A Moving Picture | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 4 February 2013 [1] | |||
Recorded | 2011–13 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:58(standard edition) 1:02:32 (deluxe edition) | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
| |||
Devlin chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from A Moving Picture | ||||
|
A Moving Picture is the second studio album released by English rapper Devlin, via Island Records and the Universal Music Group. The album was released on 4 February 2013. The album was produced by a number of well known producers, including Labrinth, Kraze, Lewi White, TMS, Future Cut and Naughty Boy. [2] Featured guests on the album include Katy B, Ed Sheeran, Wretch 32, Diane Birch, Etta Bond and Chasing Grace.
Devlin stated in an interview with Digital Spy that the standard version of the album will contain between sixteen and eighteen tracks, and that the deluxe edition could contain up to twenty-two. [3] A total of twenty four tracks have been recorded for possible inclusion on the album. An exclusive version of the album will be available to purchase through Devlin's official website. This version of the album includes a DVD which contains an exclusive documentary on the making of the album, and an extended version of the 'Watchtower' music video, made into a short film. The short film features appearances from Jaime Winstone, Neil Maskell, Tilly Vosburgh, and George Russo, in a cinematic thriller with Devlin and Ed Sheeran in the lead roles. This version of the album will also come with an exclusive poster. [4]
A Moving Picture received generally mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 51, based on nine reviews. [5]
Jan Mulder of Amazon.co.uk awarded the album five out of five stars, and said the following of the album: "Album opener 'Sun Goes Down' is a strong musically layered anthem, making use of the eerie, yet sophisticated hook from Katy B to the best possible advantage, and the addition of some lyrically mastered verses to the mix cement this as the album's finest opener. 'Watchtower' really lends highly upon the fantastic bass line and sensitivity of Ed Sheeran's voice, linking up the fantastic hook with a powerful instrumental arrangement. Wretch 32 hook up 'Off With Their Heads' is a clustered arrangement of in and out verses from Devlin and Wretch, and is one of the album's darker highlights. 'Rewind' sticks out like a sore thumb on the album, as it's the most mainstream style track Devlin has ever written and released. However, despite that, the track is so musically pleasing in its own right that it deserves a place amongst the highest of rap masterpieces, and proves that Devlin can take on any musical challenge and win. And to close, 'The Cast' is an ideal opener for the next horror slasher to grace our screens, and 'The Garden', which picks a classic beat, add some bars overtop, mixes it a little bit at the end, and creates the perfect swansong for another classic British album. Devlin keeps it flowing from the start to the end, and the album doesn't disappoint." [6]
Robert Corpsey of Digital Spy awarded the album three out of five stars, and said the following of the album: "Opener 'Sun Goes Down' picks up where Devlin left off and magnifies it x10, employing weighty beats and a haunting string section to match angry verses that are instantly lifted by the Katy B-assisted chorus. The aggression that made his debut so fascinating rears its head again on 'Off With Their Heads' and closer 'The Garden', the latter a razor-sharp, chorus-less affair where he sounds at his most comfortable. Frustratingly, it's the set's more chart-friendly cuts that let it down. The trancey bleeps on 'Love Cards' and watery production on his latest single 'Rewind' make him sound like an artist that's trying to fit in rather than stand out." [7]
"Watchtower" was released on 20 August 2012, as the lead single from the album. The track features vocals from Ed Sheeran, was produced by Labrinth and features a sample of the original version, recorded by Bob Dylan. The music video was recorded in the form of a short film, with edited versions being used for television airplay. It peaked at #7 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Devlin's most successful single to date. "Off With Their Heads" was released on 10 October 2012, as the second single from the album. The track features vocals from fellow rapper Wretch 32, and was released shortly after its premiere on BBC Radio 1 Xtra. The music video features Devlin and Wretch performing the track in a deserted underground warehouse. It peaked at #62 on the UK Singles Chart. "Rewind" was released a week prior to the album, on 28 January 2013. The track samples the original version of the track, and features vocals from the original artist, Diane Birch. It was originally due for release on 22 October 2012, but was delayed as the album was also pushed back until 2013. Devlin premiered the song during his gig as part of the BBC Radio 1Xtra festival during the first week of November 2012.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) [8] | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Sun Goes Down" (featuring Katy B) | Devlin, Katy B, Robbie Lamond | Robbie Lamond, Future Cut | 4:11 |
2. | "Really Cold" | Devlin, Emily Phillips, Ant Whiting | Ant Whiting | 3:47 |
3. | "(All Along the) Watchtower" (featuring Ed Sheeran) | Devlin, Sheeran, Timothy McKenzie, Bob Dylan | Labrinth | 4:32 |
4. | "Off With Their Heads" (featuring Wretch 32) | Devlin, Jermaine Scott, Robbie Lamond | Robbie Lamond | 4:03 |
5. | "Ghost Ship" | Devlin, Jaz Rodgers, Alex Clare | Jaz Rodgers | 4:30 |
6. | "Letter to My Boys" | Devlin, Hugo Chegwin, Harry Craze | Craze & Hoax | 4:32 |
7. | "Mother's Son" | Devlin, Paddy Byrne, Dan Radclyffe | Utters | 3:35 |
8. | "Rewind" (featuring Diane Birch) | Devlin, Diane Birch, Thomas Barnes, Peter Keheller, Ben Kohn, Ruth-Anne Cunningham | TMS | 3:41 |
9. | "Love Cards" (featuring Etta Bond) | Devlin, Etta Bond | Raf Riley | 3:52 |
10. | "Gift & Curse" (featuring Chasing Grace) | Devlin, Chasing Grace | Naughty Boy, Phil Leigh | 3:29 |
11. | "The Cast" | Devlin, Lewi White | Lewi White | 3:37 |
12. | "The Garden" | Devlin, Lewi White | Lewi White | 3:07 |
Total length: | 46:58 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "(All Along the) Watchtower" (Acoustic Version) | Devlin, Sheeran, Timothy McKenzie, Bob Dylan | Labrinth | 3:49 |
14. | "Rewind" (Acoustic Version) | Devlin, Diane Birch, Thomas Barnes, Peter Keheller, Ben Kohn, Ruth-Anne Cunningham | TMS | 4:19 |
15. | "Off With Their Heads" (Acoustic Version) | Devlin, Jermaine Scott, Robbie Lamond | Robbie Lamond | 3:57 |
16. | "Sun Goes Down" (Acoustic Version) | Devlin, Katy B, Robbie Lamond | Robbie Lamond, Future Cut | 3:43 |
Total length: | 1:02:32 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "A Moving Picture: Making the Album" (Documentary) | -- |
2. | "Watchtower" (Music Video - Short Film Director's Cut) | -- |
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Albums Chart [10] | 19 |
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Ireland | 4 February 2013 | CD, CD + DVD, digital download | Island Records, Universal Music Group |
United Kingdom | |||
"Teardrop" is a song by English trip hop group Massive Attack. Vocals are performed by Scottish singer Elizabeth Fraser, former lead singer of Cocteau Twins, who also wrote the lyrics. It was released on 27 April 1998 by Circa and Virgin as the second single from the group's third studio album, Mezzanine (1998). A harpsichord-driven track, "Teardrop" was originally set to feature vocals from Madonna, whom Massive Attack turned down in favour of Fraser.
Jermaine Sinclaire Scott, better known by his stage name Wretch 32, is a British rapper, singer and songwriter from Tottenham, North London. He was a member of the grime collective Combination Chain Gang, before forming The Movement with Scorcher, Ghetts, and Mercston.
"Pass Out" is the debut single by British rapper Tinie Tempah. It is the lead single from his debut studio album Disc-Overy (2010) and his debut single on Parlophone. The song was a digital-only release and was available to download in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2010.
James Devlin, better known mononymously as Devlin, is an English rapper from Dagenham, London. He attended the Brittons Academy in Rainham, East London. He was signed to Island Records from 2010 to 2015. He is part of grime collective 'O.T Crew' with Dogzilla, Deeperman, M. Eye, Benson, Kozy, Syer Bars, Shotz, Meshie, Props and Daze. Devlin was also a member of the Movement, consisting of himself, Wretch 32, Scorcher, Ghetts, Lightning, Mercston and DJ Unique but has since left.
Timothy Lee McKenzie, better known by his stage name Labrinth, is an English singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Labrinth signed as a recording artist with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Music in 2010, initially collaborating with the English rapper Tinie Tempah. He appeared as a featured artist: uncredited on the single "Pass Out", but later officially on "Frisky"; then he released his first solo single, "Let the Sun Shine" in September. All three songs peaked in the top five on the UK Singles Chart.
This is the discography of Devlin, an English rapper from Dagenham, East London, England signed to Island Records. Part of Grime collective 'O.T Crew' with Dogzilla, Deeper man, M. Eye, Benson, Kozy, Syer Bars and Daze. Devlin was also a member of The Movement, consisting of himself, Wretch 32, Scorcher, Ghetts, Lightning, Mercston and DJ Unique.
"Let the Sun Shine" is the debut single from English musician, Labrinth. It was produced and written by Labrinth and Da Digglar, and was released on 27 September 2010 on Simco Ltd and Sony Records. The single is available on iTunes as an extended-play, which also includes 4 remixes of the song.
"You Need Me, I Don't Need You" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released in the United Kingdom on 26 August 2011 as the second single from his debut studio album, + ("Plus").
Black and White is the second studio album and major label debut by British hip hop recording artist Wretch 32. The album was released in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2011 through Ministry of Sound, debuting at number four on the UK Albums Chart with first week sales of nearly 25,000 copies. The album follows his independent debut album, Wretchrospective, which was released three years earlier, in 2008. The album spawned six singles over the course of eighteen months, all of which peaked inside the UK top 50, including three top five singles, and a number one single, "Don't Go". The album includes collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Daley, Etta Bond and Example.
"Earthquake" is a song by British musician Labrinth which features long-time collaborator Tinie Tempah. The track was released on 23 October 2011 in the United Kingdom as the second single from the artist's debut studio album, Electronic Earth (2012). It debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart, having sold 115,530 copies and setting the second-highest one-week sales at number 2 of the year, behind Little Mix.
"Forgiveness" is a single from Tottenham-born rapper Wretch 32 that appears on his second album Black and White and features vocals from British and Odd Child Recordings-signed singer Etta Bond. The lyrical content on the song follows Wretch asking forgiveness of those around him as he attempts to pursue his dream – including his son. Cited as his favourite track from the album, the song was selected as the fourth single to see release in the United Kingdom and was released as a digital download on 11 December 2011. The track was edited for the official release, removing the first minute of the track in which producer Labrinth sings his version of the chorus.
"Hush Little Baby" is a song by English rapper Wretch 32 which appears on his debut studio album, Black and White. The song is track thirteen on the standard edition of the album, and one of eleven collaborations; it is currently set to be released as the fifth and final single from the album on 27 May 2012. The song, which features singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, was produced by the team TMS and co-written alongside Iain James.
Electronic Earth is the debut studio album by English recording artist Labrinth released 2 April 2012, via Syco Music. The album peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.
The discography of British rapper Wretch 32 consists of four studio albums, six mixtapes, fourteen singles and nineteen music videos.
Ill Manors is a soundtrack album by British musician and rapper Plan B released on 23 July 2012 as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. Several songs were used in the film Ill Manors, although some of the recordings were completed after the release of the film. The record was mainly produced by Al Shux and Plan B and also features collaborations with Labrinth, Kano, Takura Tendayi and John Cooper Clarke. Ill Manors debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and received widespread acclaim by critics. It was also nominated for the Mercury Prize.
"Watchtower" is the fifth single by British rapper Devlin, and the lead single from his second studio album, A Moving Picture (2013). The song features British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and was produced by Labrinth. "Watchtower" was released on 16 August 2012 and entered the UK Singles Chart on 26 August 2012 at number 7, becoming Devlin's highest-charting single and first top 10 hit and Sheeran's fifth top 10 hit. The song samples the main chorus line from Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower". It also borrows Jimi Hendrix's riff from the guitarist's cover.
"Beneath Your Beautiful" is a song by British musicians Labrinth and Emeli Sandé. Written by Labrinth, Mike Posner and Sandé, it was promoted as the sixth single from Labrinth's debut album, Electronic Earth (2012), and is included as a bonus track on the US Deluxe Edition of Sandé's debut studio album Our Version of Events. Impacting from 18 October 2012, and following a well-received performance on the ninth series of The X Factor, the single would go on to sell 108,000 copies in the UK during its first week and top the UK Singles Chart. It became Labrinth's first number one single as a lead artist and additionally became his first top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 34. The song was nominated for 'Best British Single' at the 2013 Brit Awards and was ranked the twelfth best-selling single of 2012 in the UK.
"Off With Their Heads" is the sixth single by British rapper Devlin, and the second single from Devlin's second studio album A Moving Picture (2013), the song was released in the United Kingdom on 10 October 2012 and features British rapper Wretch 32. The song was written by James Devlin and Jermaine Scott and produced by Drop Lamond.