Stay Together (album)

Last updated

Stay Together
Kaiser Chiefs - Stay Together.jpg
Studio album by
Released7 October 2016
Recorded2015–2016
Genre Pop rock
Length51:41
Label Fiction
Producer Kaiser Chiefs, Brian Higgins
Kaiser Chiefs chronology
Education, Education, Education & War
(2014)
Stay Together
(2016)
Duck
(2019)
Singles from Stay Together
  1. "Parachute"
    Released: 14 June 2016
  2. "Hole in My Soul"
    Released: 18 August 2016
  3. "We Stay Together"
    Released: 21 December 2016

Stay Together is the sixth studio album by Kaiser Chiefs, released on 7 October 2016. The album's name is a reference to the opening track "We Stay Together". [1] [2] The first single from the album, "Parachute", was released on 14 June 2016. The second single, "Hole In My Soul" was released 18 August 2016 and the third and final single, "We Stay Together" was released on 9 December 2016. The album marked a notable shift in the band's sound, incorporating more electronic and synth-pop elements.

Contents

Recording and style

The album features a dance-oriented sound and includes songs that explore a range of topics, including monogamy ("We Stay Together") and sex ("Good Clean Fun"). [3] In contrast to the album's predecessor, Education, Education, Education and War , which was more focused on politics and the perils of war, the Kaiser Chiefs made Stay Together with a focus on love and relationships. Wilson elaborated further on the stark contrast between the last album and Stay Together: "The thing about writing a protest album is it's straightforward. Only an idiot would disagree with you. You're just saying war is bad. But when you start talking about relationships like on this record it's harder because there’s a lot more blurred lines. There's no right or wrong”. [4]

A sold out UK arena tour followed with critics describing the tour as “WILD, energetic and memorable”. [5]

Promotion

On 13 June 2016, Kaiser Chiefs released a song titled "Parachute" onto their YouTube account, [6] and later a music video. Two months later, on 18 August 2016, the band released the second single, "Hole in My Soul". [7]

On 9 December "We Stay Together" was released.

Numerous TV performances and appearances followed including; Sunday Brunch, [8] BBC Breakfast [9] and Mrs Brown's Boys. [10]

Singles

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 59/100 [11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [12]
The Daily Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]

On 14 June 2016, Kaiser Chiefs released the lead single, "Parachute", with a music video following on 20 June.

On 18 August 2016, the band released the second single, "Hole in My Soul".

Commercial performance

The album peaked at 4 on the UK Albums Chart [15] and produced two top 40 airplay hits in "Hole In My Soul" and "Parachute".

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."We Stay Together"4:32
2."Hole in My Soul"
4:28
3."Parachute"
  • Wilson
  • Rix
  • Baines
  • Mistry
  • White
  • Higgins
  • Gray
  • Scott
  • Owen Parker
  • Daniel Shah
3:52
4."Good Clean Fun"
  • Wilson
  • Rix
  • Baines
  • Mistry
  • White
  • Higgins
  • Cooper
  • Scott
5:08
5."Why Do You Do It to Me?"
4:26
6."Indoor Firework"
  • Wilson
  • Rix
  • Baines
  • Mistry
  • White
  • Higgins
  • Scott
3:57
7."Press Rewind"
5:01
8."Happen in a Heartbeat"
  • Wilson
  • Rix
  • Baines
  • Mistry
  • White
  • Andrew Robinson
  • Higgins
  • Cooper
  • Scott
3:20
9."High Society"
  • Wilson
  • Rix
  • Baines
  • Mistry
  • White
  • Higgins
  • Cooper
  • Coler
  • Timothy Larcombe
3:47
10."Sunday Morning"
  • Wilson
  • Rix
  • Baines
  • Mistry
  • White
  • Higgins
  • Scott
  • Wayne Hector
  • Larcombe
4:30
11."Still Waiting" (ends at 4:44, hidden track "Lazor Jam" starts at 5:40)
  • Wilson
  • Rix
  • Baines
  • Mistry
  • White
  • Higgins
  • Scott
  • Fitton
8:41

Personnel

Kaiser Chiefs

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [16] 89
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [17] 105
Scottish Albums (OCC) [18] 4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [19] 88
UK Albums (OCC) [20] 4

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References

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  2. "Kaiser Chiefs working on new album of love songs". Nme.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  3. Aroesti, Rachel (7 October 2016). "Kaiser Chiefs: Stay Together review – nondescript but still full of hooks". The Guardian . Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  4. Trefor, Cai. "Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson Opens Up About New Album Stay Together". Gigwise. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
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  10. "BBC One - All Round to Mrs Brown's, Series 1, Episode 2". BBC.
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  12. "Stay Together - Kaiser Chiefs | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
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