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The Family Jewels (Marina and the Diamonds album)

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The Family Jewels is the debut studio album by Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, professionally known as Marina and the Diamonds. It was released on 15 February 2010 by 679 Recordings and Atlantic Records. Diamandis collaborated with producers including Pascal Gabriel, Liam Howe, Greg Kurstin, Richard "Biff" Stannard, and Starsmith during its recording. Their efforts resulted in a primarily indie pop and new wave record, with lyrical themes that Diamandis identifies as "the seduction of commercialism, modern social values, family and female sexuality."[1]

Contemporary music critics spoke favourably of The Family Jewels, and welcomed its diverse production. The record debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 27,618 copies. The album was eventually certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry and has sold 195,358 units in the United Kingdom. The Family Jewels performed moderately on international record charts; it peaked at number 138 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

The Family Jewels was supported by five singles, all of which were supplemented by accompanying music videos. "Mowgli's Road" was released as the lead single from the record on 13 November 2009, although "Hollywood" became its first charting track after reaching number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. Follow-up singles "I Am Not a Robot", "Oh No!", and "Shampain" respectively peaked at numbers 26, 38, and 141 in the United Kingdom. The record was additionally promoted by Diamandis' headlining The Family Jewels Tour, which visited Australia, Europe and North America from January 2010 through December 2011.

Background

Diamandis explained that the album is "a body of work largely inspired by the seduction of commercialism, modern social values, family and female sexuality".[1] She also describes it as "a really diverse album stylistically speaking because I'm such a flexible writer, so there's a lot of pop on it, but there's kind of a lot of leftfield experimental stuff as well. It's basically an album about what not to be."[2]

Singles

"Mowgli's Road" was released as the album's lead single on 13 November 2009.[3] "Hollywood" was released as the album's second single and Diamandis's first major release on 1 February 2010.[1] It reached number twelve on the UK Singles Chart.[4] "I Am Not a Robot" was released as the album's third single on 26 April 2010.[5] The song reached number twenty-six on the UK Singles Chart.[4] "Oh No!" was released as the album's fourth single on 2 August 2010 only in the UK and Ireland.[6] It peaked at number thirty-eight on the UK Singles Chart.[4] "Shampain" was released as the album's fifth and final single on 11 October 2010 only in the UK and Ireland.[7] It reached number 141 on the UK Singles Chart.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
BBC Musicfairly positive[11]
Clash6/10[12]
The Daily Telegraph[13]
The Guardian[14]
musicOMH[15]
NME9/10[16]
Q[17]
Spin7/10[18]
The Sunday Times[19]

The Family Jewels received mostly positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68, based on 21 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[9]

Hugh Montgomery of Q magazine noted that the album presented a range of different styles, skipping "from glam-disco ('Shampain') and bubblegum punk ('Girls') to quavering piano laments ('Obsessions') and cabaret ditties ('Hermit The Frog')", adding that the singer's "imaginative reach" was "complemented by a winning pop savviness."[17] However, The Independent's Andy Gill gave the album a negative review saying it "demonstrates the inevitable workings of entropy on pop methodology" and describes "Shampain" and "Hermit the Frog" as "every bit as annoying as their punning titles, with queasy, prancing piano and synth figures labouring away methodically, Mika-fashion, while she searches unsuccessfully for worthwhile lyrical routes".[20]

Luke O'Neil from The Phoenix stated that "[t]he likes of Kate Nash and company have flitted through this piano siren/exuberant dance-diva territory, but never mind, because this gorgeous genre starts now."[21] Lou Thomas from BBC Music commented that "[t]he consistently diverting changes in style across the album are fine—the wonky 80s shoulder-pad pop of 'The Outsider' is nothing like anything else here, for example. But over 13 songs of Sparks-voice and many similar staccato piano riffs listeners may feel bludgeoned by Marina and her slightly overbearing presence."[11] Leonie Cooper from NME rated the album nine out of ten stars and wrote, "An album with a distinct dual personality, Marina's dazzling The Family Jewels pitches the confident, MTV Awards-headlining superstar of our dreams against a more self-deprecating girl-next-door Marina who's dead set on Supertramping and vamping her way out of her fug."[16]

The NME placed the album at number 33 on its list of the Top 75 Albums of 2010.[22]

Commercial performance

The Family Jewels debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 27,618 copies.[23] It remains Diamandis' best-selling debut week, after her second studio album Electra Heart entered the chart at number one with first-week sales of 21,358 units.[24] The Family Jewels was later certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry,[25] and had sold 195,358 copies in the United Kingdom as of April 2015.[26] The record debuted at number seven in Greece and number nine in Ireland;[27][28] it was eventually certified gold by the Irish Recorded Music Association.[29]

The Family Jewels performed moderately on several international record charts. The record reached number 12 on the German Media Control Charts,[30] and entered the Ö3 Austria Top 40 at number 18.[31] It peaked at number 88 on the Dutch MegaCharts,[32] number 100 on the Swiss Hitparade,[33] and number 132 in France.[34] In Oceania, the album reached number 79 on the Australian ARIA Charts.[35] With first-week sales of 4,000 copies in the United States,[36] The Family Jewels entered the Billboard 200 at number 138;[37] furthermore, it respectively charted at numbers 2 and 49 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers and Top Rock Albums charts.[38][39]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Family Jewels.[40]

The Family Jewels – Standard version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Are You Satisfied?"Marina Diamandis
3:21
2."Shampain"
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
  • Stannard[a]
3:11
3."I Am Not a Robot"DiamandisHowe3:35
4."Girls"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Gabriel
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
3:28
5."Mowgli's Road"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
Howe3:12
6."Obsessions"DiamandisHowe3:38
7."Hollywood"Diamandis
3:50
8."The Outsider"Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Diamandis
3:17
9."Hermit the Frog"Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Diamandis[a]
3:35
10."Oh No!"
Kurstin3:02
11."Rootless"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Gabriel
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
3:28
12."Numb"DiamandisHowe4:16
13."Guilty"
  • Diamandis
  • Stannard
  • Howes
  • Stannard
  • Howes
3:40
The Family Jewels – iTunes Store bonus track[41]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."The Family Jewels"DiamandisDiamandis4:05
The Family Jewels – Japanese version (bonus tracks)[42]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."The Family Jewels"DiamandisDiamandis4:05
15."Seventeen"DiamandisHowe3:05
16."Mowgli's Road" (video)  3:02
17."Hollywood" (video)  3:25
The Family Jewels – US standard version[43]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Are You Satisfied?"Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Stannard
  • Howes
3:21
2."Shampain"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Gabriel
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
  • Stannard[a]
3:11
3."I Am Not a Robot"DiamandisHowe3:35
4."Girls"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Gabriel
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
3:28
5."Mowgli's Road"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
Howe3:12
6."Obsessions"DiamandisHowe3:38
7."Hollywood" (single version)Diamandis
  • Stannard
  • Howes
  • Starsmith[b]
3:24
8."The Outsider"Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Diamandis
3:17
9."Guilty"
  • Diamandis
  • Stannard
  • Howes
  • Stannard
  • Howes
3:40
10."Hermit the Frog"Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Diamandis[a]
3:35
11."Oh No!"
  • Diamandis
  • Kurstin
Kurstin3:02
12."Seventeen"DiamandisHowe3:05
13."Numb"DiamandisHowe4:16
The Family Jewels – iTunes Store US deluxe version (bonus tracks)[44]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Rootless"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Gabriel
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
3:28
15."I Am Not a Robot" (Flex'd Rework) (Passion Pit Remix)Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Passion Pit[c]
4:47
16."Obsessions" (Ocelot Remix)Diamandis
6:26
17."I Am Not a Robot" (Starsmith 24 Carat Remix)Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Starsmith[c]
5:18
18."Hollywood" (video)  3:25
The Crown Jewels - EP
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Am Not a Robot"DiamandisHowe3:35
2."Seventeen"DiamandisHowe3:05
3."Simplify"DiamandisMartin Craft2:26
The American Jewels - EP
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Am Not a Robot"DiamandisHowe3:35
2."Seventeen"DiamandisHowe3:05
3."Simplify"DiamandisCraft2:26
4."I Am Not a Robot" (Starsmith 24 Carat Remix)Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Starsmith
5:18
Notes
  • ^a signifies an additional producer
  • ^b signifies an original producer
  • ^c signifies a remixer

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Family Jewels.[40]

  • Marina Diamandis – vocals (all tracks); piano (tracks 1–3, 6, 8, 12), glockenspiel (track 3); mixing (tracks 4, 11); casio VL-tone, production (track 8); additional production (track 9); organ (track 12)
  • Chris Allan – cello (tracks 1, 3)
  • Rebekah Allan – violin (tracks 9, 12)
  • Niel Catchpole – violin (tracks 7, 13)
  • Guy Davie – mastering (tracks 1–9, 11–13)
  • Alison Dods – violin (tracks 1, 3, 7, 13)
  • Steve Durham – drums (tracks 1–3)
  • Pascal Gabriel – production, programming (tracks 2, 4, 11); synths (track 2); all instruments, engineering, mixing (tracks 4, 11)
  • Liam Howe – production (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12); programming (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12); bass (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6); mellotron (tracks 1, 3, 6, 9, 12); synths (tracks 1–3, 6, 8); additional piano, electric guitar (track 2); mixing, Philicorda (track 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12); all instruments (tracks 4, 11); acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, spoons, whistle (track 5); engineering (tracks 5, 6, 8); Jew's harp, santoor (track 8); mandolin, recorder (tracks 9, 12)
  • Ash Howes – mixing, production (tracks 1, 7, 13); keyboards (track 1); programming (tracks 1, 2, 7, 13); additional keyboards (track 2); all instruments (tracks 7, 13)
  • Greg Kurstin – keyboards, engineering, guitar, mixing, production, programming (track 10)
  • Oli Langford – viola (tracks 7, 9, 12, 13); violin (tracks 7, 13)
  • Stephen Large – string arrangements (tracks 7, 13); piano (tracks 9, 12); Hammond organ (track 12)
  • Dougal Lott – assistant engineering (tracks 1–3, 9, 12); Pro Tools (track 5)
  • Alex Mackenzie – drums, harpsichord (tracks 5, 6); additional piano, mandolin (track 6)
  • Mat Maitland – sleeve art
  • Calina de la Mere – violin (tracks 1, 3)
  • Anna Mowat – cello (tracks 7, 13)
  • Anna Phoebe – violin (tracks 9, 12)
  • Luke Potashnick – guitar (track 1)
  • Rankin – portraits
  • Raymond67 (Freesound Project) – mechanical monkey (track 5)
  • Rachel Robson – viola (tracks 1, 3)
  • Sandyrb (Freesound Project) – human monkey (track 5)
  • Lucy Shaw – double bass, string arrangements (tracks 1, 3, 7, 9, 12, 13)
  • Richard "Biff" Stannard – production (tracks 1, 7, 13); keyboards (track 1); programming (tracks 1, 2, 7, 13); additional keyboards, additional production (track 2); mixing (tracks 2, 7, 13); drums (track 7); all instruments (tracks 7, 13)
  • Starsmith – original production (track 7)
  • Dave Turner – mastering (track 10)
  • David Westlake – drums (track 9)
  • Richard Wilkinson – engineering (tracks 1–3, 9, 12)
  • Chris Worsey – cello (tracks 9, 12)

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Ireland (IRMA)[29] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Gold 195,358[26]

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Ireland 15 February 2010
[48]
United Kingdom 22 February 2010 [49]
Scandinavia 24 February 2010 Warner [50]
Australia 26 February 2010 [51]
France 1 March 2010 [52]
Netherlands 19 March 2010 [53]
Japan 21 April 2010 [42]
Germany 14 May 2010 [54]
Canada 25 May 2010 [55]
United States
[43]
15 June 2010 LP [56]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Marina and the Diamonds announce debut album details and release date". NME. Time Inc. UK. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  2. ^ Murray, Robin (26 January 2010). "Marina on Musical Background". Clash. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  3. ^ "Mowgli's Road / Space and the Woods – Single by Marina & The Diamonds". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Marina and the Diamonds". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  5. ^ "I Am Not A Robot will be Marina's next single in the UK!". marinaandthediamonds.com. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  6. ^ "Oh yes!". marinaandthediamonds.com. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Hey Diamonds, as..." Facebook. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  8. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". Zobbel. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  9. ^ a b "The Family Jewels – Marina and the Diamonds". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  10. ^ Chisling, Matthew. "The Family Jewels – Marina and the Diamonds". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  11. ^ a b Thomas, Lou (12 February 2010). "Review of Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". BBC Music. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  12. ^ James, Gareth (8 February 2010). "Marina and The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". Clash. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  13. ^ McCormick, Neil (18 February 2010). "Marina & the Diamonds: The Family Jewels, CD review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  14. ^ Petridis, Alexis (18 February 2010). "Marina and the Diamonds: The Family Jewels". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  15. ^ Murphy, John. "Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". musicOMH. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  16. ^ a b Cooper, Leonie (22 February 2010). "Album review: Marina And The Diamonds – 'The Family Jewels' (679)". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  17. ^ a b Montgomery, Hugh (March 2010). "Marina & the Diamonds – The Family Jewels". Q (284): 105.
  18. ^ Walters, Barry (19 May 2010). "Marina & the Diamonds, 'The Family Jewels' (Chop Shop/Atlantic)". Spin. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  19. ^ Edwards, Mark (14 February 2010). "Marina & The Diamonds: The Family Jewels". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  20. ^ Gill, Andy (12 February 2010). "Album: Marina & The Diamonds, The Family Jewels (679)". The Independent. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  21. ^ O'Neil, Luke (13 July 2010). "Marina and the Diamonds | The Family Jewels". The Phoenix. Phoenix Media/Communications Group. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  22. ^ "75 best albums of 2010". NME. IPC Media. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  23. ^ "Derulo and GaGa take chart honours". Music Week. Intent Media. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  24. ^ Eames, Tom (16 July 2012). "Newton Faulkner sells just 16k to get number one album". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  25. ^ a b "British album certifications – Marina & the Diamonds – The Family Jewels". British Phonographic Industry. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2014. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type The Family Jewels in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  26. ^ a b Jones, Alan (23 March 2015). "Official Charts Analysis: Kendrick Lamar first rapper since 2013 to top Albums Chart with sales of 29,695". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 24 April 2015. (subscription required)
  27. ^ a b "Greekcharts.com – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  28. ^ a b "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 8, 2010". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  29. ^ a b "The Irish Charts - 2010 Certification Awards - Gold". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  30. ^ a b "Officialcharts.de – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  31. ^ a b "Austriancharts.at – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  32. ^ a b "Dutchcharts.nl – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  33. ^ a b "Swisscharts.com – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  34. ^ a b "Lescharts.com – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  35. ^ a b "ARIA Top 100 Albums – Week Commencing 8th March 2010" (PDF). ARIA Charts. Pandora Archive. p. 6. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  36. ^ "Maximum Exposure 2010". Billboard, Vol. 122, Nº 39, p. 16 ISSN 0006-2510. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  37. ^ a b "Marina and the Diamonds Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  38. ^ a b "Marina and the Diamonds Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  39. ^ a b "Marina and the Diamonds Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  40. ^ a b The Family Jewels (Media notes). Marina and the Diamonds. 679 Recordings. Atlantic Records. 2010. {{cite AV media notes}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ^ "The Family Jewels by Marina and The Diamonds". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  42. ^ a b "The Family Jewels / ザ・ファミリー・ジュエルズ（初回限定スペシャル・プライス盤）" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  43. ^ a b "Marina And The Diamonds: The Family Jewels (CD)". Amazon.com. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  44. ^ "The Family Jewels (Deluxe) by Marina and The Diamonds". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  45. ^ "European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 8th March 2010" (PDF). Billboard. Pandora Archive. p. 26. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  46. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  47. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
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  49. ^ "Marina & The Diamonds: Family Jewels". HMV. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  50. ^ "The Family Jewels – Marina & The Diamonds". CDON.eu. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  51. ^ "Family Jewels, The". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  52. ^ "Family jewels – Marina and the Diamonds" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  53. ^ "19 maart 'The Family Jewels'" (in Dutch). Warner Music Netherlands. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  54. ^ "Marina and the Diamonds – Veröffentlichungen" (in German). Warner Music Germany. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  55. ^ "Family Jewels by Marina & The Diamonds". HMV Canada. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  56. ^ "Marina And The Diamonds: The Family Jewels (Vinyl)". Amazon.com. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
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