BB U OK? (stylized as bb u ok?) is the second studio album by the Dutch musician San Holo, released on 4 June 2021 through Bitbird and Counter Records.
Production
The album was recorded from September 2019 to January 2020. Similarly to Album1, it was recorded in an Airbnb in Los Angeles, this time in Echo Park.[1][2] He explained: "I wrote BB U OK? during a new chapter of my life after that relationship ended. I was learning how to deal with what happens 'after love'. I flew to LA and just started writing and writing, trying to express everything I had been feeling for the last few months. The change in scenery definitely helped, going back to LA (like I did for album1) brought back some good memories of that previous chapter."[3] San Holo expected to release the album still in 2020, but that was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Composition
"When I wrote this album, I was obviously feeling different things than I do now, over a year later. However, I think there’s always a sense of nostalgia in my music. Nostalgia is something I’m always inspired by. A lot of my songs are about looking back while still moving forward at the same time. They’re about accepting that everything is fleeting and understanding the beauty in that, too. This is something that I’m always thinking about. In that sense this album still really feels like me, even though I wrote it over a year ago."
In an interview, San Holo declared that BB U OK? was his most personal project ever, which is "just me trying to experiment in a more indie direction, keeping the same sonic elements and feelings as a San Holo song."[2] He also declared that, while Album1 was "me being in love", BB U OK? "definitely has an after love vibe. Not to say a bad vibe, but more like an 'Okay, what happens after that relationship and how do you deal with it, how do you move on?' The bittersweetness of that, the beautiful memories yet the sad fact that it didn't work out, for example."[5]
San Holo declared the album is "post-EDM, with influences from indie and post-rock."[6]
The album's title is "a reminder to ask others how they're feeling". San Holo further clarified that he felt that, even though everyone was connected with social media and phones, "I feel like we're so disconnected in a way".[5]
Release
The album's first single, "BB U OK?", was released on 1 December 2020.[7] On 3 February 2021, he announced BB U OK? and released a second single, "Find Your Way".[3] He then released "It Hurts!" on 10 March,[8] and "Black and White / My Fault" on 14 April.[9] On 6 May, San Holo announced that the album was delayed to 4 June.[10] On 22 May, he released "You've Changed, I've Changed", with Chet Porter.[11] On 24 May, he announced a North American tour to promote the album.[12]
BB U OK? was released on 4 June 2021. It was available on vinyl, cassette tape and CD formats.[13]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| PopMatters | 7/10[14] |
| de Volkskrant |   [15] |
OOR said the album has "great songs" and declared: "BB U OK? perhaps breathes the attic room where Sander van Dijck learned to play the guitar rather than the dance floors where San Holo triumphed. Of course, that could be completely different on the third."[6] de Volkskrant gave the album a 4 out of 5 rating.[15] PopMatters said "almost every track plays out like its own self-contained grief cycle, with sadness turning to anger followed by a beautiful release that is ultimately cathartic."[14]
Track listing
All tracks are engineered and mixed by Sander van Dijck; "The Great Clown Pagliacci" also mixed by Tim Biesta.[16] BB U OK? Deluxe engineers listed below.[17]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Am Thinking of You" |
|
| 1:30 |
| 2. | "It Hurts!" |
| San Holo | 3:48 |
| 3. | "New One" (featuring Bipolar Sunshine) |
|
| 3:39 |
| 4. | "BB U OK?" |
|
| 3:22 |
| 5. | "Black and White" |
|
| 4:01 |
| 6. | "I Just Wanna Fucking Cry" (featuring The Nicholas) |
|
| 2:54 |
| 7. | "Heal (↑%)" |
|
| 3:42 |
| 8. | "Lonely in LA" |
|
| 2:58 |
| 9. | "The Great Clown Pagliacci" |
|
| 1:28 |
| 10. | "I Get Lonely Around People, Too" |
|
| 5:37 |
| 11. | "Thoughts and Chemicals" (featuring American Football) | San Holo | 4:24 | |
| 12. | "My Fault" |
|
| 5:22 |
| 13. | "Make This Moment Last" |
| San Holo | 3:16 |
| 14. | "Find Your Way" (featuring Bipolar Sunshine) |
| San Holo | 3:45 |
| 15. | "Do You See Me?" |
|
| 3:26 |
| 16. | "Feels Right" |
| San Holo | 4:18 |
| 17. | "Ewing Street" |
|
| 2:18 |
| 18. | "Wheels Up" (featuring Weezer) |
| San Holo | 3:17 |
| 19. | "You've Changed, I've Changed" (featuring Chet Porter) |
|
| 5:12 |
| 20. | "One More Day" (featuring Mija and Mr. Carmack) |
|
| 4:39 |
| Total length: | 72:56 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21. | "I Don't Feel Anything Anymore" |
|
| 6:15 |
| Total length: | 79:11 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Engineer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Find Your Way" (featuring Bipolar Sunshine; San Holo lo-fi remix) |
| San Holo | 3:51 |
Notes
- Tracks are stylized in all lowercase, except "It Hurts!", "My Fault", and "Feels Right" which are stylized in all caps, and "Lonely in LA" and "The Great Clown Pagliacci" which are stylized "lonely in LA" and "the great clown Pagliacci" respectively.
Charts
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[18] | 46 |
| US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[19] | 3 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[20] | 5 |
References
- ^ a b c The album's cover art states, on the top right: "Album 2 by San Holo. Recorded in Echo Park, LA. September 2019 — January 2020."
- ^ a b c "Entrevista: San Holo fala sobre novo álbum, vinda ao Brasil e dá dica para novos produtores". Wonderland in Rave (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-04-02. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b Wright, Raven (2021-02-03). "San Holo Releases New Single Off Upcoming Album 'BB U OK?'". EDM Identity. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "20 Questions With San Holo: On His Beard, New Album & How Porter Robinson and Madeon Changed His Life". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b Kocay, Lisa. "San Holo's BB U OK? LP showcases his ability to transcend stylistic borders". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b "Recensie: San Holo - BB U OK? (album)". OOR (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ Mullins, Ellie (2020-11-26). "San Holo announces new track 'BB U OK?'". We Rave You. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ Heffler, Jason. "Listen to San Holo Sing on Soaring New Single, "IT HURTS!"". EDM.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "San Holo expands 'BB U OK?' tracklist with two new singles". Dancing Astronaut. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ Yopko, Nick. "San Holo Pushes Release Date for "BB U OK? (album 2)"". EDM.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "San Holo & Chet Porter Deliver Wistful Indie Electronic Single "you've changed, i've changed" on Bitbird [LISTEN]". Your EDM. 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ Gray, Kaelyn. "San Holo Announces Massive "BB U OK?" North American Tour". EDM.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "San Holo Releases Touching Sophomore Album 'BB U OK?'". CULTR. 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b Bergstrom, John (7 July 2021). "San Holo: BB U OK? (Album Review)". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ^ a b Gijssel, Robert van (2021-06-03). "De mix van vlotte dance met dromerige tokkelgitaren van San Holo blijft fascineren". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ "Credits / BB U OK? / San Holo". Tidal. Retrieved 2025-02-22.
- ^ "Credits / BB U OK? Deluxe / San Holo". Tidal. Retrieved 2025-02-22.
- ^ "San Holo Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- ^ "San Holo Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- ^ "San Holo Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
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