Origins | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 9, 2018 | |||
Recorded | November 2017 – October 2018 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 40:03 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Imagine Dragons studio album chronology | ||||
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Singles from Origins | ||||
Origins is the fourth studio album by the American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, released on November 9, 2018, by Kidinakorner, Polydor Records [1] and Interscope Records.
The album was produced by the band members themselves, Alex da Kid, Mattman & Robin, John Hill, Joel Little, Tim Randolph, and Jayson DeZuzio, who produced a majority of the band's previous effort on their third and previous studio album, Evolve (2017), as well as Jorgen Odegard. Frontman Dan Reynolds described Origins as a "sister album" to Evolve, and that it would complete a cycle of their music.
Origins received generally mixed reviews from critics, but many claimed that the album is an improvement from Evolve. The album was preceded by four singles: "Natural", "Zero", "Machine" and "Bad Liar". The final single, "Birds", was released in June 2019.
The album cover for Origins, along with several pieces of merchandise revolving around the album were leaked online on October 2, 2018. The following day, Imagine Dragons officially announced the album to the public with a trailer. Within the trailer, the band spoke about why they were releasing a new album so soon after their previous album Evolve , along with just finishing the Evolve World Tour in September 2018. Lead singer Dan Reynolds stated that although bands typically take a break for a while after touring, the band had already written songs that felt right to produce and release immediately, as they would be in a completely different place in the future. [2] The end of the Evolve World Tour immediately concluded the Evolve album cycle, and began the Origins album cycle.[ citation needed ]
Hannah Mylrea of NME described the album as "stuffed full of stadium-filling slices of the band's trademark electronic infused pop-rock", [3] while Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic stated that he felt the band attempted to make Origins blend in with rock, pop, electronic, and soul music playlists. [4]
This section only references primary sources.(April 2024) |
The group announced the title of their fourth album on October 3, 2018, via social media. The album was put up for pre-order that same day. There are three versions of the album: a standard version which includes 12 songs, a deluxe edition which includes 15 songs, and an international deluxe edition which includes 16 songs.[ citation needed ]
On October 20, 2018, the band revealed the track listing for the standard version of the album on Twitter. [5] The next day, they revealed the track listing for the deluxe album. [6]
On July 17, 2018, "Natural" was released as the lead single. To promote the single, it was chosen by ESPN as the anthem of the 2018 College Football season. The song has since peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. [7] [8] Its music video starring the band was released on August 24, 2018. [9]
On September 19, 2018, "Zero" was released as the second single. The song is featured in the Disney animated film Ralph Breaks the Internet and was included in its second official trailer, along with the ending credits for the film. [10] The music video, which takes place in an arcade and includes several references to the film, was released on October 23, 2018. The song peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart. [11]
On October 31, 2018, Imagine Dragons released the third single off the album, "Machine". [12]
On November 6, 2018, "Bad Liar" was released as the fourth single. [13] The song has since peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100. [14] A music video for the song was released on January 24, 2019. [15]
On June 20, 2019, Imagine Dragons released the fifth single off the album, "Birds", featuring Italian singer Elisa. The original album version of the song had already charted in some countries earlier that month. An animated music video for the original song was released on July 24, 2019. [16]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 4.8/10 [17] |
Metacritic | 59/100 [18] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [19] |
The Daily Campus | [20] |
Digital Journal | A [21] |
The Guardian | [22] |
The Heights | [23] |
The Independent | [24] |
The Irish Times | [25] |
Newsday | [26] |
NME | [3] |
Pitchfork | 5.3/10 [27] |
Origins received 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 59, based on 10 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews". [18] The Independent gave the album a positive review, stating that "Origins is further proof of Reynolds' pop songwriting capabilities and also his ambition when it comes to pushing the messages that matter onto the charts. And there's no doubting his sincerity. It's a refreshing quality in a pop frontman." [24] Newsday also gave the album a positive review, saying this: "It's no wonder that "Origins" sounds like the start of something even bigger for Imagine Dragons." [26] Digital Journal gave the album a highly positive review, saying "Overall, the new Imagine Dragons album is highly eclectic. There is something in it for every music fan. Dan Reynolds and the band never disappoint." [21] The Heights gave the album a positive review, stating "While the album may sound bombastic and derivative to critics, Origins' eclectic song list is sure to be an instant crowd-pleaser and will impress in the inevitable stadium tour." [23] Another positive review came from The Daily Campus , which stated that "Imagine Dragons has once again shown why they are one of the most popular rock bands in the world with "Origins" including a plethora of contagious rock-pop anthems that will have fans singing their hearts out across the country." [20]
A more mixed review came from AllMusic, which noted that "the group takes pains to be able to fit onto every kind of playlist imaginable: rock, pop, electronic, soul-any popular sound that can be sculpted and shaped by a streaming service" and that "everything sounds vaguely familiar, vaguely connected, all designed to function as a soundtrack to whatever task you'd like". [19] Pitchfork also gave the album a mixed review, stating "Reynolds has a story to tell, but the music fails to be the ideal delivery system." [27] The Guardian gave the album a negative review, stating that "the most streamed rock band in the world may want us to believe that they are angry philosophers, but the reality doesn't change a gilt-edged mainstream formula." [22] The Irish Times was also strongly critical, lambasting the album as a "muddled and incoherent mess with all of the best intentions". [25] NME also gave a negative review, stating "scattershot and uninspired, 'Origins', the fourth album from the bafflingly popular Imagine Dragons, make for a grueling listen." [3]
Origins debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 91,000 album-equivalent units (including 61,000 pure album sales), making it the band's fourth top two album and their third album to debut at number 2. [28] As of August 31, 2021, the album has been certified Platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of 1 million units in the country alone. [29]
All tracks are written by Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, and Daniel Platzman. Additional writers are included below.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Natural" | Mattman & Robin | 3:09 | |
2. | "Boomerang" | Jorgen Odegard | Odegard | 3:07 |
3. | "Machine" | Alexander Grant | Alex Da Kid | 3:01 |
4. | "Cool Out" | Tim Randolph |
| 3:37 |
5. | "Bad Liar" |
| Odegard | 4:20 |
6. | "West Coast" | Imagine Dragons | 3:37 | |
7. | "Zero" | John Hill | Hill | 3:30 |
8. | "Bullet in a Gun" |
|
| 3:24 |
9. | "Digital" | Grant | Alex Da Kid | 3:21 |
10. | "Only" |
| Mattman & Robin | 3:00 |
11. | "Stuck" |
|
| 3:10 |
12. | "Love" | Ido Zmishlany | Zmishlany | 2:46 |
Total length: | 40:03 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Birds" | Joel Little | Little | 3:39 |
14. | "Burn Out" | Imagine Dragons | 4:33 | |
15. | "Real Life" | Randolph | Randolph | 4:07 |
Total length: | 52:21 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
16. | "Born to Be Yours" (with Kygo) | Kygo | Kygo | 3:13 |
Total length: | 55:34 |
Credits for "Origins" adapted from the album's liner notes [32] as well as Tidal. [33]
Imagine Dragons
Production
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPI Austria) [98] | Platinum | 15,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [99] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [100] | 2× Platinum | 200,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [101] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [102] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [103] | 4× Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Singapore (RIAS) [104] | Gold | 5,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI) [105] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [106] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Imagine Dragons are an American pop rock band formed in 2008, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The band currently consists of lead singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, and bassist Ben McKee. They first gained exposure with the release of their single "It's Time", followed by their debut album Night Visions (2012), which resulted in the chart-topping singles "Radioactive" and "Demons". Rolling Stone named "Radioactive", which held the record for most weeks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, the "biggest rock hit of the year". MTV called them "the year's biggest breakout band", and Billboard named them their "Breakthrough Band of 2013" and "Biggest Band of 2017", and placed them at the top of their "Year in Rock" rankings for 2013, 2017, and 2018. Imagine Dragons topped the Billboard Year-End "Top Artists – Duo/Group" category in 2018.
Night Visions is the debut studio album by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It was released on September 4, 2012, through Kidinakorner and Interscope Records. The album was primarily produced by the band themselves, as well as English hip-hop producer Alex da Kid and Brandon Darner of The Envy Corps and formerly of the metal band Slipknot. According to frontman Dan Reynolds, the album took three years to finish, with six of the album's tracks being previously released on multiple EPs. Musically, Night Visions exhibits influences of folk, hip hop and pop.
"Radioactive" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons from their major-label debut EP Continued Silence and later on their debut studio album, Night Visions (2012), as the opening track. It was first sent to modern rock radio on October 29, 2012, and then released to contemporary hit radio on April 9, 2013. Musically, "Radioactive" is an electronic rock and alternative rock song with elements of dubstep.
The American pop rock band Imagine Dragons has released six studio albums, four live albums, one compilation album, ten extended plays, twenty-seven singles, six promotional singles and twenty-three music videos. According to Recording Industry Association of America, they have sold 103.5 million digital singles and 12 million albums in the US. Imagine Dragons has sold 46 million albums and 55 million singles worldwide, including 74 billion global career streams, making them among the best-selling rock bands in history. Billboard named them as the 29th Greatest Adult Alternative artist of all time, as well as the 13th Top Artist of 2010s in the United States.
"Demons" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It was written by Alex da Kid, Ben McKee, Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Josh Mosser and produced by Alex da Kid. The song appears on their major-label debut extended play, Continued Silence, and also makes an appearance on their debut studio album, Night Visions, as the fourth track. "Demons" was solicited to American triple-A radio stations on January 28, 2013, and to modern rock stations two months later, on April 1, 2013. It serves as the album's overall fifth single and was released as the third single from Night Visions in the United States, later released to US contemporary hit radio stations on 17 September 2013 as an official single. The lyrics portray the protagonist warning the significant other of his or her flaws.
Smoke + Mirrors is the second studio album by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. The album was recorded during 2014 at the band's home studio in Las Vegas, Nevada. Self-produced by members of the band along with English hip-hop producer Alex da Kid, the album was released by Interscope Records and Grant's Kidinakorner label on February 17, 2015, in the United States.
"Believer" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. The song was released on February 1, 2017, through Interscope Records and Kidinakorner as the lead single from the band's third studio album, Evolve (2017). It was written by Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman, Justin Tranter and its producers Mattman & Robin.
Crooked Teeth is the ninth studio album by American rock band Papa Roach. It was released on May 19, 2017 through Eleven Seven Music. Crooked Teeth debuted at number 20 in the US and UK.
"Thunder" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It was released by Interscope Records and Kidinakorner on April 27, 2017, as the second single from their third studio album, Evolve (2017). Written by band members Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman, and its producers Alex Da Kid and Jayson DeZuzio, "Thunder" peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song became the band's fourth single in that country to reach the top ten after "Radioactive", "Demons" and "Believer". It also reached the top 10 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the Netherlands. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Evolve is the third studio album by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, released on June 23, 2017, by Kidinakorner and Interscope Records. After the release of their previous album Smoke + Mirrors (2015) and its respective world tour, a self-imposed hiatus for 2016 and cryptic messages from the band through their social media gained anticipation for their third album; it was finally announced on May 9, 2017, along with the initiation of its pre-order. In comparison to Smoke + Mirrors and their 2012 debut Night Visions, frontman Dan Reynolds called the album an "evolution" for the band.
"Whatever It Takes" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. The song was released on May 9, 2017, as a promotional single through Kidinakorner and Interscope. It later became the third single from the band's third studio album, Evolve, on October 6, 2017. It was also the official theme song for WWE's PPV event Battleground, in addition to its inclusion in the video game Madden NFL 18. The song was sent to US contemporary hit radio on February 13, 2018.
"Born to Be Yours" is a song written and performed by Norwegian music producer Kygo and American band Imagine Dragons. Produced by Kygo, it was released by Sony and Ultra Music on 15 June 2018. It is included on the international deluxe edition of Imagine Dragons' fourth studio album Origins. The song is featured in the second trailer for the 2020 animated film Scoob! based on the popular Scooby-Doo franchise.
"Natural" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, whose members co-wrote the song with Justin Tranter, Klinsmann Lucas S. Bernardo and their producers Mattman & Robin. It was released by Kidinakorner and Interscope Records on July 17, 2018, serving as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album, Origins (2018), as well as the seasonal anthem of the 2018 ESPN College Football. It became their fifth number one song on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.
Delta is the fourth studio album by British folk rock band Mumford & Sons. It was released on 16 November 2018 through Gentlemen of the Road, Island Records and Glassnote. The album was recorded at The Church Studios in London with producer Paul Epworth. The album was supported by three singles, "Guiding Light", "Beloved", and "Woman", and managed to reach number one on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the UK Albums Chart. Delta was their last album with guitarist and banjoist Winston Marshall before his departure in 2021.
"Machine" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, who co-wrote it with their producer Alex da Kid. It is the third single from the band's fourth studio album Origins.
"Bad Liar" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. The song was released through Interscope and Kidinakorner records on November 6, 2018, as the fourth single from their fourth studio album, Origins (2018). It was written by Imagine Dragons, Aja Volkman and Jorgen Odegard, and produced by Odegard.
Golden Hour is the third studio album by Norwegian tropical house DJ and record producer Kygo. It was released on 29 May 2020 by Sony Music.
Mercury – Act 1 is the first half of the fifth studio album by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, released on September 3, 2021, by Kidinakorner and Interscope Records in the United States. Imagine Dragons recorded the album in 2018 after their previous album, Origins. It was later modified in early 2022 to include "Enemy", from the Arcane League of Legends soundtrack. The album was executive produced by Rick Rubin, who also executive produced its successor Mercury – Acts 1 & 2, released on July 1, 2022, which Act 1 was included as part of.
Mercury – Acts 1 & 2 is the full fifth studio album by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, released through Kidinakorner and Interscope Records. It is a double album consisting of 32 tracks, with the first half, Mercury – Act 1, released separately on September 3, 2021, and Mercury – Act 2, the second half, released on July 1, 2022, as part of Mercury – Acts 1 & 2. Act 2 was only released separately on vinyl.
Loom is the sixth studio album by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, released through Kidinakorner and Interscope Records on June 28, 2024. The standard version of the record consists of nine tracks, their least to date. Produced by the band and longtime collaborators Mattman & Robin, it follows their two-part studio album Mercury – Acts 1 & 2 (2022). The album marks the band's first release as a trio, due to drummer Daniel Platzman announcing an indefinite hiatus from the band in March 2023, later departing from the band in August 2024.
Avid Imagine Dragons fans won't be disappointed; stuffed full of stadium-filling slices of the band's trademark electronic infused pop-rock, it has everything you'd expect: big choruses, repetitive refrains and dystopian atmopsherics.
Every one of these slight variations in sound do fit within the wheelhouse of Imagine Dragons, but that's only because the group takes pains to be able to fit onto every kind of playlist imaginable: rock, pop, electronic, soul