Head over Heels (Chromeo album)

Last updated
Head over Heels
Head Over Heels Chromeo.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 15, 2018 (2018-06-15)
Recorded2016–2018
Studio
  • Chumba Meadows, Tarzana
  • Clift Studios, Brooklyn
  • Liedtke Studios, New York
  • Maddahi Vineyards, Solvang
  • No Nome Studios
  • Studio City
  • The Funklordz Writing Retreat, Ojai
  • The Mothership, Montreal
  • The Private Sector, Burbank
  • TZM Studios, Tarzana [1]
Genre Funk [2]
Length43:05
Label
Producer
Chromeo chronology
White Women
(2014)
Head over Heels
(2018)
Adult Contemporary
(2024)
Singles from Head Over Heels
  1. "Juice"
    Released: November 7, 2017 [3]
  2. "Bedroom Calling"
    Released: January 29, 2018 [4]
  3. "Must've Been"
    Released: April 6, 2018 [5]
  4. "Bad Decision"
    Released: June 15, 2018 [6]

Head over Heels is the fifth studio album by Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo. It was released on June 15, 2018, via Big Beat and Atlantic Records. The album features vocals from artists such as The-Dream, French Montana, Stefflon Don, DRAM and Amber Mark, with production work from producers such as Raphael Saadiq, Rodney Jerkins and Pino Palladino. [7]

Contents

Background

The album was first announced in November 2017 and a release date for the album in April 2018. [7] It consists of "talk-box–assisted pop songs about dating mishaps, comically disastrous relationships and anxiety-inducing sexual encounters." [8] The album's recording process began 2 years before its release with Chromeo stating "...we were impatient to do the new record – so we spent the last two years working on this one [Head Over Heels]." [9]

Speaking about the album, Chromeo said: "The mission statement for this album, for us, was to kind of pen this overarching love letter to funk music and the different kinds of funk music that have influenced us throughout the years since we discovered funk music when we were teenagers all the way until now... But it's also sort of, you know, going back to the real roots of funk. We made this one much more live, just a little less electronic than our previous two, three albums." [10]

The artwork displays the legs of Chromeo members instead of a pair of women's legs, which is their signature symbol that has been on the artwork of previous albums. [11]

A video for "Don't Sleep" was released on December 7, 2018.[ citation needed ]

In December 2018, Chromeo received their first Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical in the 61st Grammy Awards for the album. [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 70/100 [13]
Review scores
SourceRating
Consequence of Sound B− [14]
Drowned in Sound 9/10 [15]
Exclaim! 7/10 [16]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Pitchfork 5.7/10 [18]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Slant Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [20]
Spectrum CultureStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [21]

Pitchfork described the album as "sound[ing] expert, expensive, accomplished, while being distasteful in almost everything else", rating it 5.7 out of 10. They also implied that the album's heavy usage of guest stars was the band's attempt to emulate Daft Punk's Random Access Memories . [18] Rolling Stone described the album as consisting of moments that are "fleeting and aren't enough to make one fall head over heels", rating it with 3 out of 5 stars. [19] Songs from the album were described as "chronicles of potential partner worship of goddess devotion" by Drowned in Sound . [15] Slant Magazine called the album " White Women Part 2". [20]

Track listing

Head over Heels track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Must've Been" (featuring DRAM)
3:28
2."Don't Sleep" (featuring French Montana and Stefflon Don)
  • Chromeo
  • A-Trak
  • Darkchild
  • Oligee
  • Gladius James
  • Harrison
  • Maddahi
3:18
3."One Track Mind"
3:23
4."Count Me Out"
  • Chromeo
  • A-Trak
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Harrison
  • Maddahi
3:36
5."Bad Decision"
3:06
6."Right Back Home to You (Interlude)"
  • Gemayel
  • Macklovitch
  • Ian Smith
  • Chromeo
  • A-Trak
  • Harrison
  • Maddahi
2:43
7."Just Friends" (featuring Amber Mark)
  • Chromeo
  • A-Trak
  • Oligee
  • Harrison
  • Maddahi
3:49
8."Juice"
  • Gemayel
  • Macklovitch
  • J. Evigan
  • Douglas
  • Chromeo
  • J. Evigan
  • O'Ryan
3:17
9."Slumming It"
  • Gemayel
  • Macklovitch
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Douglas
  • Chromeo
  • A-Trak
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Harrison
  • Maddahi
4:30
10."Bedroom Calling, Pt. 1"
3:14
11."Bedroom Calling, Pt. 2" (featuring The-Dream)
  • Chromeo
  • A-Trak
  • Oliver
  • Harrison
  • Maddahi
3:24
12."Room Service"
  • Gemayel
  • Macklovitch
  • Douglas
  • Chromeo
  • Oligee
5:17
Total length:43:05

Charts

Chart performance for Head over Heels
Chart (2018)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [22] 142
French Albums (SNEP) [23] 189
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [24] 74
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [25] 62
US Billboard 200 [26] 91
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard) [27] 1

Related Research Articles

<i>Amnesiac</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Radiohead

Amnesiac is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 30 May 2001 by EMI subsidiaries Parlophone and Capitol Records. It was recorded with the producer Nigel Godrich in the same sessions as Radiohead's previous album Kid A (2000). Radiohead split the work in two as they felt it was too dense for a double album. As with Kid A, Amnesiac incorporates influences from electronic music, 20th-century classical music, jazz and krautrock. The final track, "Life in a Glasshouse", is a collaboration with the jazz trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton and his band.

<i>Jagged Little Pill</i> 1995 studio album by Alanis Morissette

Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released on June 13, 1995, through Maverick and her first album to be released worldwide. It marked a stylistic departure from the dance-pop sound of her first two albums, Alanis (1991) and Now Is the Time (1992). Morissette began work on the album after moving from her hometown Ottawa to Los Angeles, where she met producer Glen Ballard. Morissette and Ballard had an instant connection and began co-writing and experimenting with sounds. The experimentation resulted in an alternative rock album that takes influence from post-grunge and pop rock, and features guitars, keyboards, drum machines, and harmonica. The lyrics touch upon themes of aggression and unsuccessful relationships, while Ballard introduced a pop sensibility to Morissette's angst. The title of the album is taken from a line in the first verse of the song "You Learn".

<i>There Is Nothing Left to Lose</i> 1999 studio album by Foo Fighters

There Is Nothing Left to Lose is the third studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on November 2, 1999, through Roswell and RCA Records. It marked the first appearance of drummer Taylor Hawkins, and is often seen as a departure from the band's previous work, showcasing a softer, more experimental sound. Vocalist and guitarist Dave Grohl has stated that the album was "totally based on melody" and that it might be "[his] favorite album that [they've] ever done." The album was recorded using only three musicians, Grohl, Hawkins, and bassist Nate Mendel.

<i>Speaking in Tongues</i> (Talking Heads album) 1983 studio album by Talking Heads

Speaking in Tongues is the fifth studio album by American rock band Talking Heads, released on June 1, 1983, by Sire Records. After their split with producer Brian Eno and a short hiatus, which allowed the individual members to pursue side projects, recording began in 1982. It became the band's commercial breakthrough and produced the band's sole US top-ten hit, "Burning Down the House", which reached No. 9 in the Billboard Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chromeo</span> Canadian electro-funk musical duo

Chromeo is a Canadian electro-funk duo from Montreal, formed in 2002 by musicians David "Dave 1" Macklovitch and Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel. Their sound draws from soul music, dance music, rock, synth-pop, disco and funk.

<i>Nothing Was the Same</i> 2013 studio album by Drake

Nothing Was the Same is the third studio album by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on September 24, 2013, through OVO Sound, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Republic Records. Work on the record began in 2012 and continued through 2013. As an executive producer, Drake enlisted collaborators such as 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Majid Jordan, Jay-Z, Jhené Aiko and Sampha for guest appearances on the album. The album's production was primarily handled by 40 and other OVO Sound producers; including Boi-1da, Mike Zombie, Nineteen85 and Detail.

<i>White Women</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Chromeo

White Women is the fourth studio album by Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo, released on May 12, 2014, by Last Gang Records. The album features contributions from Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, Toro y Moi, Solange Knowles, LCD Soundsystem's Pat Mahoney, and Fool's Gold duo Oliver.

<i>Do It Again</i> (EP) 2014 EP by Röyksopp and Robyn

Do It Again is an extended play (EP) by Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp and Swedish singer Robyn, released on 23 May 2014 by Dog Triumph. The EP coincides with Röyksopp and Robyn's joint tour, the Röyksopp & Robyn Do It Again Tour 2014, featuring shows in Europe and North America. Following her Body Talk Tour, Robyn travelled to Bergen, Norway, where she began working on new music with Röyksopp in early 2013, having previously collaborated with the duo on the songs "The Girl and the Robot" (2009) and "None of Dem" (2010).

<i>Sound & Color</i> 2015 studio album by Alabama Shakes

Sound & Color is the second and final studio album by American band Alabama Shakes. It was released on April 17, 2015 via ATO Records.

<i>Higher Truth</i> 2015 studio album by Chris Cornell

Higher Truth is the fourth studio album by American rock musician Chris Cornell, and the final album to be released during his lifetime and his final album of original material. It was released on September 18, 2015.

<i>Untitled Unmastered</i> 2016 compilation album by Kendrick Lamar

Untitled Unmastered is a compilation album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 4, 2016, through Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. It consists of previously unreleased demos that originated during the recording of Lamar's album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), continuing that work's exploration of politically charged and philosophical themes, as well as its experimentation with free jazz, soul, avant-garde music, and funk styles. The album received widespread acclaim from critics, and it debuted atop the US Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chromeo discography</span> Duo discography

French-Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo has released five studio albums, three mix albums, one extended play, 30 singles and 18 music videos.

<i>Skin</i> (Flume album) 2016 studio album by Flume

Skin is the second studio album by Australian electronic musician Flume. It was released on 27 May 2016 by Future Classic. The album was Flume's second full-length release following his self-titled debut in 2012. It features guest appearances from Kai, Vic Mensa, Kučka, Tove Lo, Vince Staples, Allan Kingdom, Raekwon, Little Dragon, AlunaGeorge, MNDR, and Beck.

<i>24K Magic</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Bruno Mars

24K Magic is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released by Atlantic Records on November 18, 2016. Mars reunited with Philip Lawrence and Christopher Brody Brown, who composed the album under their joint alias Shampoo Press & Curl. Mars enlisted new composers including the Stereotypes and James Fauntleroy. Recording sessions for 24K Magic took place between late 2015 and September 2016 at Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank, California.

<i>Here</i> (Alicia Keys album) 2016 studio album by Alicia Keys

Here is the sixth studio album by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys. It was released on November 4, 2016, by RCA Records. Keys recorded the album in 2014 at the New York-based Jungle City Studios and Oven Studios with producers Mark Batson, Swizz Beatz, Illangelo, Jimmy Napes, and Pharrell Williams. The singer had finished writing and recording material for the album before she found out she was pregnant, which put the record's release on hold.

<i>Villains</i> (Queens of the Stone Age album) 2017 studio album by Queens of the Stone Age

Villains is the seventh studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released on August 25, 2017 through Matador. The album was announced on June 14, with a teaser trailer taking the form of a comedy skit featuring the band performing a polygraph test with Liam Lynch. The first single, "The Way You Used to Do", was released the following day along with the announcement of a world tour. Villains is the first Queens of the Stone Age album to not feature any special guest musicians, the second to not feature Mark Lanegan, and the first to feature Jon Theodore as full time member of the band.

<i>The Now Now</i> 2018 studio album by Gorillaz

The Now Now is the sixth studio album recorded by the British virtual band Gorillaz, released on 29 June 2018 via Parlophone and Warner Bros. Records. Recording for the album began in late 2017 – according to Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn, it was recorded quickly so the band would have new material to play at future concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefflon Don discography</span> Recordings made by a British singer

British rapper and singer Stefflon Don has made numerous recordings since 2016.

<i>It Is What It Is</i> (Thundercat album) 2020 studio album by Thundercat

It Is What It Is is the fourth studio album by American musician Thundercat, released through Brainfeeder on April 3, 2020. It was preceded by five singles: "King of the Hill," which was released as a single from the label's compilation album Brainfeeder X in 2018, and "Black Qualls," "Dragonball Durag," "Fair Chance," and "Innerstellar Love," the latter four being released in 2020. The track "Unrequited Love" had previously been used in an episode of the anime Carole & Tuesday in 2019. The album was executive produced by Thundercat and Flying Lotus, and features guest appearances from Louis Cole, Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, Childish Gambino, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil B, Kamasi Washington, BadBadNotGood, and Zack Fox.

<i>An Evening with Silk Sonic</i> 2021 studio album by Silk Sonic

An Evening with Silk Sonic is the debut studio album by American musical superduo Silk Sonic, composed of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. It was released on November 12, 2021, by Aftermath Entertainment and Atlantic Records. Silk Sonic reunited with Christopher Brody Brown and James Fauntleroy to write the album. They recruited American musician Bootsy Collins, who came up with the name for Mars and Paak's duo, for narration and American record producer D'Mile to compose the album. Recording sessions for An Evening with Silk Sonic took place from early 2020 to mid-2021 at Shampoo Press & Curl Studios.

References

  1. "Head Over Heels - Chromeo". AllMusic . Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  2. Grebey, James (June 12, 2018). "Chromeo Are Here Because You Need Funk in Your Life". GQ . Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  3. White, Nick (November 7, 2017). "Chromeo Drops 1st Single In 3 Years, 'Juice'". EDM Tunes. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  4. "Bedroom Calling". iTunes. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  5. "Must've Been". iTunes. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  6. Schatz, Lake (May 9, 2018). "Chromeo make a "Bad Decision" on funky new single: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  7. 1 2 Colburn, Randall (April 7, 2018). "Chromeo - Head Over Heels". Consequence of Sound . Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  8. Swann, Jennifer (June 20, 2018). "Chromeo Talk Redefining Sexy on Their New LP". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  9. Trendell, Andrew (May 29, 2018). "Chromeo talk to us about Prince, Stefflon Don, new album 'Head Over Heels' and music in the time of #MeToo". NME . Archived from the original on June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  10. Atkinson, Katie; Caulfield, Keith (June 12, 2018). "Chromeo Talk 'Head Over Heels' Album, Recruiting The-Dream & More for Their 'Love Letter to Funk'". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  11. Castro-Cota, Isabella (June 15, 2018). "Stream Chromeo's New Album Head Over Heels". Spin . Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  12. "Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  13. "Head Over Heels". Metacritic . Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  14. Clark, Tyler (June 18, 2018). "Chromeo Stays Consistent with Head Over Heels". Consequence of Sound . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  15. 1 2 Wylde, Nicoletta (June 18, 2018). "Chromeo - Head Over Heels". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  16. Noble-Marks, Eric (June 18, 2018). "Chromeo - Head Over Heels". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  17. Kaplan, Ilana; Goggins, Joe (June 13, 2018). "Chromeo's 'Head Over Heels'". The Independent . Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  18. 1 2 Dorris, Jesse (June 18, 2018). "Head Over Heels". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  19. 1 2 Leight, Elias (June 15, 2018). "Review: Chromeo's 'Head Over Heels' Clings to a Proven R&B Formula". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  20. 1 2 Hoskins, Zachary (June 14, 2018). "Chromeo - Head Over Heels". Slant Magazine . Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  21. Lampiris, Steve (June 20, 2018). "Chromeo: Head Over Heels". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  22. "Ultratop.be – Chromeo – Head Over Heels" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  23. "Lescharts.com – Chromeo – Head Over Heels". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  24. "Chromeo Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  25. "Swisscharts.com – Chromeo – Head Over Heels". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  26. "Chromeo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  27. "Chromeo Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2018.