The Blackened Air

The Blackened Air
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 9, 2002
Recorded2001
GenreAlternative rock, folk, chamber music
Length43:45
LabelTouch and Go Records
ProducerSteve Albini
Nina Nastasia chronology
Dogs
(2000)
The Blackened Air
(2002)
Run to Ruin
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
CMJ New Music Report(favorable)[2]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[3]
The Guardian[4]
Pitchfork7.8/10[5]
The Village Voice(choice cut)[6]

The Blackened Air is the second album by American singer-songwriter Nina Nastasia. It was released in 2002 by Touch and Go Records.[7] The album was recorded almost completely live, with the band set up in a semi-circle in one corner of the studio, over a six-day period in 2001 at Steve Albini's Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago.[8] The final track, "That's All There Is", was held over from sessions for her debut, Dogs.

The album's cover was painted by Nastasia's father Jim, and was inspired by the album track "Ocean".[9]

  1. ^ Kellman, Andy. "The Blackened Air – Nina Nastasia – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards – AllMusic". AllMusic. Allrovi. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  2. ^ Zuaro, Kara (April 8, 2002). "CMJ New Music Report | Essential | Nina Nastasia". CMJ New Music Monthly. Vol. 71, no. 757. p. 4. ISSN 0890-0795.
  3. ^ Smith, Ethan (April 26, 2002). "The Blackened Air". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  4. ^ Griffiths, Reviews by James; Simpson, Dave; Sullivan, Caroline; Costa, Maddy; Aizlewood, John (April 12, 2002). "Pop CD releases". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  5. ^ Dahlen, Chris (May 9, 2002). "Nina Nastasia: The Blackened Air". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  6. ^ Christgau, Robert (April 1, 2003). "As Long As I Still Can". The Village Voice.
  7. ^ "The Blackened Air – Nina Nastasia – Touch and Go / Quarterstick Records". Touch and Go Records. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  8. ^ "Nina Nastasia Blackened Air Recording Notes". Sound How. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  9. ^ Nastasia, Nina (November 15, 2023). "Role Models: Nina Nastasia Took More From Her Father Than She Realized". Talkhouse. Retrieved November 25, 2023.