Kris Allen (album)
| Kris Allen | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 17, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Studio |
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Joe King | ||||
| Kris Allen chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Thank You Camellia | ||||
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| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
Salt Lake Tribune | (D)[7] |
| Slant Magazine |   [8] |
| Sputnik Music | [9] |
Kris Allen is the major-label album debut (second overall) from
Background
Allen has writing credits on nine of the twelve tracks on the album, including one solo credit for "Red Guitar", a song that he wrote prior to participating in American Idol. "Is It Over" was written by Allen with Cale Mills, who is an Arkansas friend of the Idol champ.[10] According to a preview of the album,[11] the tracks are:
big, widescreen adult-alt-pop records reminiscent of VH1 house bands like Carolina Liar, Maroon 5, or Augustana, all full of huge hooky choruses ridiculously readymade for radio. The album is positively teeming with potential hits, and the folks at 19 will have a tough job selecting a follow-up single for the already-released 'Live Like We're Dying'.
In a break with American Idol tradition, Allen's Idol "coronation song", "No Boundaries", was not included on his major-label debut, becoming only the second Idol winner album to do so after Taylor Hicks' self-titled album. Instead, a newly recorded version of "Heartless", covered by Allen during his run on Idol, was included as a bonus track.[12] There has been speculation that this was because "No Boundaries" was already included on the Walmart-exclusive season 8 compilation album,[13] which is the first time the winning single was included on the season's compilation since Kelly Clarkson in 2002 and is the first new compilation since season five. However, it has been included as part of the deluxe album version via iTunes.
The album was released in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2009,[14] making its official release before that of the United States.
Promotion
Allen previewed three songs from his album "Written All Over My Face", "Can't Stay Away," and "Before We Come Undone" at a Miami Dolphins tailgate party before their game against the New Orleans Saints on October 25, 2009.[15]
Release
Singles
- "Christian Songs, and other Billboard charts. It also charted internationally in Canada and New Zealand.
- "Patrick Monahan, the lead singer of the Grammy award-winning rock band Train, was released as the CD's second single in May.
- On October 6, 2010, Allen revealed on his Twitter account that the third single of the album will be "Alright with Me".[19] He posted an unofficial music video for the song on his website on November 18, 2010 to thank his fans for their support.[20]
Critical reception
Kris Allen was met with "mixed or average" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 52 based on 8 reviews.[2]
In a review for AllMusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "Unhip it may be by design, at least Kris Allen delivers the goods: it’s tuneful and likeable, melodic enough to merit a close listen, ready to slip into the background at a moment’s notice."[3]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | " Joe King |
| 3:07 | |
| 11. | "Lifetime" |
| Elizondo | 3:38 |
| 12. | "I Need to Know" |
| Gad | 3:34 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Heartless" |
| Salaam Remi | 3:42 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Heartless" |
| Salaam Remi | 3:42 |
| 14. | "No Boundaries" | Emanuel Kiriakou | 3:30 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Send Me All Your Angels" |
| Elizondo | 3:29 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "From the Ashes" |
| Gad | 4:06 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "No Boundaries" |
| Kiriakou | 3:30 |
Credits and personnel
- Kris Allen – vocals, guitars (6, 13)
- Steve Kipner – keyboards (1, 5)
- Andrew Frampton – keyboards (1, 5), acoustic guitar (1, 5), programming (5), electric guitar (5)
- Greg Kurstin – keyboards (2), programming (2), guitars (2), bass (2)
- Mike Elizondo – keyboards (3, 11, 14), programming (3, 11, 14), electric guitar (3), bass (3, 8, 11, 14), acoustic guitar (14)
- Zac Rae – keyboards (3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14), acoustic piano (7, 10), synthesizers (7, 10)
- Toby Gad – programming (4, 12), instruments (4, 12), arrangements (4, 12)
- Eg White – instruments (6), guitars (6)
- Johan Carlsson – keyboards (9)
- Salaam Remi – keyboards (13), bass (13), drums (13), arrangements (13)
- Paul Inder – electric guitar (1)
- Mark Sheehan – electric guitar (1, 5), programming (5)
- Joel Shearer – electric guitar (3, 11, 14), acoustic guitar (3)
- Tim Pierce – guitars (7, 10)
- Michael Ward – electric guitar (8), acoustic guitar (8)
- Jordan Wright – guitar solo (8)
- Tobias Karlsson – additional guitars (9), bass (9)
- Bill Lefler – guitars (9), drums (9)
- David Levita – guitar solo (10)
- Jon Foreman – acoustic guitar (11)
- Paul Broucek – guitars (13)
- Danny O'Donoghue – bass (1, 5), backing vocals [credited as Billy Sollux] (1, 5), programming (5), electric guitar (5)
- Sean Hurley – bass (7, 10)
- Glen Power – drums (1)
- Randy Cooke – drums (2)
- Aaron Sterling – drums (3, 8, 11, 14)
- Robin Diaz – drums (4, 12)
- Victor Indrizzo – drums (7, 10), percussion (7, 10)
- Larry Greenfield – violin (4, 12)
- Jim Sitterly – violin (4, 12)
- Mattias Johansson – violin (9)
- Mats Lindberg – cello (9)
- Victor Lawrence – cello (12)
- Irene Bylund – viola (9)
- Mattias Bylund – string arrangements (9)
- David Ralicke – baritone saxophone (10), tenor saxophone (10), trombone (10), horn arrangements (10)
- Chris Bautista – trumpet (10)
Production and Technical
- Jeff Fenster – A&R
- Dan Frampton – engineer (1, 5)
- Ted Paduck – engineer (1, 5)
- Spike Stent – mixing (1, 5)
- Greg Kursitn – recording (2)
- Eric Weaver – vocal recording (2)
- John Hanes – mix engineer (2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12)
- Serban Ghenea – mixing (2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12)
- Adam Hawkins – engineer (3, 8, 11, 14), mixing (3, 8, 11, 14)
- Toby Gad – engineer (4, 12)
- Christian Baker – engineer (5)
- Warren Huart – engineer (7, 10), recording (7, 10)
- Craig Frank – engineer (9)
- Mattais Bylynd – string recording and editing (9)
- Franklin Emmanuel Socorro – recording (13)
- Manny Marroquin – mixing (13)
- Tim Roberts – mix assistant (2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12)
- Brent Arrowood – assistant engineer (3, 8, 11, 14)
- Phil Allen – assistant engineer (7, 10)
- Robin Holden – assistant engineer (7, 10)
- Graham Hope – assistant engineer (7, 10)
- Christian Plata – mix assistant (13)
- Tom Coyne – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
- Chiara Krammer – production coordinator
- Jolie Levine – project coordinator
- Keki Mingus – creative director
- Maria Paula Marulanda – art direction
- Jackie Murphy – art direction
- Eric Ogden – photography
- Simon Fuller – management
- Stirling McIIwaine – management
Chart performance
The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 11 with 80,000 sold for the week.[22]
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[23] | 11 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 115[24] |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Edition(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | November 16, 2009 |
|
Standard | [25] | |
| Canada | November 17, 2009 | ||||
| United States |
|
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| New Zealand | November 23, 2009 |
|
Standard |
References
- ^ Slezak, Michael (May 5, 2010). "Kris Allen on the controversy over his new single, 'The Truth" and those added Pat Monahan vocals". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ a b "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Review: Kris Allen". AllMusic. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Zollo, Paul (November 17, 2009). "American Songwriter Review". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Pastorek, Whitney (November 11, 2009). "Entertainment Weekly Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Wood, Mikael. "LA Times Review". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Salt Lake Tribune review". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
- ^ Keefe, Jonathan (November 22, 2009). "Slant Magazine Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Review: Kris Allen - Kris Allen - Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. November 19, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Is It Over by Kris Allen Songfacts". www.songfacts.com.
- ^ "Preview Alert: Reality Rocks Kris Allen Listening Session". music.yahoo.com.
- ^ "Kris Allen: We exclusively reveal the track listing for his self-titled debut!". entertainmentweekly.com.
- ^ "American Idol: Season 8, Various Artists: Pop". Walmart.com. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ "Kris Allen: Kris Allen: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ "Kris Allen - Miami Tailgate Party - VIDEO". mjsbigblog.com.
- ^ "Kris Allen's Self-Titled Album Now Streaming on AOL". mjsbigblog.
- ^ ""Live Like We're Dying" Out Now". krisallenofficial.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- ^ "Kris Allen 'Live Like We're Dying' Video Premiere". PopEater.
- ^ "Twitter / Kris Allen: The next single will be "A". Twitter.com. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ "Kris Allen - "Alright With Me" (For The Fans) [VIDEO] | The Official Kris Allen Site". Krisallenofficial.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- ^ Brian Mansfield (2009-11-25). "Album sales: Kris Allen fails to make Top 10". Idol Chatter. USA Today.
- ^ "Kris Allen Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ "Kris Allen CD". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
