My Maudlin Career is the fourth studio album by the Scottish indie pop band Camera Obscura. The album was released in April 2009 via 4AD and, like its predecessor, was produced by Jari Haapalainen of The Bear Quartet. The string and horn arrangements are by Björn Yttling, of Peter Bjorn and John.
[edit] Critical reception
The critical response to My Maudlin Career was generally positive. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received a favorable score of 80, based on 25 reviews.[11]
Music critic Tim Sendra of Allmusic called the album "almost an exact copy of their previous album" but added "Really, the group could go on remaking it for years to negligible complaints from their fans and very few diminishing returns."[1] Gareth Grundy of The Observer called the album more polished and poised than the band's previous work.[7] Kevin Liedel of Slate Magazine wrote "The result is not nearly as novel or dorkishly handsome as Country, but it still manages to exude addictive gorgeousness... Luckily, for both the album and its audience, the band's perseverance results in hits more often than misses."[10] In his review for Pitchfork Media, Brian Howe called the string arrangements out of control but praised the album, writing "it sounds more assertive and agile, with increased swing and soul, than ever before. There are still melodies of heart-wrenching simplicity that stick in your head to an almost irritating degree (beware of the dangerously catchy "James"), balanced by songs with longer, more complex and limber melodic phrases."[9]
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Tracyanne Campbell.
| 1. |
"French Navy" |
3:19 |
| 2. |
"The Sweetest Thing" |
4:23 |
| 3. |
"You Told a Lie" |
3:45 |
| 4. |
"Away with Murder" |
4:08 |
| 5. |
"Swans" |
4:09 |
| 6. |
"James" |
3:50 |
| 7. |
"Careless Love" |
4:35 |
| 8. |
"My Maudlin Career" |
4:19 |
| 9. |
"Forests and Sands" |
4:16 |
| 10. |
"Other Towns and Cities" |
3:59 |
| 11. |
"Honey in the Sun" |
5:45 |
|
Total length:
|
46:24 |
[edit] Singles
- "French Navy" (April 13, 2009)
- CD (BAD 2912 CD) b/w: "You're the Only Star in My Blue Heaven" / "French Navy" (Jim Noir Remix)
- 7" vinyl (AD 2912) b/w: "The World Is Full of Strangers"
- "Honey in the Sun" (August 2009)
- Promo-only CD: Radio Edit / Album Version / Instrumental
- "The Sweetest Thing" (November 2, 2009)[12]
- "The Blizzard" / "Swans" (December 7, 2009)[13]
- 7" vinyl (AD 2937): "The Blizzard" / "Swans"
- "The Nights Are Cold" / "The Sweetest Thing [Richard Hawley Remix]" (May 17, 2010)[14]
[edit] Chart performance
The album reached number 32 on the UK Albums Chart after one week of sales. It also broke into the Billboard Top 100 in the US, peaking at number 87. In their native Ireland, the album reached number 37.
[edit] Personnel
- Tracyanne Campbell – vocals, guitar
- Carey Lander – organ, piano
- Kenny McKeeve – guitar, background vocals
- Gavin Dunbar – bass
- Lee Thomson – drums
- Lauren McGovern – guitar, trumpet, violin, background vocals
- Britta Persson – background vocals
- Erik Arvinder – violin
- Jessica Hugosson – violin
- Santiago Jiménez – violín
- Andreas Forsman – violin
- Christopher Öhman – viola
- Anna Dager – cello
- Anna Landberg Dager – cello
- Per "Texas" Johansson – horn
- Stefan Persson – trumpet
Production notes:
- Mark Sadowski - producer, engineer
- Lauren McGovern - main component writer (ghosting)
- Jari Haapalainen - producer, engineer
- Henrik Jonsson – engineer
- Pontus Olsson – engineer
- Johan Rude – engineer
- Björn Yttling – arranger, horn arrangements, string arrangements
- Julie Annis – artwork, layout design
- Donald Milne – photography
[edit] References
- ^ a b Sendra, Tim. "Review: My Maudlin Career". Macrovision Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1508634. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ Singer, Brett (May 12, 2009). "Review: My Maudlin Career". Onion, Inc. http://www.avclub.com/articles/camera-obscura-my-maudlin-career,27855/. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ Diver, Mike (April 21, 2009). "Review: Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career". clashmusic.com. http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/camera-obscura-my-maudlin-career. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ Asch, Mark. "Review: Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career (4AD, 2009)". crawdaddy.com. http://crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com/Review/Camera-Obscura-My-Maudlin-Career.html. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ Brody, Gideon (June 3, 2009). "Review: Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career". DrownedinSound.com. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14348/reviews/4136924. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ Brolan, Stephen. "Review: Camera Obscura ‘My Maudlin Career’". Mama Group. http://www.the-fly.co.uk/words/reviews/album-reviews/4615/camera-obscura. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
- ^ a b Grundy, Gareth (April 19, 2009). "Review: Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career (4AD)". Guardian News and Media Limited. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/apr/15/camera-obscura-music-review. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ LaBate, Steve (April 21, 2009). "Review: Camera Obscura: My Maudlin Career". Tim Regan-Porter, Paste Media Group. http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/04/camera-obscura-my-maudlin-career.html. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ a b Howe, Brian (April 21, 2009). "Review: Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career (4AD; 2009)". Pitchfork Media. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12942-my-maudlin-career/. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ a b Liedel, Kevin (March 31, 2009). "Review: Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career". slantmagazine.com. http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1700. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ "My Maudlin Career by Camera Obscura". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/cameraobscura/mymaudlincareer. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ 4AD - Camera Obscura - New single announced; worldwide tour dates revealed; online shop opens
- ^ The Blizzard by Camera Obscura - Releases | Beggars Group
- ^ The Nights Are Cold by Camera Obscura Releases at 4ad.com
|
|
|
|
Tracyanne Campbell • Carey Lander • Kenny McKeeve • Gavin Dunbar • Lee Thomson
Tim Cronin • Nigel Baillie • John Henderson • Richard Colburn • David Skirving • Lindsay Boyd
|
|
| Studio albums |
|
|
| EPs |
Rare UK Bird (1999) Japan only release
|
|
| Singles |
" Park and Ride" • "Your Sound" • "Eighties Fan" • "Teenager" • "Keep It Clean" • "I Love My Jean" • "Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken" • "Let's Get Out of This Country" • "If Looks Could Kill" • "Tears for Affairs" • "French Navy" • "Honey in the Sun" • "The Sweetest Thing" • "The Blizzard" / "Swans" • "The Nights Are Cold" |
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| Related articles |
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