Saturn (album)

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Saturn
Studio album by
Nao
Released26 October 2018 (2018-10-26)
Genre
Length46:55
Label
Producer
Nao chronology
For All We Know
(2016) 		Saturn
(2018) 		And Then Life Was Beautiful
(2021)

Saturn is the second studio album by British R&B recording artist Nao, released on 26 October 2018 through Little Tokyo Recordings and RCA Records. It was supported by the singles "Another Lifetime" and "Make It Out Alive".[3] "If You Ever" was also released prior to the album in a version featuring American singer 6lack, but he does not feature on the album version.[1] Nao will tour in support of the album across late 2018 and early 2019.[3] Saturn received nominations for Album of the Year at the Mercury Prize in 2019 and Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards in 2020.

Background[edit]

Nao named the album after being told by her friends about the astrological concept of Saturn return, when the planet Saturn returns to the same place in the sky that it was when a person was born. This typically takes 29 years, but the reported "influence" can begin at the age of 27.[3] Nao said: "It's like waking up and coming of age, like: 'I've been going through my twenties and what have I been doing in this relationship?' What have I been doing in this job?' You start to rethink everything – old stuff that your parents taught you or ideas that you believed in. It's like a complete shedding of skin and it can be painful."[3]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[5]
NME[2]

On review aggregator Metacritic, Saturn has received a score of 83 out of 100 based on reviews from 14 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[4] Kyann-Sian Williams of NME rated the album four out of five stars and said that Nao's "honest, cinematic exploration of love, lust, and hardship makes for a compelling adventure – and one you'll happily join [her] on". Williams concluded the review by saying that "Saturn is full of beautiful, intricately unique songs that could never be imitated. Like her, it's simply one of a kind."[2] Writing for The Guardian, Natty Kasambala said that on the album, "although [Nao's] sugary vocals have remained intact, her artistic and personal growth is evident". Kasambala further judged that "It's hard to distinguish any obvious commercial hits. Saturn falls somewhere between the dance hits of producer DJs with big-name features, and earnest, heart-tugging balladry." Kasmbala acknowledged that along with the "rise of R&B classicists" like Jorja Smith, Ella Mai and Mahalia, "Nao presents a compelling alternative to the mainstream".[5]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Another Lifetime"
3:29
2."Make It Out Alive" (featuring SiR)
  • Nao
  • Grades
3:59
3."If You Ever"
3:39
4."When Saturn Returns (Interlude)"
  • Nao
  • Grades
  • Dan Cox[c]
0:59
5."Saturn" (featuring Kwabs)
  • Nao
  • Grades
  • Loxe
4:50
6."Gabriel"
  • Joshua
  • Traynor
  • Joseph Price
  • James Luke Wood
  • Nao
  • Grades
  • Royce Wood Junior
3:50
7."Orbit"
  • Nao
  • Grades
  • Cox[c]
3:53
8."Love Supreme"
  • Joshua
  • Traynor
  • Wood
  • Perkins
  • Nao
  • Grades
  • Loxe
4:15
9."Curiosity"
3:35
10."Drive and Disconnect"
  • Nao
  • Grades
  • Stint
3:30
11."Don't Change"
  • Joshua
  • Traynor
  • Bhattacharya
  • Nao
  • Grades
  • Stint
3:28
12."Yellow of the Sun"
  • Nao
  • Little
  • Grades
3:51
13."A Life Like This"
  • Nao
  • Loxe
3:37
Total length:46:55
Japanese edition bonus tracks[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Bad Blood"
  • Joshua
  • Traynor
  • Nao
  • Grades
4:00
15."Adore You" (featuring Abhi//Dijon)
  • Joshua
  • Abhi Raju
  • Dijon Duenas
  • Leonardo Vianna Bozza
  • Nao
  • LOXE
  • Grades[a]
3:31
16."Girlfriend"
  • Joshua
  • Bhattacharyya
  • Nao
  • Grades
  • Stint
3:47
Total length:58:29

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

Charts[edit]

Chart (2018) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 56
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[8] 2
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[9] 20
US R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales (Billboard)[10] 31

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Jahmal, Karlton (26 October 2018). "NAO Channels The Spirit Of Smooth R&B On 'Saturn'". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Williams, Kyann-Sian (25 October 2018). "Nao – 'Saturn' review". NME. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d Daramola, Israel (7 September 2018). "NAO Announces New Album Saturn and World Tour". Spin. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Saturn by Nao Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b Kasambala, Natty (26 October 2018). "Nao: Saturn review – cosmopolitan R&B auteur evades the mainstream". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Saturn Nao CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Nao Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  10. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales". Billboard. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
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