A few months back we brought you the news that renowned musician and producer, Robert Pattinson was planning on making a record under the moniker, “Oneohtrix Point Never.” Little did we know what kind of record it would be!
Turns out, Pattinson had other ideas when it came to the type of music he wanted to make. Instead of continuing his work under the moniker, “Oneohtrix Point Never,” he chose to release his debut solo album under the name, “Robert Pattinson.” However, fans of the musician and producer who is best known for his work with The Twilight Saga’s, Twilight, and the Academy Award-winning movie, Good Will Hunting, may still know him as, “Oneohtrix Point Never.”
The Album Cover And Title
The news that Pattinson had changed the name of his record label, Elektra Records to his own name, broke when it was announced that the musician had signed a deal with the German label, Nettwerk, to release his debut album, Robert Pattinson, through them. This allowed fans who bought the album through iTunes to receive a free limited-edition album artwork that featured a black and white image of Pattinson on the cover. The front cover also features the album title, Robert Pattinson, in a smaller font.
The Album’s Out Now
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a fan of Robert Pattinson or have at least been curious about what all the fuss was about. Well, the album is now available! But, if you really want to know more about it, we’ve got you covered.
An Introduction To Robert Pattinson
Believe it or not, Robert Pattinson was born in London, England to an Indian father and a Scottish mother. He began acting at a young age and appeared in several British and American movies and TV shows. Most notably, he played the role of Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga. The musician also had a small role in the 2013 movie, On The Road, based on the eponymous novel by Jack Kerouac. In 2014, Pattinson released his third and most recent studio album, Sacred Games, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
However, it wasn’t until the following year that the musician became famous for changing the course of music history with his debut studio album, Oneohtrix Point Never. The album’s unique mixture of classical, jazz, and electronic music proved to be a winning formula, especially since traditionalists rejected and mainstream artists ignored it. Oneohtrix Point Never went on to sell over 500,000 copies in the US alone, eventually being certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of over 600,000 copies.
Even more impressively, the album also reached number one on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums chart, number four on the Top Electronic Albums chart, and number eight on the Top Independent Albums chart.
The Mix Of Classical, Jazz, And Electronic Music
From the very beginning, it’s clear that Robert Pattinson intended to shake the music world with his unique and innovative approach to merging classical music, jazz, and electronic music. On the opening song, “Intro,” the listener is greeted with a combination of strings, harp, and piano. Right away, it’s apparent that something special is waiting to be discovered.
Over the next hour and a half, Oneohtrix Point Never expertly weaves an intricate tapestry, combining these three distinct types of music into something new and unforgettable. Throughout the album, a variety of instruments appear, including a sitar, a drum kit, and a glockenspiel. The fusion of these elements creates an indescribable atmosphere, which the album’s title accurately reflects: unity in diversity.
The Album’s Unique Selling Point
What exactly is it that makes Robert Pattinson’s Oneohtrix Point Never so special? Well, for starters, it’s not your usual guitar-driven rock record. Sure, there are guitar solos and some shredding on display, but it’s more of a collective effort, with everyone from violinists to pianists to bass players contributing their parts. The most unique aspect? It’s the mixture of all these various styles and the fact that they all work together, rather than against each other. It’s a marriage between classical music and jazz, and both traditions find unique and creative ways to express themselves.
If you’re still not convinced that you need to hear this album, consider this: the band’s keyboardist and manager, Ben Frost, described it as, “a bit like early Pink Floyd. There’s this great combination of classical music, jazz, and electronic music, all in one.” He added, “It’s an album that really speaks to everyone, and there’s something for everyone.”
The Album’s Artwork And Production
To help promote Oneohtrix Point Never, the band created a special limited-edition 12″ vinyl record with an unique gatefold jacket. The vinyl itself is colored in a way that gives the appearance of a glowing orange through intricate cuts and embossing. The disc also comes with a 30-page booklet, featuring various band members’ writings about the album, artwork, and production. Finally, the record’s back cover is designed in a fashion that’s reminiscent of a deck of cards. This colorful design will remind fans of the album’s classical, jazz, and electronic influences.
The album’s artwork and production were handled by Andrew MacLeman, who has previously worked with artists like Madonna, The Corrs, and Sia. He was also the mastermind behind the artwork and design of the band’s previous album, Natural III. With his unique aesthetic sensibility, MacLeman brought the classical music, jazz, and electronic music genres together for an innovative and unforgettable listening experience.
Additionally, some of the album’s instrumental tracks were inspired by artists like Hans Zimmer, who composed the music for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales; and Klaus Meier, who produced the music for River And The People (The River Calls). You can almost hear the two composers’ influences in the music itself.
The Album’s Song-By-Song Analysis
What’s the deal with the music itself? Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and revisit some of music’s most memorable albums. Before we begin, let’s remind ourselves that our intent is to analyze the songs from an artistic perspective and not from a sales one.
Pink Floyd – Animals (Original Album)
Here we go, the original album that started it all. Released in June 1982, Pink Floyd’s Animals introduced the world to a whole new sound: psychedelic music. The album’s lead single, “Pictures Of Lily” became a commercial and critical success, peaking at number two on the Billboard Top 100 and selling over a million copies worldwide. The single’s B-side, “Sheep,” was also a commercial success, peaking at number 45 on the Billboard Top 100 and selling over 100,000 copies.
Musically, Animals features a combination of classical, jazz, and electronic music influences. The album transitions from song to song without a discernible pattern, effectively melding these styles together. “Aerodynamically challenged birds” is how guitarist, David Gilmour, described his approach to making the album.
The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds (1966)
Continuing our journey down memory lane, let’s revisit our friends down at The Beach Boys. Pet Sounds is the band’s 17th studio album, released in January 1966. It was a massive hit upon its initial release, peaking at number three on the Billboard Top 100 and selling over one million copies worldwide. It’s also the last Beach Boys album to feature founding member, Mike Love, who would eventually leave the band in 1969. The album continues the group’s innovation, with lead songwriter, Bruce Johnston, experimenting with unconventional recording techniques and studio tricks. In fact, the album was originally intended to be titled, “The Surfing Album.”
The album opens with “Good Vibrations,” one of the band’s biggest hits, which reached number one on the Billboard Top 100 and sold over a million copies worldwide. The track features an electric guitar solo by John Mayer. Like many Beach Boys songs, “Good Vibrations” blends the hard rock of the ’60s with the light pop of the ’70s.