Anniemal

Infobox Album
Name = Anniemal
Type = studio
Artist = Annie


Released = 28 September 2004 (Norway)
Recorded = 1999, 2001–2004
Genre = Electropop
Length = 46:11
Label = 679
Producer = Annie, Veikka Ercola, Timo Kaukolampi, Richard X, Röyksopp, Yngve Saetre
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4z5tk6sxykrg link]
*"Blender" Rating|4|5 [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3314 link]
*Pitchfork Media (8.8/10) [http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15205/Annie_Anniemal 11/08/04]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/7357950/annie?pageid=rs.Artistcage&pageregion=triple1 06/30/05]
This album = "Anniemal"
(2005)
Next album = ""
(2005)

"Anniemal" is the debut album of Norwegian electropop singer Annie, first released by 679 Recordings in September 2004 (see 2004 in music). Annie began recording music in 1999 with her boyfriend, Tore Kroknes, who died in 2001. She returned to recording later that year, collaborating with Richard X, Röyksopp, and Timo Kaukolampi. "Anniemal" combines Annie's thin, airy vocals with heavily layered beats.

Upon release, the album was successful in Norway. Blogs leaked tracks from the album before it was released internationally, and publications from other countries soon praised the album for its blissful but melancholic sound. However, Annie's record label, 679 Recordings, was not confident in the album's ability to achieve commercial success overseas. The label did not heavily promote "Anniemal" for its international releases in 2005, and the album eventually sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. It yielded four singles: "Chewing Gum", "Heartbeat", "Happy Without You", and "Always Too Late".

Background

In the late 1990s, Annie opened a club night called Pop Till You Drop in her hometown of Bergen, Norway. There she met producer Tore Kroknes, and the two began dating.Ely, Suzanne. [http://www.citypaper.com/music/story.asp?id=10019 "Anniemal Magnetism"] . "Baltimore City Paper". 1 June 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2008.] Annie and Kroknes borrowed a small studio from downtempo duo Röyksopp to record her debut single "Greatest Hit". The song, which uses a sample of Madonna's 1982 dance-pop single "Everybody", had a limited edition release in 1999, selling out in two days. It became an underground hit at clubs in Norway and Britain, resulting in offers for record deals.Rosen, Jody. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/arts/music/01rose.html "Much Ado About Annie"] . "The New York Times". 1 May 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2008.] The two recorded another song, titled "I Will Get On". Annie focused on vocals and melodies in music, and Kroknes concentrated on production, influenced by techno, disco and house music."Anne Lilia Bergen-Strand - Annie". "Scandinavian Press", volume 12, issue 4, page 25. 2005.] As Annie began to work on her debut album, Kroknes became ill due to a heart defect. He died eighteen months later, in April 2001.

Half a year passed before Annie returned to music. She used a friend's studio in Bergen to record demos, and 679 Recordings gave her a record deal. [Dugan, John. [http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles/clubs/11679/bubble-yum "Bubble yum"] . "Time Out Chicago", issue 17. 23 June 2005. Retrieved 7 October 2008.] In late 2001, Annie began recording music with Timo Kaukolampi from the Finnish electronic group . They started to work on tracks for Annie's debut album, beginning with one titled "Kiss Me". Producer Richard X, impressed with "Greatest Hit", asked Annie to record vocals for his debut album "Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1". In exchange, he contributed "Chewing Gum" and "Me Plus One", both written with Hannah Robinson.Draper, Jimmy. [http://www.sfbg.com/39/39/art_music_heartbeat.html "Norwegian would"] . "San Francisco Bay Guardian". Retrieved 26 August 2008.] Annie also worked with Röyksopp, who co-wrote and produced three songs on the album. She titled the album "Anniemal" based on a suggestion by Kroknes. The two had planned on writing a song titled "Anniemal", so she chose it as the album's title because she said "it just made sense. Anniemal is simple and easy and good."

Composition

When working on songs, Annie began by writing the melody and lyrics. After recording the vocals, she or a collaborator programmed/recorded the rhythm section and added chords to it. [Slomowicz, Ron. [http://dancemusic.about.com/od/artistshomepages/a/AnnieInt.htm "Annie Interview"] . About.com. Retrieved 22 September 2008.] Annie stated that while promoting the album, she wanted to make sure people knew of her involvement in the album's writing and production. Of its twelve songs, ten were co-written by Annie. She stated that although singing songs written by someone else might not feel less personal, "It's special to be on the stage and actually sing something you had done." [Katigbak, Raf. [http://www.montrealmirror.com/2005/092205/cover_music.html "Annie, get your gum"] . "Montreal Mirror", volume 21, issue 14. 22 September 2005. Retrieved 24 September 2008.] With respect to her involvement in the songwriting process, Annie referred to herself as "a bit of a control freak".

The lyrics of "Anniemal" generally describe falling in or out of love. Annie's vocals are thin and breathy, working within a narrow vocal range. Reviewers noted a sense of melancholy in the vocals,Kellman, Andy. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:09fexqwsldse~T10 "Anniemal > Review"] . Allmusic. Retrieved 26 August 2008.] suggesting that it could be attributed to the death of Kroknes.Plagenhoef, Scott. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15205-annie-anniemal "Anniemal"] . Pitchfork Media. 8 November 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2008.] Annie acknowledged that none of the songs "are directly happy" and that some are "happy but still a bit melancholy."Sylvester, Nick. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/14674-interview-annie "Interview: Annie"] . Pitchfork Media. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2008.] She stated that she thought bittersweet melodies " [sound] timeless…Very Scandinavian of me!" [Diehl, Matt. "Annie". "Interview", volume 35, issue 7, page 66. August 2005.] She insisted, however, that she tries to write songs that are cheerful:

"Anniemal" focuses on heavily layered beats, with a strong 1980s influence. [Vineyard, Jennifer. [http://www.mtv.com/news/yhif/annie/ "Annie"] . MTV News. 12 July 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2008.] Unlike many of her contemporaries, Annie avoids using an ironic or kitschy take on 1980s dance-pop. Her songs' styles span genres including bubblegum pop, electro, disco, R&B, dance-pop, and rock. Annie's DJing experiences taught her about sound and production and had an impact on her music. She stated that she wanted to make a pop album that would not quickly become dated, "an album that you could listen to in five years and it wouldn't sound terrible." Annie considered excluding "Greatest Hit" from "Anniemal" to achieve this but ultimately included it because she felt it did not sound as if it were five years old.

Critical reception

"Anniemal" received positive reviews from music critics. Scott Plagenhoef of Pitchfork Media referred to the songs as a "dozen slices of stylish, sophisticated electro-pop, crisp tracks that move between the fizzy and the woozy, all anchored by Annie's breathy (sometimes almost muted) vocals." Pitchfork listed the album at number fifteen on its list of the top 50 albums of 2004, stating that its strength was how "its downtime feels so decidedly personal." [Sylvester, Nick. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/38230/Staff_List_Top_50_Albums_of_2004 "Top 50 Albums of 2004"] . Pitchfork Media. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2008.] In his review for Allmusic, Andy Kellman described "Anniemal" as "cunning" but also "deeply affecting." Dylan Hicks' review for "The Village Voice" stated that the blogosphere and British music press overrated "Anniemal" but that "an overrated good record is still a good record". [Hicks, Dylan. [http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-05-31/music/caught-in-the-web/ "Caught in the Web"] . "The Village Voice", volume 50, issue 23. 8 June 2005. Retrieved 6 October 2008.] Jody Rosen wrote for "The New York Times" that the album "is a true album, strong from top to bottom" and that "there is charm in [Annie's] deadpan delivery, and her songwriting is full of the flair for melody for which Scandinavian pop is famous." Rosen contributed a review to "Slate", where she noted that "other singers have made whole careers out of singles less winning than 'Chewing Gum,' but ["Anniemal"] includes several other superb songs". [Rosen, Jody. [http://www.slate.com/id/2112474/ "Class of 2005"] . "Slate". 21 January 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2008.] Kitty Empire's review in "The Observer" stated that the album's songs "boast a winning combination of innocence and experience, breezy blonde melodies and just-so productions". [Empire, Kitty. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2005/mar/06/popandrock1 "Annie, Anniemal"] . "The Observer". 6 March 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2008.] PopMatters' Pierre Hamilton called "Anniemal" "riveting" for how "it lacks the waxy sheen" that listeners were used to hearing in manufactured pop music. [Hamilton, Pierre. [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/12364/annie-anniemal2/ "Annie: Anniemal"] . PopMatters. 22 June 2005. Retrieved 24 September 2008.] However a second PopMatters review, written by Rob Horning, criticised the album for using a similar formula to previous generations of electropop, adding that the result was "exquisitely empty…enough to suck the feelings out of its listeners and leave them happily vacant, blank and unburdened." [Horning, Rob. [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/a/annie-anniemal.shtml "Annie: Anniemal"] . PopMatters. 22 June 2005. Retrieved 24 September 2008.] In his review for "Billboard" magazine, Michael Paoletta described the album as "slinky and sensual, cool and classy, fun and fiery" and labeled it "one of the best debut albums of 2005." [Paoletta, Michael. "Anniemal". "Billboard", volume 117, issue 24, page 51. 11 June 2005.]

Several reviewers drew parallels between mainstream pop acts and Annie. "Entertainment Weekly"'s Raymond Fiore called the album an "addictive" debut where Annie "flaunts whispery Kylie cool and old-school-Madonna cheekiness", but added that "this sugar rush of an album proves…candy is best consumed in moderation." [Fiore, Raymond. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1068458,00.html "Anniemal (2005)"] . "Entertainment Weekly", issue 824. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2008.] Hua Hsu of "Blender" magazine made a similar comparison, proclaiming Annie the "Kylie Minogue hipsters don't have to feel guilty about liking". [Hsu, Hua. [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3314 "Annie : "Anniemal"] . "Blender". Retrieved 26 August 2008.] Barry Walters of "Rolling Stone" touted how the album "comes packed with both instant surface fizz and quirky finesse that sustains repeated listenings." and ending its review, "Goodbye, Britney. Hello, Annie." [Walters, Barry. [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/annie/albums/album/7357950/ "Annie: Anniemal : Music Reviews"] . "Rolling Stone", issue 977/978, page 142. 30 June–14 July 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2008.] The magazine listed "Anniemal" at number 39 on its "Top 50 Records of 2005" list, exclaiming "Hail the Norse goddess." [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/8957356/39_annie "39. Annie"] . "Rolling Stone", issue 990/991. 15 December 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2008.]

Release and commercial performance

679 Recordings first released "Anniemal" in Norway on 28 September 2004. The album debuted at its peak of number six on the Norwegian Albums Chart. [ [http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Annie&titel=Anniemal&cat=a "Annie - Anniemal"] . NorwegianCharts.com. Retrieved 29 September 2008.] It won in the pop category at the 2005 Alarm Prizes, and Annie won for newcomer of the year. [ [http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005020812582887550926 "Alarm winners"] . Music Information Center Norway. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2008.] She again won for newcomer of the year at Spellemannprisen 2005, where she was invited to present an award. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/03/03/bmwest03.xml "A fjord fiesta with the Norwegian Kylie"] . "The Daily Telegraph". 3 March 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2008.]

Following the album's Norwegian release, the songs were leaked onto the Internet, and some appeared on year-end best-of lists in other countries. Annie stated that she had not expected North American publications to show interest in the album because she thought "the record sounds really European." [Greenblatt, Leah. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1066158,00.html "Getting Her Goat"] . "Entertainment Weekly", issue 823, page 84. 3 June 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2008.] 679 released the album in the rest of Europe during early 2005. The label was unsure how to categorise and market it, asking Annie, "are you Goldfrapp?" Uncertain that the album's Internet hype would significantly bolster its sales, 679 did not heavily promote "Anniemal". [Macpherson, Alex. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jul/04/popandrock.filmandmusic15 "North star"] . "The Guardian". 4 July 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.] In support of the album, Annie opened for English alternative dance band Saint Etienne at several June 2005 gigs in the United Kingdom. [ [http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005061410322836531013 "Annie to play UK live dates"] . Music Information Center Norway. 14 June 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2008.] Annie had never performed her songs live before the release of "Anniemal", so replicating the sound of more electronic songs like "Chewing Gum" became a long process.

For its 7 June 2005 American release, "Anniemal" was distributed by Big Beat Records. To promote the album, Annie performed a set of DJing gigs in the United States for the Anniemix Tour during late June and early July 2005. She and Kaukolampi spun vinyl, and Annie performed her songs during the tour. [ [http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005052611173941311512 "Annie Announces US DJ Tour"] . Music Information Center Norway. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2008.] Although it did not chart on the U.S. "Billboard" 200, "Anniemal" reached number thirteen on the Top Electronic Albums chart. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=434590&model.vnuAlbumId=653684 "Artist Chart History - Annie"] . "Billboard". Retrieved 27 August 2008.] Worldwide, the album sold a total of over 100,000 copies. [ [http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/music-gigs/39Chewing-Gum39-girl-Annie-is.3987484.jp "'Chewing Gum' girl Annie is oh so cool"] . "Yorkshire Evening Post". 16 April 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.]

ingles

"Chewing Gum" was released as the album's lead single in September 2004. Built around a retro beat by Richard X, the song uses chewing gum as a metaphor for men, with Annie singing "You spit it out when all the flavor has gone/Wrap him round your finger like you're playing with gum". [ [http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/singlereviews/annie_chewinggum.php "Annie - Chewing Gum"] . Virgin Media. Retrieved 27 August 2008.] It was the album's most commercially successful single, reaching number eight on the Norwegian Singles Chart and number twenty-five on the UK Singles Chart. [ [http://acharts.us/song/1735 "Annie - Chewing Gum - Music Charts"] . αCharts. Retrieved 27 August 2008.] It was also a critical success, listed thirty-first on the 2004 Pazz & Jop list, a survey of several hundred music critics conducted by Robert Christgau. [http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres04.php "The 2004 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll"] . "The Village Voice". 15 February 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2008.]

"Heartbeat" was the second single released from "Anniemal". It narrates a night of going to clubs with friends, using a beat symbolizing a heartbeat, which doubles its tempo when Annie's persona catches the attention of her romantic interest on the dancefloor. Like "Chewing Gum", it received acclaim from music critics. It was one place behind "Chewing Gum" on the Pazz & Jop list, and Pitchfork Media named it the best single of 2004. [Plagenhoef, Scott. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/38513-staff-list-top-50-singles-of-2004 "Top 50 Singles of 2004"] . Pitchfork Media. 30 December 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2008.] However, it did not sell as well as "Chewing Gum", reaching number eighteen in Norway and fifty in the United Kingdom. "Happy Without You" and "Always Too Late" were released as the third and fourth singles in 2005, but neither charted. [ [http://acharts.us/song/6411 "Annie - Heartbeat - Music Charts"] . αCharts. Retrieved 27 August 2008.]

Track listing

#"Intro" (Annie, Timo Kaukolampi, Richard X) – 0:54
#"Chewing Gum" (Hannah Robinson, Richard X) – 3:56
#"Always Too Late" (Annie, Kaukolampi, Yngve Saetre) – 4:16
#"Me Plus One" (Robinson, Richard X) – 3:39
#"Heartbeat" (Annie, Svein Berge, Torbjørn Brundtland) – 3:06
#"Helpless Fool for Love" (Annie, Kaukolampi) – 3:58
#"Anniemal" (Annie, Veikka Ercola, Kaukolampi) – 3:35
#"No Easy Love" (Annie, Brundtland) – 4:02
#"Happy Without You" (Annie, Kaukolampi) – 3:16
#"Greatest Hit" (Annie, Erot) – 3:42
#"Come Together" (Annie, Kaukolampi) – 7:51
#"My Best Friend" (Annie, Berge, Brundtland, Kaukolampi) – 3:56

;Japanese bonus tracks
* "Chewing Gum" (Mylo remix)
* "Heartbeat" (Röyksopp's Mindre Tiljengelige remix)
* "Heartbeat" (Phones' Maximo remix)
* "Heartbeat" (video)

Personnel

* Annie - vocals
* Hannah Robinson - backup vocals
* Richard X - backup vocals
* Svein Berge - backup vocals
* Torbjørn Bruntland - backup vocals
* Pete Hofmann - guitar, engineering, mixing
* Tuomo Puranen - synthesizer, bass
* Pekka Lahti - bass
* Sami Nieminen - Hammond organ
* Fredrik Saroea - piano
* David Vogt - violin
* Abdissa Assefa - percussion
* Jyri Riikonen - programming
* Yngve Saetre - engineering, mixing
* Veikka Ercola - mixing
* Timo Kaukolampi - mixing
* Magnus Unnar - photography

Release history

References

External links

* [http://www.anniemusic.co.uk/ Annie's official website]
*