| Wanderland | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 17, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | 2000–2001 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 62:54 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | The Neptunes | |||
| Kelis chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Wanderland | ||||
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Wanderland is the second studio album by American singer Kelis, released on October 17, 2001, by Virgin Records. The album's only single, "Young, Fresh n' New", peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. As of October 2004, Wanderland had sold 17,000 copies in the United Kingdom. [2]
According to Kelis, Virgin Records did not understand Wanderland. She subsequently left the label around the time of the album's European release, and as a result, the album was not released in the United States. [3] [4] Wanderland was officially released in the US to digital retailers on May 31, 2019, [5] [6] and to streaming services on June 5. [7]
The song "Flash Back" (retitled "Flashback") was included on Kelis' subsequent album Tasty , while a new version of "Popular Thug", which replaced Pusha T of Clipse with Nas, appears on The Neptunes' 2003 compilation album Clones . [8] [9]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [10] |
| Blender | [11] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B− [1] |
| entertainment.ie | [12] |
| The Guardian | [13] |
| NME | 6/10 [14] |
| Rolling Stone | [15] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [16] |
| Slant Magazine | [17] |
Wanderland received generally positive reviews from music critics. The Guardian critic Alexis Petridis described the music as "clever, exhilarating and original" and praised the album as The Neptunes' "most adventurous work to date". [13] Mark Bautz of Entertainment Weekly commented that "Kelis' brash blend of Curtis Mayfield soul, techno-Zeppelin funk, Jobim-lite bossa nova, and ultrasmooth R&B shows a more coherent artistry than many recent boundary-busting experiments." [1] Rupert Howe of Blender found that "[t]he best thing about Wanderland is that [Kelis] seems finally to have begun celebrating her eccentricities", adding, "Aside from the idiosyncratic lyrics [...] she switchbacks from parodying '70s mack-stylin' (the Funkadelic 'Daddy') to an '80s soul croon ('Scared Money')." [11] At entertainment.ie, Andrew Lynch commended Kelis' "aggressive vocal delivery and intriguing, if sometimes confusing lyrical imagery", while calling the album itself "[b]rilliantly produced" and "strikingly original". [12]
Rolling Stone 's Barry Walters noted that, musically, Wanderland "doesn't venture far from its predecessor, Kaleidoscope : The Neptunes are still matching jaunty beats to techno sonics. But her pen is busier now, and the result is smarter, more nuanced but no less confrontational." [15] Andy Kellman of AllMusic stated that "the album's first three songs—'Young, Fresh n' New,' 'Flash Back,' and 'Popular Thug'—are on an even standing with the best of the singer's debut [...] After that solid beginning, the album continually loses steam and gains it back." [10] Stephen Dalton of NME viewed the album as "a solid sophomore effort", but felt that "there is way too much filler here for a hotly hyped alterna-soul princess with her eyes on the big prize." [14] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine opined that the album is "far from rote, but the Neptunes's rehashed retro beats and synths are beginning to sound derivative of Britney Spears's 'I'm a Slave 4 U.' Much of the disc's hooks are unchallenging and repetitive at best." [17] In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), Ernest Hardy and Arion Berger were critical of the album, writing that "[t]he beats that brought Kaleidoscope to life are gone, and only Kelis' hippieish and overly self-aware songwriting remains." [16]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | 1:11 | |
| 2. | "Young, Fresh n' New" |
| 4:37 |
| 3. | "Flash Back" |
| 3:26 |
| 4. | "Popular Thug" (featuring Pusha T of Clipse) |
| 4:13 |
| 5. | "Daddy" (featuring Malice of Clipse) |
| 3:50 |
| 6. | "Scared Money" |
| 4:00 |
| 7. | "Shooting Stars" |
| 6:17 |
| 8. | "Digital World" (featuring Roscoe) |
| 4:25 |
| 9. | "Perfect Day" |
| 3:56 |
| 10. | "Easy Come, Easy Go" |
| 3:31 |
| 11. | "Junkie" |
| 2:56 |
| 12. | "Get Even" |
| 4:12 |
| 13. | "Mr. U.F.O. Man" (featuring John Ostby) |
| 4:27 |
| 14. | "Little Suzie" "Star Wars" "I Don't Care Anymore" |
| 11:48 |
| Total length: | 62:54 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (live – edited version) | 4:38 | |
| Total length: | 67:32 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (live – edited version) |
| 4:36 |
| 16. | "Star Wars" |
| 3:06 |
| 17. | "I Don't Care Anymore" | Phil Collins | 3:48 |
| Total length: | 74:24 | ||
Notes
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Wanderland. [20]
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French Albums (SNEP) [21] | 133 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [22] | 79 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [23] | 78 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC) [24] | 13 |
| Region | Date | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | October 17, 2001 | EMI | [18] |
| Germany | October 26, 2001 | [25] | |
| United Kingdom | October 29, 2001 | Virgin | [26] |
| France | November 1, 2001 | EMI | [27] |
The Neptunes were an American record production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provided backing vocals and music video appearances on the duo's productions, while Hugo remained behind the scenes.
Kelis Rogers is an American singer-songwriter and chef. She attended New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she played saxophone and was selected for the Girls Choir of Harlem. Upon graduation, Rogers landed a role as a backing vocalist for the hip hop group Gravediggaz. She then began working with music producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo—collectively known as the Neptunes—who led her to sign with Virgin Records in 1998.
Tasty is the third studio album by American singer Kelis, released on December 5, 2003, by Star Trak Entertainment and Arista Records. As executive producer, Kelis enlisted previous collaborators the Neptunes to produce the album, as well as new collaborators such as Raphael Saadiq, Dallas Austin, André 3000, Rockwilder, and Dame Blackmon "Grease". It also features guest vocals from Saadiq, André 3000, and then-boyfriend Nas.
Kaleidoscope is the debut studio album by American singer Kelis. It was released on December 7, 1999, by Virgin Records, and was produced entirely by the Neptunes. Despite underperforming in the United States, the album saw mild success in certain international markets, including the United Kingdom, where it charted at number 43 and was certified gold.
This Is the Remix is a remix album by American R&B group Destiny's Child. Released in the United States on March 12, 2002 by Columbia Records, the album compiles previously released R&B and dance remixes of songs originally featured on the band's first three studio albums: Destiny's Child (1998), The Writing's on the Wall (1999) and Survivor (2001). The album also includes one new track: "Heard a Word", a solo track performed by member Michelle Williams. The album's title is a reference to a lyric in the first track "No, No, No Part 2".
The Neptunes Present... Clones is a compilation album produced and released by American production and songwriting duo The Neptunes. It was released on August 19, 2003 and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. The album featured six singles; "Frontin'" by Pharrell Williams, "Popular Thug" by Kelis, "Light Your Ass on Fire" by Busta Rhymes, “Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Fam-Lay, "Hot Damn" by Clipse and "It Blows My Mind" by Snoop Dogg.
"In Public" is a song by American singer Kelis, featuring American rapper Nas, taken from the former's third studio album, Tasty (2003). It was released as the album's fourth and final single on April 4, 2005. Kelis co-wrote the song with its producer, Rockwilder.
Kelis Was Here is the fourth studio album by American singer Kelis, released on August 22, 2006, by Jive Records. Originally titled The Puppeteer, the album features production by Bangladesh, Raphael Saadiq, Max Martin, Sean Garrett, and Scott Storch, among others, and also features collaborations with will.i.am, Nas, Cee-Lo, Too Short, and Spragga Benz. It is Kelis's first album not to feature longtime collaborators the Neptunes. Kelis Was Here received a nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
"Milkshake" is a song by American singer Kelis from her third studio album, Tasty (2003). Written and produced by the Neptunes, it was released as the lead single from Tasty in the United States on August 25, 2003, by Star Trak and Arista Records, and internationally on November 24, 2003. According to Kelis, "milkshake" in the song is used as a metaphor for "something that makes women special". The song is noted for its euphemistic chorus and low-beat R&B sound.
American singer and songwriter Kelis has released six studio albums, one live album, one compilation album, 40 singles, and 29 music videos. At age 16, she left her parents' home; at the age of 20 she was signed to Virgin Records. Her debut single, "Caught Out There", was released in 1999, reaching number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart in the United Kingdom. Her debut album, Kaleidoscope, was released in December 1999 and charted at number 144 on the Billboard 200, and has sold 249,000 copies in the country to date. In the United Kingdom, it was certified gold and has sold over 167,000 copies. Two more singles were released from the album: "Good Stuff" which reached the UK top twenty and "Get Along with You" which failed to chart in the US and charted poorly in the UK. In 2001, her second studio album, Wanderland, was released and featured similar "raw emotion and sophisticated musicianship" of her debut album. The album was not released in the United States, however, and the only single, "Young, Fresh n' New", charted poorly.
"Blindfold Me" is a hip hop song by American singer Kelis from her fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here (2006). It was written and produced by Sean Garrett and Polow da Don. A remix, featuring American rapper Nas, was released as the album's second single in the United States on October 3, 2006. Although the Neptunes were long-time collaborators of Kelis, Kelis Was Here was her first album without their involvement as she opted for a more diverse team of record producers, which included Garrett and Polow da Don.
"Caught Out There" is the debut single by American singer Kelis, released on October 5, 1999, from her debut studio album, Kaleidoscope (1999). Written and produced by the Neptunes, the song peaked at number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100 but fared better outside the United States, reaching the top ten in Canada, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes said in an interview that the instrumental track was originally meant for rapper Busta Rhymes, who rejected it.
Spymob is an American alternative rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Best known for their appearance on the 2003 Star Trak Entertainment compilation The Neptunes present Clones, with the song "Half Steering...", they also provided backing instruments for N.E.R.D.'s 2002 debut In Search Of.... Their major label debut, Sitting Around Keeping Score, was the first rock album to be released on The Neptunes' Star Trak label. In 2014, the band released their second album, Memphis independently. Additionally, all four members have provided session work and touring support for other artists including N.E.R.D, Paramore, Snoop Dogg, Kelis, and Mike Doughty.
"Young, Fresh n' New" is a song by American singer Kelis from her second studio album, Wanderland (2001). Kelis co-wrote the song with its producers, The Neptunes. It was released on September 25, 2001, as the only single from the album. The single peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, however, it became her third consecutive single to miss the Billboard Hot 100. Nevertheless, German producer Timo Maas' remix of the song managed to chart on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play at number 15 in January 2002. The accompanying music video was directed by Diane Martel and filmed in Los Angeles over the weekend of June 9–10, 2001.
"Kitty Kat" is a song by American singer Beyoncé for her second studio album, B'Day (2006). It was composed by Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, and Shawn Carter. "Kitty Kat" is a mid-tempo electro, hip hop soul and R&B song whose lyrics detail a situation where a woman feels that her man has underestimated her. The song was generally well received by music critics who noted it to be a seductive track thanks to its "I'm not feelin[g] it" vibe. However, some music critics felt that the production does not live up to those of other songs featured on B'Day.
The Hits is the first greatest hits album by American singer Kelis. It was released on March 1, 2008, by Jive Records and Legacy Recordings. It is Kelis's final release with both Jive and Virgin Records, before signing a recording contract with Interscope Records. The album contains no previously unreleased material.
Selected Ambient Works 85–92 is the debut studio album by the British electronic music artist and producer Richard D. James under the alias of Aphex Twin. It was released on 9 November 1992 through Apollo Records, a subsidiary of the Belgian label R&S Records. The album consists of ambient techno tracks that were recorded on cassette as early as 1985, when James was 13-14 years old. On release it received widespread acclaim and entered the Dance Albums Chart at No. 6 on 26 December 1992.
Flesh Tone is the fifth studio album by American singer Kelis, released on May 14, 2010, by the will.i.am Music Group and Interscope Records. Recorded while the singer was unsigned and pregnant with her first child, the album is an ode to motherhood and marks a distinct departure from the R&B sound of her previous albums. The album features production from David Guetta, Boys Noize, Nick Marsh, Jean Baptiste, and Benny Benassi, amongst others.
"Candy" is a song by American rapper Foxy Brown featuring American singer Kelis, released by Def Jam on August 21, 2001, as the third single from her third studio album Broken Silence (2001). A dance-pop and R&B track, it was produced by the Neptunes duo Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, who co-wrote the song alongside Brown and Juan Manuel Cordova. Brown raps on the verses while Kelis, a frequent collaborator with the Neptunes, performs the hook. The song was recorded in Virginia Beach and mixed in New York City. "Candy" premiered at the Broken Silence listening party in June 2001, and although it did not receive an official music video, a portion of it was played in the video for the album track "Tables Will Turn".
Food is the sixth studio album by American singer Kelis. It was released on April 18, 2014, becoming her first album released under Ninja Tune Records. After parting ways with Jive Records in 2007, Kelis signed to Interscope and will.i.am Music Group in 2009, through the label she released her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, which saw Kelis experiment with a dance sound. In 2011, Kelis began work on the follow-up to Flesh Tone; however, she left Interscope and signed to Federal Prism, before officially signing to the British independent label Ninja Tune for the release of Food. Food is an R&B and soul album with a diverse musical style that incorporates funk, Afrobeat, Memphis soul, and neo soul. Its songs feature crackling horns, brass, earthy guitars, simmering electronics and vocals from Kelis that were noted as being breathy, smoky and sultry.
On Wanderland, Kelis' brash blend of Curtis Mayfield soul, techno-Zeppelin funk, Jobim-lite bossa nova, and ultrasmooth R&B shows a more coherent artistry than many recent boundary-busting experiments.
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