^[4] The band supported the album with a North American tour.^[5] The first single was "In the Surface Noise".^[6]

Production

Eric Bachmann wrote many of the songs during the COVID lockdown.^[7] "Screaming Undercover" criticizes capitalism.^[8] "Aimee" is a tribute to a longtime relationship.^[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[10]
Pitchfork	7.7/10^[11]
Record Collector	^[12]
Uncut	8/10^[9]

Pitchfork noted that "longtime fans may balk at how clean this record sounds, how guitars that once seemed to shed sparks as they ground against one another now lock into recognizable harmonies."^[11] The Tallahassee Democrat wrote that "Human" "stomps like the Loaf of old, with Bachmann's weathered baritone lifting if out of the mosh pit."^[13] The Chicago Reader opined that Reason in Decline feels "like the perfect progression from (and a de facto companion piece to) the matured songwriting on White Trash Heroes."^[14] AllMusic deemed the album "a brave, compelling, and surprisingly moving set of songs."^[10] Record Collector called it "twin-guitar-squealing, drum-thumping rock."^[12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Archers of Loaf.

*Reason in Decline* track listing
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Human"	2:58
2.	"Saturation and Light"	3:03
3.	"Screaming Undercover"	2:55
4.	"Mama Was a War Profiteer"	3:55
5.	"Aimee"	3:16
6.	"In the Surface Noise"	4:22
7.	"Breaking Even"	4:13
8.	"Misinformation Age"	2:27
9.	"The Moment You End"	2:55
10.	"War Is Wide Open"	5:13
Total length:		35:17

Personnel

Archers of Loaf

Eric Bachmann
Matt Gentling
Eric Johnson
Mark Price

Additional musicians

Alan Weatherhead – pedal steel (5), Mellotron (5)

Technical

Archers of Loaf – production
Adam McDaniel – production
Alex Farrar – engineering, mixing, co-production
Bob Weston – mastering

Art and design

Daniel Murphy – design
Kate Fix – band photo

References

^ Gomez, Jade. "Archers of Loaf Announce New Album Reason in Decline". Paste. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ Horn, Olivia (December 2, 2022). "Music". The New York Times. p. C2.
^ Gross, Joe (October 20, 2022). "Nineties Indie Greats Archers of Loaf Are Back with the Excellent 'Reason In Decline'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ Graff, Gary (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' tops this weeks new music releases list". The Plain Dealer. p. C3.
^ "Archers of Loaf Biography by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ Rettig, James (July 13, 2022). "Archers of Loaf Announce First New Album in 24 Years". Stereogum. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ Zaillian, Charlie (January 11, 2023). "Indie-Rock Torchbearers Archers of Loaf Recalibrate the Chapel Hill Sound for Modern Times". Features. Nashville Scene.
^ Cameron, Keith (January 2023). "Albums". Mojo (350): 86.
^ ^a ^b Scoppa, Bud (January 2023). "New Albums". Uncut: 15.
^ ^a ^b "Reason in Decline Review by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Reason in Decline Archers of Loaf". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Dalton, Nick (December 2022). "New Albums". Record Collector (539): 125.
^ Schardl, Kati (January 1, 2023). "The best music of: A fan spins a twangy Top 30 list". Tallahassee Democrat. p. C1.
^ Cohan, Brad (January 10, 2023). "Indie-rock legends Archers of Loaf write their comeback story with Reason in Decline". Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[1] Gomez, Jade. "Archers of Loaf Announce New Album Reason in Decline". Paste. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[2] Horn, Olivia (December 2, 2022). "Music". The New York Times. p. C2.

[3] Gross, Joe (October 20, 2022). "Nineties Indie Greats Archers of Loaf Are Back with the Excellent 'Reason In Decline'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[4] Graff, Gary (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' tops this weeks new music releases list". The Plain Dealer. p. C3.

[5] "Archers of Loaf Biography by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[6] Rettig, James (July 13, 2022). "Archers of Loaf Announce First New Album in 24 Years". Stereogum. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[7] Zaillian, Charlie (January 11, 2023). "Indie-Rock Torchbearers Archers of Loaf Recalibrate the Chapel Hill Sound for Modern Times". Features. Nashville Scene.

[8] Cameron, Keith (January 2023). "Albums". Mojo (350): 86.

[UC-9] Scoppa, Bud (January 2023). "New Albums". Uncut: 15.

[AM-10] "Reason in Decline Review by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[PF-11] "Reason in Decline Archers of Loaf". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[RC-12] Dalton, Nick (December 2022). "New Albums". Record Collector (539): 125.

[13] Schardl, Kati (January 1, 2023). "The best music of: A fan spins a twangy Top 30 list". Tallahassee Democrat. p. C1.

[14] Cohan, Brad (January 10, 2023). "Indie-rock legends Archers of Loaf write their comeback story with Reason in Decline". Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

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v t e Archers of Loaf
Eric Bachmann Matt Gentling Eric Johnson Mark Price
Studio albums	Icky Mettle Vee Vee All the Nations Airports White Trash Heroes Reason in Decline
Extended plays	Vs the Greatest of All Time
Compilation albums	The Speed of Cattle
Live albums	Vitus Tinnitus Seconds Before the Accident
Related articles	Crooked Fingers

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