Versions of Modern Performance

Versions of Modern Performance is the debut studio album by the American rock band Horsegirl. It was released on June 3, 2022 via Matador.

Versions of Modern Performance
Studio album by Horsegirl
Released	June 3, 2022 (2022-06-03)
Studio	Electrical Audio, Chicago, Illinois
Genre	indie rock, experimental rock, alternative rock, shoegaze, post-punk, slacker rock, noise pop
Length	33:07
Language	English
Label	Matador
Producer	John Agnello

Influences

The group was influenced by Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Stereolab and other 90's indie bands while writing the album.^[1]

Writing and recording

The album was written while the members of Horsegirl were in high school and recorded during the summer of 2021 at Electrical Audio in Chicago, Illinois with John Agnello.^[2]

Steve Shelly of Sonic Youth is credited as the drummer of "Billy" and Lee Ranaldo is credited for guitars on "Beautiful Song".^[1][3]

Singles and promotion

The first single, "Billy", was released on November 16, 2021.^[4] The album was announced on March 9, 2022 along with the single "Anti-glory".^[5] Two more singles, "World of Pots and Pans"^[6] and "Dirtbag Transformation",^[7] preceded the album's release.

The band headlined a tour in Europe and the UK^[8] followed by a tour in the United States during the summer of 2022.^[9] The band performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago in 2022, for the first time.^[10]

Critical reception

Versions of Modern Performance was praised by critics upon its release for its sound reminiscent of 1990s indie rock. The album appeared on multiple year-end lists.

The album was named album of the week by Stereogum upon its release.^[11]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	82/100^[13]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[12]

Year-end lists

Publication	List	Rank	Ref.
A.V. Club	The 30 Best Albums of 2022	25	^[14]
BrooklynVegan	Indie Basement: Top 40 Albums of 2022	38	^[15]
Crack	The Top 50 Albums of the Year	12	^[16]
Gorilla vs. Bear	Gorilla vs. Bear's albums of 2022	35	^[17]
Metacritic	The Freshman 15: 2022's Best Debut Albums	14	^[18]
NME	The 25 Best Debut Albums of 2022	N/A	^[19]
Paste	The 50 Best Albums of 2022	27	^[20]
Rolling Stone	The 100 Best Albums of 2022	56	^[21]
Stereogum	The 50 Best Albums of 2022	15	^[22]
Under the Radar	Top 100 Best Albums of 2022	32	^[23]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gigi Reece, Nora Cheng and Penelope Lowenstein

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Anti-glory"	3:31
2.	"Beautiful Song"	2:57
3.	"Live and Ski"	2:23
4.	"Bog Bog 1"	1:53
5.	"Dirtbag Transformation (Still Dirty)"	3:05
6.	"The Fall of Horsegirl"	2:40
7.	"Electrolocation 2"	1:56
8.	"Option 8"	3:32
9.	"World of Pots and Pans"	2:51
10.	"The Guitar is Dead 3"	0:49
11.	"Homage to Birdnoculars"	3:37
12.	"Billy"	3:48
Total length:		33:07

Note: On vinyl, "Electrolocation 2" precedes "Anti-glory".

Personnel^[24]

• Gigi Reece – drums, tamborine
• Greg Calbi – mastering
• John Agnello – production, mixing
• Lee Ranaldo – guitar on "Beautiful Song"
• Nora Cheng – guitar, bass Bass VI, vocals
• Penelope Lowenstein – guitar, bass Bass VI, vocals
• Steve Fallone – mastering
• Steve Shelly – drums on "Billy"

References

1. "Horsegirl: Versions of Modern Performance". Pitchfork. from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
2. Pearis, Bill. "Horsegirl announce debut album & summer tour, share "Anti-glory" video". Brooklyn Vegan. from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
3. Curto, Justin. "Sonic Youths In Chicago with Horsegirl, the teen rock trio behind one of the year's most confident albums". Vulture. from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
4. Blistein, Jon. "Horsegirl's 'Billy' Is a Compelling Character Study and Reverent Tribute to Long-Gone Music Scenes". Rolling Stone. from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
5. Blistein, Jon. "Chicago Indie Trio Horsegirl Get the Urge to Dance on New Song 'Anti-Glory'". Rolling Stone. from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
6. Krol, Charlotte. "Horsegirl share their "closest thing" to a love song, 'World Of Pots And Pans'". NME. from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
7. Russell, Scott. "Watch Horsegirl's "Dirtbag Transformation (Still Dirty)" Video". Paste Magazine. from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
8. Ackroyd, Stephen. "Horsegirl have announced their debut album, 'Versions of Modern Performance'". Dork. from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
9. Corcoran, Nina. "Horsegirl Announce Tour and Debut Album, Share Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
10. Creden, Makenzie. "A Conversation with Horsegirl". WLUW. from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
11. "Album Of The Week: Horsegirl \'Versions Of Modern Performance\'". Stereogum. 2022-05-31. from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
12. "Horsegirl - Versions of Modern Performance Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
13. "Versions of Modern Performance by Horsegirl". Metacritic. from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
14. "Here are the 30 best albums of 2022". The A.V. Club. 2022-12-12. from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
15. Pearis, Bill. "Indie Basement: Top 40 Albums of 2022". BrooklynVegan. from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
16. "Best albums of 2022: Our pick of the top records". Crack Magazine. from the original on 2022-12-29. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
17. Chris. "gorilla vs. bear's albums of 2022". GORILLA VS. BEAR. from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
18. "Best Debut Albums of 2022: Versions of Modern Performance by Horsegirl". Metacritic. from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
19. NME (2022-12-12). "The 25 best debut albums of 2022". NME. from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
20. "The 50 Best Albums of 2022". pastemagazine.com. 2022-11-21. from the original on 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
21. Rolling Stone (2022-12-01). "The 100 Best Albums of 2022". Rolling Stone. from the original on 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
22. "The 50 Best Albums Of 2022". Stereogum. 2022-12-06. from the original on 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
23. "Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2022 Part 1 | Under the Radar Magazine". www.undertheradarmag.com. from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
24. Horsegirl - Versions Of Modern Performance, from the original on 2022-12-23, retrieved 2022-12-23