Bangarang (EP)

This article is about the EP. For the song, see Bangarang (song).
Bangarang
EP by Skrillex
Released December 23, 2011 (2011-12-23)
Recorded June – August 2011
Genre
Length 30:08
Label
Producer
Skrillex chronology
More Monsters and Sprites
(2011)		 Bangarang
(2011)		 Make It Bun Dem After Hours
(2012)
Singles from Bangarang
  1. "Breakn' a Sweat"
    Released: January 15, 2012
  2. "Bangarang"
    Released: February 16, 2012

Bangarang is the fifth EP by American electronic music producer Skrillex. It was released on December 23, 2011 exclusively via Beatport while being released on other digital retailers on December 27, 2011.[3] It was released on January 24, 2012 as a physical CD.[4] It was announced via Skrillex's Twitter page on December 12, 2011 that the EP was completed,[5] while the release date was also announced on December 21.[6] The EP is mostly a collection of songs that have been previously performed during The Mothership Tour (with the exception of "Right on Time"). It features collaborations with The Doors, Sirah, Wolfgang Gartner, 12th Planet, Kill the Noise and Ellie Goulding. Musically, Bangarang has multiple influences of electro house, dubstep and progressive house, while also incorporating elements of trance, drum and bass, rap rock, experimental rock and ska.[7][8] It features syncopated rhythmic build-ups, technical breakdowns and "chopped-up" vocal hooks, as well as multiple vocal samples.[8][9][10][11] An orchestral song was also featured as a bonus track on the iTunes edition.

Bangarang received mixed reviews from music critics. The EP was a commercial success upon release, charting within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its lead single, "Bangarang", charted in multiple countries worldwide and reached the top ten in Australia and Belgium. Due to strong digital sales following the EP's release, "Kyoto" and "Breakn' a Sweat" charted in multiple countries as well. "Breakn' a Sweat" was featured in the 2012 documentary film Re:Generation. Music videos have been released for "Breakn' a Sweat", "Summit" and "Bangarang". As of March 28, 2014, the EP has sold more than 595,000 copies in the United States and has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[12]

Composition

Musically, while Bangarang prominently uses elements of electro house, dubstep and progressive house, it is more diverse than his previous material, including multiple influences of trance, drum and bass, rap rock, experimental rock and ska.[7][8] It uses syncopated rhythmic build-ups, technical breakdowns, "chopped-up" vocal hooks and vocal samples throughout its composition.[8][9][10][11]

The first track, "Right In", has multiple influences of dubstep and electro house and has been described as "one long adrenaline rush of stabbing keyboard chords, sawed-off vocal samples and Skrillex's trademark: squirming, squalling synth lines".[13] It has also been compared to the opener on his previous remix EP More Monsters and Sprites, "First of the Year (Equinox)".[14] The title track, "Bangarang", also uses heavy influences of dubstep and has been compared to the previous track on the EP. It uses "chopped-up vocal hooks" performed by American rapper Sirah, with the last line of the song saying "I'm eating Fun Dip right now/Not givin' a fuck".[15] It has been described as having a "concussive collection of blips and bursts that sounds like something Moby might hear in his head during a heart attack".[16] Breakn' a Sweat" was written for the 2012 documentary film Re:Generation. It has been described as combining "proggy guitar hooks, psychedelic organ chords, and Jim Morrison samples with a snarling, Prodigy-esque vocal and a filthy slab of dub bass".[8] It has been highlighted as the most unusual track on the EP by several music critics. "The Devil's Den" features guest contributions from Wolfgang Gartner and has been described as "Daft Punk-go-Dirty Vegas". It uses elements of trance, techno, ska and rave.[8][16]

"Right On Time" has been described as "a percussive, hard house collaboration with 12th Planet and Kill the Noise which eventually builds into a feverish slice of happy hardcore",[8] and although it has been complimented for its uniqueness in comparison with the rest of the EP, its use of repetition has been criticized. "Kyoto" is a "rap-metal fusion" that is the second track on the EP to feature Sirah.[8] It has been compared to rap rock artists such as Linkin Park and Travis Barker.[17][18] "Summit" is the final track on the EP (with the exception of the iTunes edition) and features English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. It is an electronic song that has elements of chillstep and uses Skrillex's "chopped up", Auto-Tune vocals.[8][16] Goulding's vocals have been described as "ethereal" and "delicate".[8][13] The iTunes edition of the EP includes an "Orchestral Suite" performed by Varien.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Alternative Press[13]
The A.V. ClubC[18]
Los Angeles Times[19]
MSN MusicA−[2]
NME4/10[20]
Rolling Stone[15]
Spin7/10[16]
Sputnikmusic1.5/5[14]
Toronto Star[21]

Bangarang received generally mixed reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 60, based on 10 reviews.[22] Dan LeRoy of Alternative Press felt that the EP's "go-for-the-throat" songs and "uncomplicated, catchy fun" do not reveal "much about Skrillex's long-term prospects."[13] Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club said that, although Skrillex is a "more skillful producer than his detractors give him credit for", he still resorts to "gimmicks" in order to reach his audience.[18] Gavin Haynes of NME found his music artificial, albeit with occasionally "good results".[20] Allmusic's Jon O'Brien observed a "lack of progression" from Skrillex and called the EP "disappointingly formulaic". He also felt that even the more unconventional songs are "more headache-inducing than thrilling."[8] Deviant of Sputnikmusic panned its songs as "the same big-boy slab of molten bass drops and screeching whistles", but without a "spark" or "sense of attitude", and accused Skrillex of producing "the same half-assed bass trends".[14]

In a positive review for MSN Music, Robert Christgau called Bangarang an "electronical vista" and said it is "a pop record because its shamelessly hedonistic barrage of proven dancefloor tricks will obviously be more fun at home than in a club."[2] August Brown of the Los Angeles Times felt that, although Skrillex continues his "singular, manic sound", the "quick" tracks that defined his previous work are "more skillful and sonically intriguing".[19] Ben Rayner of the Toronto Star found it "far smarter than Skrillex's reputation for doling out cheap, bludgeoning bass-bin thrills would let on", and wrote that it displays "a remarkable gift for bending innumerable breeds of club music to his will".[21] Garrett Kamps of Spin called it "spracked out and ridiculous and fun and sometimes disposable".[16] Rolling Stone magazine's Jon Dolan called Skrillex "a magician" whose "trick is turning the elusively thwumping U.K. dance music called dubstep into high-fiving dance-floor heavy metal."[15]

Rolling Stone later named Bangarang the fourteenth greatest EDM album of all time.[1] Christgau named it the sixth best album of 2012 in his list for The Barnes & Noble Review.[23] Bangarang won the Best Dance/Electronica Album award at the 55th Grammy Awards, as well as the Best Dance Recording award for the title track.[24]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Right In"  SkrillexSkrillex 3:00
2. "Bangarang" (featuring Sirah)SkrillexSkrillex 3:35
3. "Breakn' a Sweat" (with The Doors)Skrillex, The DoorsSkrillex 5:02
4. "The Devil's Den" (with Wolfgang Gartner)Skrillex, GartnerSkrillex, Gartner 4:53
5. "Right on Time" (with 12th Planet and Kill the Noise)Skrillex, 12th Planet, Kill the NoiseSkrillex, 12th Planet, Kill the Noise 4:05
6. "Kyoto" (featuring Sirah)Skrillex, SirahSkrillex 3:21
7. "Summit" (featuring Ellie Goulding)SkrillexSkrillex 6:14

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[26] 4
Australian Dance Albums Chart[27] 1
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[28] 89
Canadian Albums Chart[29] 4
Mexican Albums Chart[30] 21
New Zealand Albums Chart[31] 3
Norwegian Albums Chart[32] 25
Polish Albums Chart[33] 33
Scottish Albums Chart[34] 35
Swiss Albums Chart[35] 47
UK Albums Chart[36] 31
UK Dance Albums Chart[37] 1
US Billboard 200[38] 14
US Dance/Electronic Albums[39] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
Australian Albums Chart[40] 18
Australian Dance Albums Chart[41] 1
Canadian Albums Chart[42] 21
Mexican Albums Chart[43] 73
New Zealand Albums Chart[44] 16
US Billboard 200[45] 63
US Dance/Electronic Albums[46] 3

Certifications

Region Certification
Canada[47] Platinum
Canada[47] Platinum
Mexico[48] Gold
New Zealand[49] Platinum
United Kingdom[50] Gold
United States[51] Gold

References

  1. 1 2 Dolan, Jon; Matos, Michaelangelo. "The 30 Greatest EDM Albums of All Time: 14. Skrillex, 'Bangarang' EP Big Beat/Atlantic, 2011". Rolling Stone (New York). Archived from the original on April 28, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Christgau, Robert (February 14, 2012). "Skrillex/Clams Casino". MSN Music. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ Bangarang EP [Big Beat Records / OWSLA. Beatport. Retrieved on 2012-06-06.
  4. ↑ "Bangarang EP Out Now – Blog Detail". skrillex.com. 2011-12-23. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  5. ↑ "Twitter". twitter.com.
  6. ↑ "Twitter". twitter.com.
  7. 1 2 Boles, Benjamin (2012-01-12). "Skrillex – Bangerang EP". Now. Now Communications. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 O'Brien, Jon. "Bangarang – Skrillex". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  9. 1 2 McCall, Tris (2012-01-06). "CD reviews: Skrillex; Rev. Stef and Jubilation; Natasha Paremski". New Jersey On-Line. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  10. 1 2 Shaw, Andrew (2012-01-03). "Music Review: Skrillex – 'Bangarang EP'". Buzzine. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  11. 1 2 Lucas, John (2012-01-06). "Skrillex gleefully mashes up genres on seven-song Bangarang EP". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  12. ↑ "Is the Beyonce Approach Working for Other 'Surprise' Albums?". Billboard.
  13. 1 2 3 4 LeRoy, Dan. "Skrillex – Bangarang EP". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  14. 1 2 3 Deviant (2011-12-23). "Skrillex – Bangarang (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  15. 1 2 3 Dolan, Jon (2012-01-12). "Bangarang". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Kamps, Garrett (2011-12-23). "Skrillex, 'Bangarang' (OWSLA/Big Beat/Atlantic)". Spin. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  17. ↑ Vasquez, Mike (2012-02-06). "Music Review: Skrillex – Bangarang EP". The Stylus. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  18. 1 2 3 Rytlewski, Evan (January 24, 2012). "Skrillex: Bangarang". The A.V. Club (Chicago). Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  19. 1 2 Brown, August (2012-01-24). "Album Review: Skrillex's 'Bangarang'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  20. 1 2 Haynes, Gavin (January 24, 2012). "Skrillex - 'Bangarang'". NME (London). Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  21. 1 2 Rayner, Ben (2012-01-16). "Album reviews: Kathleen Edwards' shimmering sadness, Skrillex's mean skills". Toronto Star. Star Media Group. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  22. ↑ "Bangarang [EP] – Skrillex". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  23. ↑ Christgau, Robert (January 14, 2013). "The Dean's List 2012". The Barnes & Noble Review. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Past Winners Search". Grammy Awards. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Bangarang EP Digital Album". Warner Music Group. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  26. ↑ "Skrillex – Bangarang EP". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  27. ↑ "ARIA Dance – Week Commencing 13th February 2012" (PDF). ARIA Charts. Pandora Archive. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  28. ↑ "Skrillex – Bangarang EP" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  29. ↑ "Canadian Albums : Feb 11, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  30. ↑ "Top 100 México – Semana Del 24 al 30 de Diciembre del 2012" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  31. ↑ "Skrillex – Bangarang EP". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  32. ↑ "Skrillex – Bangarang EP". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  33. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży". OLiS. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  34. ↑ "2012 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  35. ↑ "Skrillex – Bangarang EP". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  36. ↑ "2012 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  37. ↑ "2012 Top 40 Dance Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  38. ↑ "Billboard 200 : Feb 11, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  39. ↑ "Dance/Electronic Albums : Feb 11, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  40. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2012". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  41. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Dance Albums 2012". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  42. ↑ "Top Canadian Albums – 2012 Year End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  43. ↑ "Los Más Vendidos 2012" (PDF) (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  44. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 2012". NZ Top 40. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  45. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums – 2012 Year End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  46. ↑ "Dance/Electronic Albums – 2012 Year End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  47. 1 2 "Canadian album certifications – Skrillex – Bangarang". Music Canada. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
  48. ↑ "Certificaciones – Skrillex" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  49. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Skrillex – Bangarang". Recorded Music NZ. 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
  50. ↑ "British album certifications – Skrillex – Bangarang". British Phonographic Industry. 2013-18-01. Retrieved 2012-08-25. Check date values in: |date= (help) Enter Bangarang in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  51. ↑ "RIAA Gold, Platinum and Multi- Platinum Awards from 1/1/2015 to 1/31/2015" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 13, 2015.
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