Simple, Sweet, and Smiling

Simple, Sweet, and Smiling
Simple, Sweet, and Smiling
Studio album by Kacy Hill
Released	October 15, 2021
Recorded	2020–July 2021
Genre	Indie pop
Length	33:37
Label	Self-released
Producer	Kacy Hill; Jim-E Stack; John Carroll Kirby; Ariel Rechtshaid; Mk.gee; Ethan Gruska;
Kacy Hill chronology
Singles from Simple, Sweet, and Smiling
	"Seasons Bloom"; Released: August 27, 2021; "Easy Going"; Released: September 24, 2021;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Pitchfork	7.0/10^[1]
PopMatters	8/10^[2]

Simple, Sweet, and Smiling is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Kacy Hill. It was released independently on October 15, 2021.^[3] It was preceded by the singles "Seasons Bloom", and "Easy Going". The album was made primarily in collaboration with her then-partner Jim-E Stack, and John Carroll Kirby, collaborating also with Eli Teplin, Ariel Rechtshaid, Mk.gee, and Ethan Gruska.

Background and release

Hill released two singles in support of the album: "Seasons Bloom" on August 27, 2021,^[4] and "Easy Going" on September 24, 2021.^[5] She released a music video for "Easy Going" on October 27, 2021.^[6]

Hill embarked on her first headlining tour, the Simple, Sweet and Selfish Tour, in support of the album, as well as its predecessor.

Similarly to her previous 2020 record, Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again, the album documents Hill working through feelings of powerlessness and agoraphobic panic disorder, as well as acknowledging gratefulness towards her loved ones, and moments of clarity.^[7]^[1]

In late February 2022, Hill unveiled a demo album available for consumption via the NFT-based music platform, Catalog.^[8]

Critical reception

Peter Piatkowski of PopMatters praised the album for "Hill’s sharp, forthright lyrics and the lovely soundscape she’s created with her producers work to make an incredible album of stirring pop tunes that display an artist’s emotional vulnerability – and the strength she possesses to share it."^[2] Writing for Pitchfork, Cat Zhang wrote that the album was charming despite its heavy themes.^[1]

Track listing

*Simple, Sweet, and Smiling* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"I Couldn't Wait"	Kacy Hill James Harmon Stack Eli Teplin	Jim-E Stack Hill	2:37
2.	"Seasons Bloom"	Hill John Carroll Kirby Stack Ariel Rechtshaid	Rechtshaid Jim-E Stack Hill	3:28
3.	"The Right Time"	Hill Kirby	Kirby Jim-E Stack Hill	3:01
4.	"Simple, Sweet, and Smiling"	Hill Kirby	Mk.gee Kirby Jim-E Stack Hill	4:06
5.	"Walking at Midnight"	Hill Kirby	Kirby Jim-E Stack Hill	3:23
6.	"So Loud"	Hill Teplin	Kirby Jim-E Stack Hill	3:11
7.	"Caterpillars"	Hill Kirby	Jim-E Stack Hill	3:22
8.	"Mochi's Interlude"	Hill Teplin	Jim-E Stack Hill	1:27
9.	"Easy Going"	Hill Ethan Gruska Stack	Jim-E Stack Gruska Hill	2:42
10.	"The Stars"	Hill Kirby Stack BJ Burton Steve Garrington	Kirby Jim-E Stack Hill	2:52
11.	"Another You"	Hill Kirby	Kirby Jim-E Stack Hill	3:38
Total length:				33:51

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Zhang, Cat (October 20, 2021). "Kacy Hill: Simple, Sweet, and Smiling Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Piatkowski, Pete (November 9, 2021). "Kacy Hill: Simple, Sweet, and Smiling (Album Review)". PopMatters. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
^ Tauer, Kristen (October 15, 2021). "Kacy Hill Is Independent On Her Own Terms". WWD. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
^ Wang, Steffanee (August 27, 2021). "Hear Kacy Hill's New Song "Seasons Bloom" Before Summer Ends". Nylon. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
^ Robles, Jonathan (September 26, 2021). "Kacy Hill's new track 'Easy Going' is just spectacular". Variance Magazine. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
^ D'souza, Shaad (October 27, 2021). "Kacy Hill Gets Nostalgic for "Easy Going" Music Video". Paper Magazine. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
^ "Sacks & Co. /// Kacy Hill". Sacks & Co. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
^ "Simple, Sweet, and Smiling (The Demos)". Catalog. Retrieved March 2, 2022.

This 2020s album–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[Pitchfork-1] Zhang, Cat (October 20, 2021). "Kacy Hill: Simple, Sweet, and Smiling Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2021.

[PopMatters-2] Piatkowski, Pete (November 9, 2021). "Kacy Hill: Simple, Sweet, and Smiling (Album Review)". PopMatters. Retrieved January 14, 2025.

[3] Tauer, Kristen (October 15, 2021). "Kacy Hill Is Independent On Her Own Terms". WWD. Retrieved January 15, 2025.

[4] Wang, Steffanee (August 27, 2021). "Hear Kacy Hill's New Song "Seasons Bloom" Before Summer Ends". Nylon. Retrieved September 24, 2021.

[5] Robles, Jonathan (September 26, 2021). "Kacy Hill's new track 'Easy Going' is just spectacular". Variance Magazine. Retrieved October 12, 2021.

[6] D'souza, Shaad (October 27, 2021). "Kacy Hill Gets Nostalgic for "Easy Going" Music Video". Paper Magazine. Retrieved January 15, 2025.

[:0-7] "Sacks & Co. /// Kacy Hill". Sacks & Co. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2021.

[8] "Simple, Sweet, and Smiling (The Demos)". Catalog. Retrieved March 2, 2022.

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