How to Be a Human Being is the second studio album by the British indie rock band Glass Animals. It was released on August 26th, 2016 by Wolf Tone and Caroline International in Europe, and Harvest Records in the United States. The album received critical acclaim for its "sense of wonder", and "immediate impression", though it was also met with some mixed reactions, from critics who felt it was somewhat premature. There are a total of 11 songs on the track listing, along with 11 characters illustrated on the cover art. Each song, along with its unique personality and quirks, represents a person on the album. The album was nominated for the 2017 Mercury Prize.
Background[]
Following the release of their debut studio album, ZABA, Glass Animals began an aggressive tour which saw them play over 140 concerts in Europe, Australia, the United States and Mexico. They appeared at Glastonbury, Falls Music Festival and Southbound in 2014, Coachella, Wakarusa, Bonnaroo, Firefly, Glastonbury again, Lollapalooza, Osheaga and Reading and Leads in 2015, and the Forecastle Festival in 2016.
How to Be a Human Being was simultaneously announced with the release of Life Itself and its respective music video. The foursome toured Australia for their second time, before they returned to North America for the album's release. Four days after the album was released, the band appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, their third appearance on prime time television.
The band wrote 11 songs based on 11 different characters, many of which were inspired by people they met and stories they were told during their travels while promoting Zaba. Each character was portrayed on the album cover, and some appeared in music videos for their respective songs. Among the actors portraying the characters were Brock Brenner, Dorian Hampton, Camila Ivera, Pat Janssen and Heidi Kaufman.
Singles[]
The Singles Are Life Itself, Youth, Season 2 Episode 3, Pork Soda, And Agnes.
Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Life Itself | Dave Bayley, Tariq Tafo | 4:41 |
| 2. | Youth | Bayley | 3:50 |
| 3. | Season 2 Episode 3 | Bayley, Ben McFadden | 4:04 |
| 4. | Pork Soda | Bayley | 4:14 |
| 5. | Mama's Gun | Bayley, John Bettis | 4:27 |
| 6. | Cane Shuga | Bayley | 3:16 |
| 7. | Premade Sandwiches | Bayley | 0:36 |
| 8. | The Other Side of Paradise | Bayley | 5:20 |
| 9. | Take a Slice | Bayley | 3:49 |
| 10. | Poplar St. | Bayley | 4:22 |
| 11. | Agnes | Bayley | 4:31 |
Note: On CD copies of the album, "[Pre-made Sandwiches]" is put at the end of the track "Cane Shuga" instead of being its own track. Pork Soda's length on the album version is 4:14; the radio edit is 3:15. Similarly with Agnes, the radio edit is 3:35 long.
Charts[]
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[24] | 68 | ||
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] | 151 | ||
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[26] | 50 | ||
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[27] | 77 | ||
| French Albums (SNEP)[28] | 120 | ||
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] | 87 | ||
| UK Albums (OCC)[30] | 23 | ||
| US Billboard 200[31] | 20 |