Sophomore

Sophomore is the second studio album by American indie pop band Curriculum, released via Blacklight Records on 13 January 2014. The follow-up to their successful debut album Syllabus (2012), Sophomore was finally released after a series of postponements and delays though it was initially supposed to be released a various times during 2013. The album is the first since the departure of the band's "honorary" members: Stephanie Kesh, who served as a co-writer for the group and also did additional vocals, and Shawn Middlesbrough, who previously handled all of the band's production on their material (Kesh and Middlesbrough later formed Cerise + Victor). After the departure of Middlesbrough and Kesh, group member Dana Breckenridge took over as the band's primary producer and principal songwriting, as a result, was left to fellow members Gregory Preston Olivier, Phillip Mandelbaum, and Wyatt van Cleef.

Sophomore lyrically dealt with topics such as love, unrequited love, and lust, while also showcasing unorthodox topics such as stalking, obsession, narcissism, and geography, among others. Primarily an alternative pop album, it also found the band experimenting with new sounds and genre. For the first time, vocals were sung by other members than Olivier, though Olivier was still the primary and lead vocalist on the album. All tracks were written by Olivier, Mandelbaum, and van Cleef and produced by Breckenridge.

Sophomore became critically acclaimed and was well-received by the public, who lauded the album's lyrical and the production on most of the songs. In January 2014, the album debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 97,914 copies in its first week. The album also debuted at #1 in Ireland.

Background
The band began work on Sophomore in late spring/early summer 2012, just months after their debut album Syllabus was released. The band had actually planned on releasing an EP in the summer of 2012 but after multiple plans to release the EP failed, and as they kept recording more and more tracks, the band decided to consider the project their second album.

The band announced the title to their second album Sophomore in December 2013 and had hopes to released it in either in January or February 2013, essentially one year after the release of Syllabus. However, further issues kept the album from being released such as the band's management on the verge of collapse (their management eventually shut down in late 2013), lead singer Olivier's personal problems that dealt with his failed relationship with popular singer Kleo and his surprising cocaine and medication addiction problems, and the band's need to record more tracks for the album because they felt it "needed more work" or "was missing something". Due to those same problems, the band tried to release a series of singles and EPs that ended up being cancelled. During the band's period of lack of releases, members van Cleef and Mandelbaum pursued brief solo careers. The album was supposed to be released at other various dates in 2013 but was also constantly postponed due to the band's aforementioned issues.

Despite their problems, the band continued on working on the album and finished it officially in October 2013. The band planned and later announced for the album to be released in January 2014.

Recording and production
The group began working on the album, initially as an EP, in April 2012. Indeed, the earliest track on the album is "Tired of Thinking" which was recorded in April 2012. After they constantly postponed plans for their EP throughout the rest of 2012 and most of 2013, the band decided to turn the EP into an album. The album was scheduled for release on various dates in 2013 but was constantly postponed due to various issues regarding the band and also with them coming up with and recording new tracks that they felt fit the album.

Production was mostly handled by member Breckenridge after former "honorary" member and the band's former producer Middlesbrough left to puruse other career activities with his wife Kesh. Due to Breckenridge's preoccupation with production, he did not write any of the songs on the album, leaving Olivier, Mandelbaum, and van Cleef to do all of it instead.

Close to 40 tracks were recorded for the album. Other tracks that had been previously recorded for other projects originally not meant for the album, mainly the band's EP that never materialized, were initially considered to be included, such as the band's promotional single "British". For the tracks that did not make the album, the band was going to release a free mixtape titled The Chess Club which was supposed to be released in November 2013 to hold fans over until Sophomore arrived. However, the mixtape was blocked from being released by the band's label, Blacklight, who wanted to release it commercially instead and after Sophomore. Some tracks that were initially considered apart of the project were eventually cut from the album.

The band finished recording the album in October 2013. Shortly before mastering, the band replaced one of the songs meant for the album with "On The Run", a track they originally recorded for the film Identity soundtrack. The band also admitted that the switched out tracks and replaced with them others at the last minute before they turned the album in.

The album was recorded in the United States in New York City, Los Angeles, Austin, and Houston. It was also recorded in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece and in London, United Kingdom.

Writing
Lyrically, the album talks about themes such as love and the varying degrees and types of it, such as forbidden, unrequited, unconditional, and everlasting love. The album also talked about topics such as attraction, lust, heartbreak, and infatuation. It also tackled unorthodox topics as well such as devotion and dedication to someone out of loyalty, stalking, mental exhaustion, narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder, wealth and luxury, culture, geography, hedonism, awkwardness, sexual tension, war, and masculinity.

"I'll Go To Jail For You", the first track, is about willing to do anything for someone you love out of extreme loyalty to them. "On The Run" is about forbidden lovers who run away together. "To Move On" is about heartbreak and essentially stalking someone's former paramour in hopes they return. "Tired of Thinking" is about mental exhaustion and was inspired by Olivier's mental collapse during a recording session in 2012.

"Desires" dealt with narcissism while "Like A Narcissist" detailed the "dangers" and drawbacks of dealing and interacting with someone who has narcissistic personality disorder, with it being described as a cautionary tale. "I Can Pay Your Rent" is about a man who is seduced by and falls in love with a wealthy woman, who spends lots of money on him. "Vice City 1986" details nightlife in Miami in the year 1986 and was inspired by the popular video game ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City".

"I Shouldn't Look At You" talks about a guy who is shy at a pool party who is too shy to talk the girl he likes so he just looks at her and fantasizes what he wants to say to her. "Masculine" details an account of a mighty and tough soldier who lacks fear as he prepares for battle. "Thessaloniki" is a love song in which the protagonist wants to take his lover to Thessaloniki for a romantic getaway. "Hold Me...In Your Arms...Forever and Ever" ambiguously talks about unconditional love and how the person they love the most has made them feel better about themselves.

All songs were written by Olivier, Mandelbaum, and van Cleef.

Composition
With production and composition solely handled by Breckenridge, the band explored and experimented with new sounds that they never attempted before. All vocals were sung by Oliver, Mandelbaum, and van Cleef, though Olivier mostly sang lead.

"I'll Go To Jail" is a indietronica song with hints of dance pop and ethereal music. "On The Run" combined afrobeat with Bollywood style Indian music. "To Move On" has an underlying brooding but relaxing tone and layered melody vocals to it while "Tired of Thinking" incorporates indie music with little hints of R&B and pop. "Desires" featured layered vocals and brooding and haunting tone while the beat does not kick until towards the end of the song.

"Like A Narcissist" is considered to be the most experimental sound the band has ever attempted. The song dealt with changing tempos and beats while Olivier sings parts of the lyrics quickly but rhythmically. The song displayed the band's most alternative rock-sounding offering to date.

"I Can Pay Your Rent" experimented with an urban sound as an uncredited female vocalist (later revealed to be slightly manipulated vocals from Stephanie Kesh) ad-libs the final lines of the two verses, raps/chants the middle eight, and sings the chorus along with Olivier and Mandelbaum. "Vice City 1986" displayed a 1980's soft rock/rock-pop vibe. "I Shouldn't Look At You", a dance pop track, was sonically inspired by popular singer Aimee Lyons and Mandelbaum tries to vocally sound like her in the song.

"Masculine" incorporates indietronica and dubstep while Olivier gives his most strenuous vocal performance as he sings the chorus in his higher upper chest register in full voice. "Thessaloniki" is a rock pop song with hints of Greek music. "Hold Me...In Your Arms...Forever and Ever" incorporates ethereal, indietronica, shoegazing, pop, and surf music.

In between each of the track, and also at the introduction and outro of the album, the band did interludes which mostly likely contained a brief statement relating to the next track. The intro and outro related to the idea of it being yet another school year, following the band's theme from their previous album Syllabus.

Packaging and artwork
The cover art of the album shows the librar of Columbia University, in New York City, New York, in a reddish-sepia hue. The back cover shows the main hall of Columbia University in a similar hue with the track listing typed in a dark red that nearly resembles burgundy.

The art direction and theme of Sophomore is a continuation of the similar college theme seen in the packaging on the band's debut album Syllabus. The inlays include a panorama view of the main hall of Columbia University, the campus map of the college and the university seal and logo, all in a reddish type of hue. The inlays also show various pictures taken of the band on the rooftop of a building in New York City, also in a red hue. The final page of the booklet is also a shot of Columbia University and is also in a red color scheme.

Promotion and release
Sophomore was released in its entirety from streaming to Spotify on 6 January 2014 as a thank you to fans who bought the album's lead single "Like A Narcissist", which had debuted at #4 in the UK the day before. For its Spotify release, the band gave track commentaries on each of the album's main twelve tracks. The Spotify release of the album also had two bonus tracks titled "The Color Purple On The Verge of Madness" and "Panic Manic".

On 13 January 2013, Sophomore was officially released for sale to physical and digital retailers in CD, digital download, and vinyl.

Singles

 * "Like A Narcissist" was released as the lead single from Sophomore on 30 December 2013, though it was originally supposed to be released earlier that month. The single was released on the final week of December purposely so the it could chart on the first charts of the year in January 2014. Critically acclaimed, mainly due to its lyrical content, it debuted at #4 in the UK, rose to #3 the following week, and peaked at #2 in its third week. It has been certified Gold by URAPS and has sold more than 229,000 copies, making it their fastest selling single and one of their biggest hits to date.

The band is currently deciding on a second single.

Critical reception
The album received positive reviews and much acclaim from critics and the public who praised the album's lyrical content and production. Most tracks were considered fan favorites and standouts on the album.

Commercial performance
Sophomore debuted and peaked at #1 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 97,914 copies in its first week. The album also reached #1 in Ireland.

Personnel

 * Gregory Preston Olivier - Vocals and guitar.
 * Phillip Mandelbaum - Vocals and guitar.
 * Wyatt van Cleef - Vocals and drums.
 * Dana Breckenridge - Piano and bass.

All songs written by Olivier, Mandelbaum, and van Cleef; all songs composed and produced by Breckenridge.