The Dream (Alt-J album)

The Dream is the fourth studio album by English indie rock band Alt-J, released on 11 February 2022 by Infectious Music and the Canvasback Music division of Atlantic Records. It was promoted with the single "U&Me", which was released alongside the album's announcement on 22 September 2021.^[1] The track listing for the album was also revealed on this date through publication Stereogum.^[2] "Get Better" was released as the album's second single on 3 November 2021 and was accompanied by a pixel-art music video.^[3] "Hard Drive Gold" was released as the album's third single on 5 January 2022. "The Actor" was released as the fourth single on 7 February 2022.

The Dream
Studio album by Alt-J
Released	12 February 2022 (2022-02-12)
Genre	Art pop alternative rock indie rock
Length	49:22
Label	Canvasback Infectious
Producer	Charlie Andrew
Alt-J chronology
Reduxer (2018) The Dream (2022)
Singles from The Dream
"U&Me" Released: 22 September 2021 "Get Better" Released: 3 November 2021 "Hard Drive Gold" Released: 5 January 2022 "The Actor" Released: 7 February 2022

Artwork

The artwork for The Dream's cover is a drawing by the artist Joel Wyllie.^[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.8/10[5]
Metacritic	79/100[6]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Beats Per Minute	64%[8]
Clash	7/10[9]
DIY	[10]
Gigwise	[11]
The Independent	[12]
The Line of Best Fit	8/10[13]
NME	[14]
PopMatters	8/10[15]
Uncut	6/10[16]

The album received a four-star rating from The Observer, who said it was a "stroll around the curiosity shop". In the same review the band's embrace of American sounds was noted.^[17]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joe Newman, Thom Sonny Green, and Gus Unger-Hamilton.

The Dream track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bane"	5:10
2.	"U&Me"	3:18
3.	"Hard Drive Gold"	2:38
4.	"Happier When You're Gone"	4:00
5.	"The Actor"	4:00
6.	"Get Better"	5:51
7.	"Chicago"	3:55
8.	"Philadelphia"	3:38
9.	"Walk a Mile"	6:29
10.	"Delta"	1:00
11.	"Losing My Mind"	4:42
12.	"Powders"	4:41
Total length:		49:22

Deluxe edition

No.	Title	Length
13.	"The Actor" (Single Edit)	3:07
14.	"U&Me" (Single Edit)	3:16
15.	"Hard Drive Gold" (Loor Remix)	4:03
16.	"Hard Drive Gold" (Maya Jane Coles Remix)	5:13
17.	"U&Me" (Baauer Remix)	4:54
Total length:		69:55

Digital deluxe edition

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Oceans Are Forming" (Demo)	4:07
14.	"Hard Drive Gold" (Loor Remix)	4:03
15.	"U&ME" (The De Beauvoir Session)	3:13
16.	"Get Better" (The De Beauvoir Session)	5:25
17.	"Matilda" (The De Beauvoir Session)	3:51
Total length:		70:01

CARBS remix edition

No.	Title	Length
13.	"The Dream" (CARBS Cycles Remix)	9:40
14.	"The Dream" (CARBS Lucid Remix)	4:53
15.	"The Dream" (CARBS NREM Remix)	5:02
Total length:		68:57

Personnel

Alt-J

• Joe Newman – vocals, guitar (all tracks), additional percussion (2)
• Thom Sonny Green – drums, percussion, programming (all tracks); additional percussion (2), spoken voice (12)
• Gus Unger-Hamilton – keyboards, synthesizer (all tracks); backing vocals (1, 3–12), organ (1, 2, 4, 6, 11), additional percussion (2), bass (3, 9, 11)

Additional musicians

• David Force – bagpipes (1), crumhorn (1, 2)
• Reinoud Ford – cello (1, 2, 4, 5, 7–9)
• Will Gardner – conductor, string arrangement (1, 2, 4, 5, 7–9); backing vocals (9)
• Tim Rundle – crumhorn (1, 2)
• Andy Marshall – double bass (1, 2, 5, 7–9)
• Charlie Andrew – programming (all tracks), additional percussion (2)
• Highgate School Choir – vocals (1–3)
• Tyler DeFord – sound effects (2)
• Matthew Ward – violin (2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
• Ciaran McCabe – violin (2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
• Kirsty Mangan – violin (2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
• Anna Zara Newman – spoken voice (3)
• Cordelia Unger-Hamilton – spoken voice (3)
• April Unger-Hamilton – backing vocals (4, 5), spoken voice (6)
• Sarah Andrew – bassoon (4)
• Trevor Mires – trombone (6)
• Christie Valeriano – backing vocals (8)
• George Eddy – backing vocals (9)
• Andrew Cohen – sound effects (9)
• Arianna Cohen – spoken voice (9, 12)
• Matt Glasbey – spoken voice (11)
• Mark Newman – spoken voice (11)

Technical

• Charlie Andrew – production, mixing
• Dick Beetham – mastering
• Matt Glasbey – mixing, engineering (all tracks); additional production (1, 10)
• George Collins – engineering assistance (1, 3, 10–12)
• Katie Earl – engineering assistance (1–4, 9–12)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for The Dream Chart (2022) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[18] 6 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[19] 9 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20] 3 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[21] 6 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[22] 50 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[23] 8 French Albums (SNEP)[24] 27 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[25] 5 Irish Albums (OCC)[26] 6 Italian Albums (FIMI)[27] 60 Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[28] 28 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[29] 16 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[30] 13 Scottish Albums (OCC)[31] 2 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[32] 59 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 7 UK Albums (OCC)[34] 3 UK Independent Albums (OCC)[35] 1 US Billboard 200[36] 110 US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[37] 12 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[38] 16

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for The Dream Chart (2022) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[39] 110