Sick Boy is the second studio album by American DJ and production duo the Chainsmokers. It was released on December 14, 2018, via Disruptor and Columbia Records. The album features collaborations with French DJ Aazar and fellow American DJ Nghtmre as well as co-production from Sly, Chris Lyon, and Shaun Frank, and writing credits from frequent co-writer Emily Warren, Kate Morgan, Drew Love of They., Tony Ann, Corey Sanders, and Chelsea Jade. Sick Boy<nowiki/>'s tracklist is made up of singles gradually released throughout 2018 as an attempt to increase the songs' success.
The album consists of singles that were released each month in the year 2018, except May and June, with "Sick Boy", "You Owe Me", "Everybody Hates Me" and "Somebody" being released in the first four months, from January to April. These songs were collectively released on the 'Sick Boy EP' on April 20. The next three songs, "Side Effects", "Save Yourself" and "This Feeling" were released July to September and appeared collectively alongside the first four singles on the EP 'Sick Boy...This Feeling' on September 21. "Siren", "Beach House" and "Hope" were released October to December, then collected on the final album.
Songs from the album were described as "deep and introspective", while having "bangers that sound out of place". The album was noted by Your EDM as "an improvement from Memories...Do Not Open" and "a massive step in the right direction... with the Chainsmokers a little lost on their own sound."
Upon release, Sick Boy was met with mixed reviews by the music critics.
AllMusic's Neil Z. Young positively said of the album, "Compared to their 2017 official debut, the Chainsmokers' sophomore album, Sick Boy, is more introspective, thoughtful and emotional. It's also a vast improvement on the often precious (and, frankly, boring) EDM-pop of Memoriesâ¦Do Not Open." He went on to state that, "At the heart of it all, this set is dark, sometimes exciting, and a step in the right direction for the immensely popular but critically maligned duo. World-weariness and a troubled heart suit them well and managed to do some good on Sick Boy."
In sharp contrast, Laura Snapes of The Guardian gave the record a very negative review, calling it "a torrent of spew-inducing self-pity".
Adapted from iTunes and Qobuz.
Adapted from Qobuz.