Coping Mechanism (album) explained

Coping Mechanism
Type:studio
Artist:Willow
Cover:Coping Mechanism - Willow.webp
Genre:
  • Pop-punk
  • emo
  • grunge
  • hard rock
Length:29:14
Label:
Producer:Chris Greatti
Prev Title:Lately I Feel Everything
Prev Year:2021
Year:2022
Next Title:Empathogen
Next Year:2024

Coping Mechanism (stylized as ) is the fifth studio album by American singer Willow. It was released on October 7, 2022, through MSFTS Music and Roc Nation. The album was preceded by a slew of singles, including "Maybe It's My Fault", "Hover Like a Goddess", "Curious/Furious", and "Split".

Release and promotion

Willow released the song "Maybe It's My Fault" on June 24, 2022.[1] It was reported to be the lead single from Coping Mechanism, which at the time was unnamed and scheduled to be released in the summer.[2] A music video accompanied the song's release, which was directed by Dana Trippe.[3] [4] Willow released the second single, "Hover Like a Goddess" on August 4.[5] A music video directed by Jaxon Whittington was released with the song.[6] The following day, Coping Mechanism was announced.[7] It was scheduled for release on September 23.[8] Willow released "Curious/Furious" and its video on September 9.[9] [10] The song serves as the album's third single.[11] After the single's release, Coping Mechanism was rescheduled. The album's new release date was set as October 7.[12] On October 3, Willow released "Split" as the album's fourth single.[13] [14] Coping Mechanism was released on October 7, through Roc Nation and MSFTSMusic.[15] The following day, Willow performed two tracks on the album, "Ur a Stranger" and "Curious/Furious" on Saturday Night Live.[16]

Composition

Coping Mechanism is a pop punk, emo, grunge rock, and hard rock album with elements of metal, post-hardcore, gothic rock, ska punk, indie rock, screamo, guitar pop, R&B, and "avant-garde electro".

Critical reception

Coping Mechanism received acclaim upon release, with Metacritic awarding the album 82/100 based on 11 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Alexis Petridis of The Guardian said that Coping Mechanism "sounds confident", and called it the work of an artist who knows their sound is popular at the moment. Petridis said the album was his favorite of the week.[17] Maura Johnston of Rolling Stone called Coping Mechanism a must-hear album. She commented that Willow's artistic ambition was matched in the record's quality.[18] Kyann-Sian Williams for NME said that Willow adds "a new level of maturity" to her songs and you can tell that Willow is using her own influences "to make her own seminal sound."

Concluding the review for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung called the album a, "head-spinning journey is a thrill to experience and, clocking in at less than a half hour, fit for repeat listens." and claimed that, "While much of Willow's charm lies in the way she can switch genres with ease, Coping Mechanism is so engaging that it'd be nice for her to stick to this sound for at least one more album before continuing her ever-riveting evolution."[19]

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[20] 14

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Trapp . Philip . Willow's New Song 'Maybe It's My Fault' Has a Wicked Metalcore Breakdown . 2022-10-02 . . June 24, 2022 . en.
  2. Web site: Kenneally . Cerys . Willow shares new single 'Maybe It's My Fault' . 2022-10-02 . . en-US.
  3. Web site: Rowley . Glenn . 2022-06-24 . WILLOW releases new single 'Maybe It's My Fault': Stream . 2022-10-02 . . en-US.
  4. Mier . Tomás . 2022-06-24 . Willow Offers Trippy Visuals as She Wonders, 'Maybe It's My Fault' . 2022-10-02 . . en-US.
  5. Web site: Newstead . Al . 2022-08-05 . Willow shares 'Hover Like a Goddess', announces new album 'Coping Mechanism' . 2022-10-02 . . en-AU.
  6. Web site: Brodsky . Rachel . 2022-08-05 . Willow Shares New Song 'Hover Like a Goddess': Listen . 2022-10-02 . . en.
  7. Web site: Segall . Dora . 2022-08-05 . Willow Releases Blazing Video for 'Hover like a Goddess,' Announces New Album . 2022-10-02 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Wang . Steffanee . Willow Announces New Album 'Coping Mechanism' . 2022-10-02 . . August 4, 2022 . en.
  9. Web site: B. Kile . Meredith . New Music Releases September 9: Lewis Capaldi, Ari Lennox, Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton and More! . 2022-10-02 . . September 9, 2022 . en-US.
  10. Web site: Mursalin . Rhea . 2022-09-10 . Willow Debuts New Song & Video 'Curious/Furious' . 2022-10-02 . Mxdwn . en-US.
  11. Web site: Helphand . Raphael . Willow shares new song 'Curious/Furious' . 2022-10-02 . . en.
  12. Web site: Schube . Will . 2022-09-20 . Willow Unveils Album Release Date And Tracklist, Announces 'SNL' Performance . 2022-10-02 . . en-US.
  13. Web site: Scarlett . Liz . 2022-10-04 . Willow shares love for Deftones and Lamb Of God, says metal has been gatekept by old white men for too long . 2022-10-04 . . en.
  14. Web site: Rowley . Glenn . 2022-10-03 . Willow Teases Second 'SNL' Appearance in a Year: 'S——g My Pants Slightly' . 2022-10-04 . . en-US.
  15. Web site: Williams . Kyann-Sian . 2022-10-07 . Willow – 'CopingMechanism' review: boundary-pushing star finesses her sound . 2022-10-07 . . en-GB.
  16. Web site: Shutler . Ali . 2022-10-09 . Watch Willow deliver a punishing two-song set on 'SNL' . 2022-10-09 . . en-GB.
  17. Web site: Petridis . Alexis . Alexis Petridis . 2022-10-06 . Willow: Coping Mechanism review Alexis Petridis's album of the week . 2022-10-06 . . en.
  18. Johnston . Maura . Maura Johnston . 2022-10-04 . Willow Thrillingly Mashes Up Rock History On 'Coping Mechanism' . 2022-10-06 . . en-US.
  19. Web site: Yeung . Neil Z. . 2022-10-07 . Willow - 'Coping Mechanism' Album Reviews, Songs & More . 2022-10-26 . . en-US.
  20. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 October 2022. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1702. 24. October 17, 2022.

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