Insatiable (album)
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Insatiable is the debut studio album by Irish singer-songwriter and Girls Aloud member Nadine Coyle. The album was released on 8 November 2010.
Background
Following seven years as a member of Girls Aloud, Nadine Coyle announced plans to release a solo album during the group's hiatus.[2][3][4] In May 2009, Coyle announced that she had signed a publishing deal with EMI.[5] She told Late Late Show host Pat Kenny, "I'm writing songs and it's slightly different styles from Girls Aloud, so I'm gonna do that, writing stuff after Girls Aloud. [...] I have loads of material of stuff to do, but it's just about the timing and about getting it right and getting the right songs to put out."[5] She enlisted Barbara Charone, who was worked with Madonna and Christina Aguilera, as a publicist and Bruce Garfield as her manager.[6][7][8] "There wasn't anything wrong with what had happened or what had gone on for years - because it was really successful," Nadine said. "It just seemed like I had taken a completely different route, personally, in the writing and the production and I wanted a completely new team so we could start afresh."[9] Despite early reports indicating three major record labels interested in Nadine,[10] it was reported that she had failed to earn a solo record deal, even being turned down by Girls Aloud's label Polydor Records.[11] This was denied by manager Bruce Garfield. In April 2010, it was reported she had signed to Geffen Records.[12] The deal later fell through.[13]
In August 2010, Nadine officially signed a deal with grocery store chain Tesco to exclusively distribute Insatiable.[13][14] Tesco's head of entertainment Rob Salter said in a statement: "We are delighted that Nadine Coyle has agreed to entrust the first album of her solo career to Tesco. Nadine has delivered a real album with musical integrity and, most of all, that great big warm voice and fantastic songs which we believe will speak to all of Tesco's customers."[15] The album itself will be released through Nadine's own label Black Pen Records.[16] "The traditional model for selling an album isn't the only way of doing things," Nadine said. "To be able to create an album where you are in complete control of your own work is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an artist."[15][16] Nadine is said to have turned down offers from various major labels, including Universal Music.[17]
Recording
Nadine recorded the album in London, Los Angeles, Malibu, and Stockholm.[16] She worked with a number of famous songwriters and producers during recording sessions, such as Desmond Child, Guy Chambers, Mike Elizondo, Steve Booker, Toby Gad, Tony Kanal, and newcomer Ricci Riccardi.[3][7][8] [18] Nadine also worked with Lucie Silvas, Matchbox Twenty's Kyle Cook, William Orbit, and Tiesto.[14][19][20] Nadine said she had sketched out most of the tracks in her London flat, before taking them to producers. Some of the original vocals, recorded in her front room, remain on the finished record.[15] Some songs were even recorded in Nadine's en suite bathroom.[9] According to an interview with Booker, Coyle had worked on song ideas using GarageBand which she then presented to Booker in England to work on together further.[21] The producer said, "She was singing her songs to loops, and then I took the loops out and rewrote the music from scratch to her ideas."[21] He described her songs as "very pop".[21] Booker also worked on songs to show off Nadine's vocals: "Because she’s got such a belting voice, I tried a couple of things where she could really belt," he said.[21] Nadine herself said, "We never did big, massive notes, so it was difficult to fit my style of writing on a Girls Aloud album."[9] In February 2010, Nadine revealed that she was recording extra tracks to help perfect her solo album, in order to have "a lot of choices."[22]
Music
According to the official press release, the album includes "influences ranging from the 80’s to the noughties via Motown, sleek soul, blissed out ballads and a major injection of Tina Turneresque va-va-voooom."[16] The Daily Mirror also noted that some of the songs are reminiscent of Turner.[23] She also drew inspiration from soul band Sade's latest album Soldier of Love.[22] Some of song titles were revealed: "Insatiable", co-written with Guy Chambers, "showcases a harder, guitar-led sound for the pop singer."[15] It was described as "a bombastic synthy pop morsel."[24] "Red Light" is said to be "a disco dazzler" and "an Annie Lennox-goes-electro-glam stomper", with a 40-second guitar solo.[24][25] "Chained" is a contemporary R&B song with "a sparkly synth backline" built around a synth riff similar to Whitney Houston's "My Love Is Your Love".[24][25] "Natural", also co-written with Chambers, was called "a slinky little number."[24] "Unbroken" is "a soulful, smouldering, five-minute-long ballad" which sees Nadine sing in a "near-operatic falsetto".[24] Two other songs heard by the BBC included a more straightforward pop number, and a show-stopping minor key ballad in the style of 1970s singer-songwriters like Carole King and Joni Mitchell.[15]
Release and promotion
The album is expected to be released on 8 November 2010.[25][26] It will be sold exclusively in Tesco stores, although it will also be available in online music stores such as iTunes.[15] She performed at London's G-A-Y on Saturday, 30 October.[27] On the 19th of October, a five-track Insatiable sampler was released through Nadine's official website, and made available for download. The sampler includes snippets of "Insatiable", "Put Your Hands Up", "Chained", "Red Light" and "Sexy Love Affair". Coyle is scheduled to launch her album at Tesco in Northern Ireland which will be stocking the album exclusively, by appearing in the store and signing copies of the album.[28] She also promoted the album by performing to several hundred retail managers at the annual Tesco Company Conference 2010 at ExCeL London on 4 November 2010.[29]
Singles
"Insatiable", the album's title track, will serve as the lead single when it is released on 1 November.[15][30] Upon release, the track garnered heavy critical praise. Co-written with Guy Chambers and produced by new comer Ricci Riccardi, BBC said the song "showcases a harder, guitar-led sound for the pop singer."[15] It is said to be "ballsy and Eighties-influenced", receiving comparisons to The Bangles.[25][30] Nadine said she knew it was going to be a hit as soon as they finished it, because it was so catchy. She said, "I just knew we had something special when we wrote that song."[31] A clip of the single appeared on Nadine's website on 6 September.[15] The song received its official world premiere on In:Demand on 10 September.[32] The music video, directed by Wayne Isham, was filmed in Los Angeles.[16] The video premiered on 3 October.[33] The single entered the UK singles chart at number 26 selling 11,392 copies.[34] "Insatiable" entered the Irish top 50 at number 20. "Put Your Hands Up" has been chosen as the second single.[35]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
BBC Music | (positive)[36] |
Daily Express | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Daily Telegraph | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Irish Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Metro | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | (6/10)[42] |
The Scotsman | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Virgin Media | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Yahoo! Music | (6/10)[45] |
Insatiable received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Aggregating website AnyDecentMusic? reports a rating of 5.6 based on eight reviews.[46] Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music felt that it "does tend to skitter across [...] a fine line between Heartfelt and A Bit Dim [...] in quite a distracting fashion", but noticed that its "quirks and idiosyncrasies are wrapped up in immaculately produced, grown-up pop music, hand-tooled by experts" and called it "lively and enjoyable in lots of ways".[36] Tony Clayton-Lea from The Irish Times wrote that "it’s nothing we haven’t heard before, but as femme-pop goes, it’s a belter".[40] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian called it a "hook-filled record" of "sumptuous pop and Motownish melodies", but felt that it "doesn't make more of [Coyle's] voice" and concluded by stating that "she needs to plunge in properly if she's going to be a viable solo star".[39] Sam Wolfson of NME felt that the album sounds "anachronistic" but praised the absence of auto-tune, saying that "it’s a pleasant reminder that pop homogeneity isn’t compulsory and most songs are fine without a guest slot from Flo-Rida and a massive drop every nine seconds".[42] James Berry of Yahoo! Music noticed that Coyle's "budget didn't stretch as far as cutting edge production" but ultimately described the album as "a consistent, strutting and reasonably on the button pop record".[45] Charlotte Heathcote from Daily Express wrote that Insatiable "holds its own [...] but its pop-by-numbers approach lacks the individuality to stand out in a marketplace saturated with expensively produced pop" and noticed that "it squanders [Coyle's] killer ingredient: that belter of a voice".[37]
Lucy Jones of The Daily Telegraph gave the album a mixed review, saying that "once you sweep away William Orbit’s glittering production and the hyper-stylised image of the Derry-born pop princess, there’s few outstanding songs here to leave the listener satisfied".[38] Ian Gittins from Virgin Media wrote that Coyle "fails to use her deadliest weapon – her voice – to full effect on this proficient but somewhat personality-free album, preferring to warble gently over generic pop/R&B cuts".[44] Arwa Haider of Metro gave Insatiable a scathing review, saying that Coyle "lacks key pop diva attributes: warmth; empathy; vulnerability" and that she is "passionless throughout an album that strains to flaunt her versatility".[41] The Scotsman was equally negative, describing the album as "homogenised pop pap from a variety of proven popular suppliers, none of whom enhance their slender reputations" and calling it "a career low point".[43]
Track listing
- Revealed only in Tesco in September 2010.[47]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Runnin'" | Nadine Coyle, Julian Bunetta, Ruth-Anne Cunningham[48] | 4:05 |
2. | "Put Your Hands Up" | Coyle, Arnthor Birgisson[49] | 3:45 |
3. | "Chained" | Coyle, Ricci Riccardi, Gareth Owen[49] | 3:59 |
4. | "Insatiable" | Coyle, Guy Chambers[50] | 3:07 |
5. | "Red Light" | Coyle, Steve Booker, Riccardi, Owen [51] | 4:11 |
6. | "My Sexy Love Affair" | Coyle, Toby Gad | 4:06 |
7. | "Lullaby" | Coyle, Alex Contrell, Louis Bell[52] | 3:13 |
8. | "You Are the One" | Coyle, Gad[53] | 4:06 |
9. | "Natural" | Coyle, Chambers[54] | 3:36 |
10. | "Raw" | Coyle, Chambers[55] | 3:44 |
11. | "Rumors" | Coyle, Alexander James, Andreas Romdhane, Josef Larossi[49] | 3:52 |
12. | "Unbroken" | Coyle, Booker[56] | 5:04 |
13. | "I'll Make a Man Out of You Yet" | Coyle[57] | 4:16 |
Charts
Chart (2010)[58] | Peak position |
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Irish Albums Chart[59] | 20 |
Irish Indie Albums Chart[60] | 2 |
UK Albums Chart | 47 |
UK Independent Chart[61] | 4 |
References
- ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a292028/nadine-coyle-confirms-new-single.html
- ^ "Nadine Coyle sets solo date". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. ABS–CBN Corporation. 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b "Girls Aloud's Nadine Coyle plans to launch new solo album in Ireland". The Belfast Telegraph. Independent News and Media. 2009-12-05. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ Dean Piper (2009-07-12). "I've Nad enough..." Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b "Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle expands U.S. business empire with an Irish pub in California". Daily Mail. London: Associated Newspapers. 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ Oli Simpson (2009-10-12). "Nadine 'hires Madonna PR for solo album'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b "Nadine Coyle enlists Guy Chambers to pen solo CD". The Sun. London: News International. 2009-12-22. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b Claire Weir (2010-03-06). "Nadine Coyle and Cheryl Cole still in harmony, insists manager". The Belfast Telegraph. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b c Mark Savage (2010-10-11). "Nadine Coyle: 'I recorded my album in the bathroom'". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
- ^ Daniel Kilkelly (2009-07-26). "Coyle 'creating more buzz' than Cole". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ "Nadine Coyle fails to land deal". The Sun. London: News International. 2010-06-02. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ Catriona Wightman (2010-04-03). "Nadine Coyle 'signs to Geffen label'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b Colin Daniels (2010-08-22). "Nadine Coyle 'signs solo deal with Tesco'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b Dean Piper (2010-08-22). "Nadine Coyle's a pop store". Mirror.co.uk. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mark Savage (2010-09-06). "Nadine Coyle to release debut album on her own label". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
- ^ a b c d e Peter Robinson (2010-05-06). "Shoddily copied and pasted Nadine Coyle press release". Popjustice. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
- ^ Robert Copsey (2010-09-07). "Nadine Coyle 'turned down major labels'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
- ^ "Checkout Girl: Nadine Coyle inks Tesco deal". Music Week. United Business Media. 2010-09-06. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
- ^ Chris Johnson (2009-12-15). "Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle admits she is jealous of bandmate Cheryl Cole's success". Daily Mail. London: Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ "Nadine Coyle is working with big names including William Orbit". The Sun. London: News International. 2010-03-13. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b c d "Interview with Steve Booker". HitQuarters. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Nadine Coyle 'perfecting' solo album". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ "Nadine Coyle to release solo album by end of the year". Metro. Associated Newspapers. 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ a b c d e Nick Levine (2010-09-07). "What about this Nadine Coyle album then?". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
- ^ a b c d Kim Dawson (2010-09-04). "Nadine Coyle hits the right notes with Insatiable". Daily Star. Northern & Shell. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ Robert Copsey (2010-08-02). "Nadine Coyle sets album release date?". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ "Nadine Coyle to play G-A-Y gig". Metro. Associated Newspapers. 2010-09-08. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
- ^ http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=118676
- ^ "Nadine Coyle's hoping every little helps... as she performs new single at Tesco conference". Daily Mail. London. 2010-11-04.
- ^ a b Robert Copsey (2010-09-01). "Nadine Coyle announces new single". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ Sarah Bull (2010-09-08). "Nadine Coyle poses provocatively in artwork for new single Insatiable". Daily Mail. London: Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
- ^ "Nadine Coyle: I am so happy to tell you..." Twitter. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
- ^ Dean Piper (2010-10-03). "Coyle on the boil". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
- ^ http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=120648
- ^ http://sevenfootsounds.com/2010/nadine-coyle-selects-put-your-hands-up-as-next-insatiable-single/
- ^ a b McAlpine, Fraser (01 November 2010). "Nadine Coyle Insatiable Review". BBC. Retrieved 06 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ a b Heathcote, Charlotte (07 November 2010). "REVIEW - NADINE: INSATIABLE (BLACK PEN)". Northern and Shell Media. Retrieved 08 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ a b Jones, Lucy (05 November 2010). "Nadine Coyle: Insatiable, CD review". London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 06 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ a b Sullivan, Caroline (04 November 2010). "Nadine Coyle: Insatiable – review". London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 06 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ a b Clayton-Lea, Tony (05 November 2010). "Nadine Coyle". Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ a b Haider, Arwa (07 November 2010). "Nadine Coyle: Insatiable? Enough already". Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 08 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ a b Wolfson, Sam (05 November 2010). "Album Review: Nadine Coyle - Insatiable (Black Pen/Tesco)". IPC Media. Retrieved 08 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ a b S, C (09 November 2010). "Album review: Nadine Coyle, Insatiable". Johnston Press. Retrieved 08 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ a b Gittins, Ian (08 November 2010). "Insatable Nadine Coyle". Virgin Media. Retrieved 09 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ a b Berry, James (12 November 2010). "Nadine Coyle - 'Insatiable'". Yahoo!. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
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(help) - ^ "Nadine Coyle Insatiable". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
- ^ Tesco: Insatiable track listing
- ^ "RUNNIN'". ASCAP.com. ASCAP. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ a b c "Enter the song title and/or songwriter you are looking for". Harry Fox Agency. Harry Fox Agency, Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ "INSATIABLE (Legal Title)". BMI.com. BMI. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ "RED LIGHT (Legal Title)". BMI.com. BMI. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ "LULLABYE (Legal Title)". BMI.com. BMI. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ "THE ONE FOR ME". ASCAP.com. ASCAP. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ Robert Copsey. "Nadine Coyle". Digital Spy. Digital Spy Limited. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
- ^ "RAW (Legal Title)". BMI.com. BMI. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ "UNBROKEN (Legal Title)". BMI.com. BMI. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ "MAKE A MAN OUT OF YOU YET (Legal Title)". BMI.com. BMI. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ http://acharts.us/album/58584
- ^ Irish Top 100 Albums Chart
- ^ Irish Indie Albums Chart
- ^ http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/13/2010-11-20/