Let's Get Killed

Last updated

Let's Get Killed
Letsgetkilled.jpg
Studio album by
David Holmes
Released8 September 1997
Genre
Length59:45
Label Go! Beat
Producer David Holmes, Jagz Kooner, Gary Burns, Keith Tenniswood, Richie Fermie, Tim Goldsworthy
David Holmes chronology
This Film's Crap Let's Slash the Seats
(1995)		Let's Get Killed
(1997)		 Bow Down to the Exit Sign
(2000)
Singles from Let's Get Killed
  1. "Gritty Shaker"
    Released: 4 August 1997
  2. "Don't Die Just Yet"
    Released: 5 January 1998
  3. "My Mate Paul"
    Released: 23 March 1998

Let's Get Killed is the second studio album by Belfast electronica DJ and producer David Holmes. It was released in the UK on 8 September 1997 through Go! Beat Records and contained two UK Top 40 singles: "Don't Die Just Yet" and "My Mate Paul"; [1] [2] "Gritty Shaker" was also released as a single. In addition, the album includes a re-working of the James Bond theme, retitled as "Radio 7", and a remake of Serge Gainsbourg's songs "Melody" and "Cargo Culte", retitled "Don't Die Just Yet". [3]

Contents

Let's Get Killed was Holmes's first album release in the United States, following the domestic acclaim of his debut long-player This Film's Crap Let's Slash the Seats .

Background

Holmes grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland as the youngest of ten children. [4] By the age of 15 he had begun to DJ in his local pubs and bars, playing soul, jazz, rock and disco. This eclecticism would remain into adulthood, and is a feature of his DJ sets. [5] When he was 17, Holmes visited New York City, spending time in the South Bronx, Washington Square and Central Park areas. He took a DAT recorder with him as he explored the city, and taped conversations with many people he spoke to. Holmes kept the recordings for over ten years, using them as the basis for Let's Get Killed.

Let's Get Killed is so called because on one occasion Holmes and his associates were "... chased by eight guys through the South Bronx who were after our expensive audio equipment". [6]

Music

Holmes used the recordings he made in New York City of conversations and other street-level noise as samples on the album. These snippets of conversation were often spoken by people from New York's cultural underbelly, including prostitutes, pimps and drug-dealers. The samples were used in between the tracks on the album, and in some cases in the tracks themselves.

The record contains a wide variety of styles within the electronica spectrum, including techno, breakbeats, trip hop and drum 'n' bass. [7] David Holmes has produced many film scores, and it has often been said that his studio albums have a cinematic feel to them. [8] [9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Entertainment Weekly A− [12]
Houston Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Muzik 10/10 [15]
NME 7/10 [16]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Spin 8/10 [18]

Let's Get Killed was well received by critics in general, and the dance music press in particular. Both Jockey Slut and Mixmag awarded it Album of the Month, whilst DJ Magazine gave it a rating of 10/10.[ citation needed ]

The NME said, "Holmes both evokes the endless possibilities, claustrophobia and madness of The Big Apple and offers a critique ... Not bad at all for a trendy DJ", [19] and placed it number 40 in the 1997 Critics Poll. [20] Melody Maker also included it in their end-of-year poll, this time at number 24. [21]

Rolling Stone magazine and Allmusic both gave the album 3 stars out of 5, with Allmusic saying the "effect created is like that of a soundtrack, and even though Let's Get Killed isn't attached to a film, it flows with energy and grace". [3] [10] Entertainment Weekly rated the album A-minus, saying "Holmes loves airy cinematic beauty, but he tempers it with frisky Latin percussion, gritty electric guitar ... , sound-collage effects, and snippets of crazed street people.". [12]

On the strength of the album, Holmes won Best Rock Artist at Ireland's National Entertainment Awards, the first time it was awarded to a dance artist. [22] Let's Get Killed was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . [23]

Chart performance

Let's Get Killed spent two weeks in the UK Albums Chart, entering at number 34 in its first week. It dropped to number 75 in its second and final week in the chart. [2]

Track listing

All tracks written by David Holmes, unless otherwise stated.

  1. "Listen" – 0:49
  2. "My Mate Paul" – 5:29
  3. "Let's Get Killed" – 7:28
  4. "Gritty Shaker" – 6:40
  5. "Head Rush on Lafayette" – 1:20
  6. "Rodney Yates" – 6:24
  7. "Radio 7" (Monty Norman) – 5:49
  8. "The Parcus & Madder Show" – 0:51
  9. "Slashers Revenge" – 4:46
  10. "Freaknik" – 6:45
  11. "Caddell Returns" – 5:42
  12. "Don't Die Just Yet" (Serge Gainsbourg) – 6:43
  13. "For You" – 0:59

Personnel

David Holmes wrote and produced the majority of the album, apart from "Radio 7", which is a cover of Monty Norman's James Bond Theme, and "Don't Die Just Yet", which is based on samples of songs by Serge Gainsbourg. Other appearances and credits were: [24]

Singles

YearSingleChartPosition
1997"Gritty Shaker"——
1998"Don't Die Just Yet" UK Top 40 [25] 33
1998"My Mate Paul"UK Top 40 [26] 39

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serge Gainsbourg</span> French musician and actor (1928–1991)

Serge Gainsbourg was a French singer-songwriter, actor, composer, and director. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provocative releases which caused uproar in France, dividing public opinion. His artistic output ranged from his early work in jazz, chanson, and yé-yé to later efforts in rock, zouk, funk, reggae, and electronica. Gainsbourg's varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorise, although his legacy has been firmly established and he is often regarded as one of the world's most influential popular musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Birkin</span> British and French actress and singer (1946–2023)

Jane Mallory Birkin was a British and French actress and singer. She had a decade-long musical and romantic partnership with Serge Gainsbourg. She also had a prolific career as an actress, mostly in French cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Gainsbourg</span> French and British actress and singer (born 1971)

Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg is a French and British actress and singer. She is the daughter of English actress and singer Jane Birkin and French singer Serge Gainsbourg. After making her musical debut with her father on the song "Lemon Incest" at the age of 12, she released an album with her father at the age of 15. More than 20 years passed before Gainsbourg released albums as an adult to commercial and critical success. She has acted in many films, including collaborations with Lars von Trier, and received two César Awards and Cannes Film Festival's Best Actress Award 2009 for the movie Antichrist, among many nominations.

<i>Vanishing Point</i> (Primal Scream album) 1997 studio album by Primal Scream

Vanishing Point is the fifth studio album by Scottish rock band Primal Scream. It was released on 7 July 1997 in the United Kingdom by Creation Records and in the United States by Reprise Records. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. The album shows inspiration from genres such as dub, ambient, dance music, and krautrock, as well as bands such as Motörhead, Can, and the Stooges. It was the band's first album to feature Gary 'Mani' Mounfield on bass, formerly of the Stone Roses, although Marco Nelson played bass on "Burning Wheel", "Star", "If They Move, Kill 'Em'", and "Stuka". Other guest appearances on Vanishing Point include Augustus Pablo, Glen Matlock, and the Memphis Horns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Holmes (musician)</span> Northern Irish musician and composer

David Holmes is a Northern Irish musician and composer. He worked as a DJ before releasing several solo albums that have incorporated elements of trip hop, big beat, electronic and rock. In the late 1990s, he also began composing film scores, establishing a long-standing collaboration with director Steven Soderbergh that includes Out of Sight (1998) and the Ocean's trilogy.

<i>Have You Fed the Fish?</i> 2002 studio album by Badly Drawn Boy

Have You Fed the Fish? is an album released by Badly Drawn Boy in 2002. The album's title originates from the question which Gough asks his daughter each day "to the point where it got to sound like one of those words you say too many times and it sounds silly."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Je t'aime... moi non plus</span> 1969 single by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin

"Je t'aime... moi non plus" is a 1967 song written by Serge Gainsbourg for Brigitte Bardot. In 1969, Gainsbourg recorded the best known version as a duet with English actress Jane Birkin. Although this version reached number one in the UK—the first foreign-language song to do so—and number two in Ireland, it was banned in several countries due to its overtly sexual content.

<i>Histoire de Melody Nelson</i> 1971 studio album by Serge Gainsbourg

Histoire de Melody Nelson is a 1971 concept album by French singer and songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Produced by Jean-Claude Desmarty, the album was released on March 24, 1971 through Philips Records. Its narrative follows an illicit romance which develops between the middle-aged narrator and fourteen-year-old girl Melody Nelson, portrayed on the album and its cover art by Gainsbourg's then-partner Jane Birkin.

<i>Sentimental Education</i> (Free Kitten album) 1997 studio album by Free Kitten

Sentimental Education is the second studio album by the band Free Kitten, released in 1997 on Kill Rock Stars. The album features a collaboration with DJ Spooky and a cover of Serge Gainsbourg's "Teenie Weenie Boppie". The album is named after the novel by French novelist Gustave Flaubert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip</span> Band

dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip were a hip-hop duo, combining electronic beats with sung, spoken, and rapped lyrics. The pair are Daniel Stephens, and David Peter Meads (b.1981). The name "Scroobius Pip" is an intentional misspelling of the Edward Lear poem "The Scroobious Pip".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Does It Offend You, Yeah?</span> British dance-punk band

Does It Offend You, Yeah? are a British dance-punk band from Reading, Berkshire. They played what was to be their final show on 12 December 2015 at the Electric Ballroom, Camden Town. In September 2021, they announced a new album, titled We Do Our Own Stunts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ting Tings</span> English musical duo

The Ting Tings are an English indie pop duo formed in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 2007. The band consists of Katie White and Jules De Martino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giggs (rapper)</span> British rapper (born 1983)

Nathaniel Thompson, better known professionally as Giggs, is a British rapper and songwriter from Peckham, London. He released his debut studio album Walk in da Park in 2008 and released a follow-up album Let Em Ave It the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemon Incest</span> 1985 single by Serge and Charlotte Gainsbourg

"Lemon Incest" is a song recorded by French father and daughter Serge and Charlotte Gainsbourg. It was recorded in 1984 and released as a single from Serge's 1985 album Love on the Beat and on Charlotte's 1986 debut album Charlotte For Ever, marking her musical debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnie and Clyde (Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot song)</span> 1968 song by Serge Gainsbourg

"Bonnie and Clyde" is a 1968 French-language song written by Serge Gainsbourg, and performed by Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot. The song tells the story of the outlaw couple Bonnie and Clyde. It is based on an English language poem written by Bonnie Parker herself a few weeks before she and Clyde Barrow were shot, entitled "The Trail's End". It was released on two albums in 1968: Gainsbourg's album Initials B.B., and Gainsbourg and Bardot's album Bonnie and Clyde.

<i>Freaknik: The Musical</i> 2010 American TV series or program

Freaknik: The Musical is an American animated musical television special produced by T-Pain. It features the voice of T-Pain as the Ghost of Freaknik. Other entertainers providing voices include Lil Wayne, Young Cash, Snoop Dogg, Sophia Fresh, and Rick Ross, and comedians such as Andy Samberg and Charlie Murphy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kill the DJ</span> 2012 single by Green Day

"Kill the DJ" is a song by American rock band Green Day. It is the fifth track on their ninth studio album ¡Uno! (2012), and was released as the second single, on August 14, 2012. It is also the second from the ¡Uno!, ¡Dos! & ¡Tré! trilogy. The song was recorded at Jingletown Studios from February 14 to June 26, 2012, and was released on the record labels Reprise Records and Warner Bros. A music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, was released on September 4, 2012.

This is the discography of French DJ and producer Bob Sinclar. He has released seven studio albums.

<i>Delirium Tremens</i> (Mick Harvey album) 2016 studio album by Mick Harvey

Delirium Tremens is the third of four albums by Mick Harvey, presenting the songs of Serge Gainsbourg, sung in English. It was preceded by Intoxicated Man in 1995 and Pink Elephants in 1997, and followed by Intoxicated Women in 2017.

The discography of French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg consists of 16 studio albums, 4 live albums, 1 compilation album, 80 singles and EPS, and several soundtrack albums.

References

  1. ↑ "David Holmes Biography". NME. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Let's Get Killed The Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  3. 1 2 "David Holmes - Let's Get Killed". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  4. ↑ Sweeney, Eamon (22 August 2008). "Independent Critic's Choice". Independent(Ireland). Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  5. ↑ "David Holmes sends out mixed messages". Metro. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  6. ↑ "DJ David Holmes Says "Let's Get Killed"". MTV. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  7. ↑ "Let's Get Killed Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  8. ↑ "DJ David Holmes - "Let's Get Killed"". almost cool reviews. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  9. ↑ "David Holmes biog". NME. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  10. 1 2 Bush, John. "Let's Get Killed – David Holmes". AllMusic . Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Holmes, David". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  12. 1 2 Browne, David (24 October 1997). "Lets Get Killed". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  13. ↑ Farinella, David John (19 October 1997). "David Holmes, Let's Get Killed, A&M". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  14. ↑ Hochman, Steve (26 October 1997). "David Holmes, 'Lets Get Killed,' 1500/A&M". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  15. ↑ Push (October 1997). "David Holmes: Let's Get Killed (Go! Beat)". Muzik (29): 111.
  16. ↑ "David Holmes – Let's Get Killed". NME . 6 September 1997. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  17. ↑ Diehl, Matt (22 January 1998). "David Holmes: Let's Get Killed". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  18. ↑ Hermes, Will (January 1998). "David Holmes: Let's Get Killed". Spin . 14 (1): 113–14. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  19. ↑ NME : 53. 6 September 1997.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ NME : 78–79. 20–27 December 1997.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ↑ Melody Maker : 66–67. 20–27 December 1997.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ↑ "Belfast DJ lifts Best Rock Artist award for album". The Belfast Telegraph . Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  23. ↑ Dimery, Robert (2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. ISBN   978-0-7893-1371-3 . Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  24. ↑ "David Holmes - Let's Get Killed". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  25. ↑ "Official Charts Company". https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/My%20Mate%20Paul. Retrieved on 10 April 2009.
  26. ↑ "Official Charts Company". https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/What%20A%20Fool%20Believes. Retrieved on 1 April 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.