Kicker (album)

Kicker
Studio album by Zella Day
Released June 2, 2015 (2015-06-02)
Recorded 2014–15 in Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length 38:10
Label
Producer
Zella Day chronology
Zella Day
(2014)		 Kicker
(2015)
Singles from Kicker
  1. "Hypnotic"
    Released: February 27, 2015
  2. "High"
    Released: May 1, 2015

Kicker is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Zella Day, released on June 2, 2015 by Pinetop Records and Hollywood Records. The album's first single, "Hypnotic", was released on February 27, 2015. It was followed by the album's second single, "High", which was released on May 1, 2015.

Background and development

The first songs of the album began to be produced shortly after Day moved to Las Vegas in 2012. "Sweet Ophelia", the first single from the eponymous extended play was described by the singer as:

The lyrics are very honest. I feel like it's something that not a lot of people write about, being a girl. It's really about losing something that you can't get back. [...] The vulnerability of being a girl.- Zella Day[1]

The song was written and produced in April 2014 in Los Angeles. Besides "Sweet Ophelia", "1965" and "East of Eden" were also produced during this period by the duo of musical producers of Wax Ltda formed by Wally Gagel and Xandy Barry.[2]

We're really excited to be working with this young girl called Zella Day. We signed her when she was only 15. She was coming from a more Nashville background and she wasn't happy with how they were trying to make her sound like a young Taylor Swift.

The Wax duo talking about Day in a interview.[2]

Previously, as a way of promotion, Day did a cover of the song "Seven Nation Army" from the rock duo The White Stripes. The cover reached the top spot on Hype Machine.[1]

The album was officially announced on February 27, 2015, along with the track listing and cover art.[3][4]

Promotion

On September 23, 2014, Day released her eponymous second EP, containing four tracks which would later be included in the final track listing of Kicker.

Later, on February 27, 2015, the album was made official with the release of the "Hypnotic" music video, the first single from album.[3] The first live performances of the songs were made in festivals such as the South by Southwest Festival and Orlabi's.[5]

On May 1, 2015, "High" was released on both Spotify and Vevo.[6][7]

During the same month, a small session of acoustic performances of LP's songs was recorded, and was released the exclusive "Jameson". In the days that preceded the album's release, small snippets of the album's tracks appeared in the social networks of the singer, like Twitter and Facebook, and were also posted on VEVO channel of her.

The song "Compass" was used in the trailer for the disaster drama film The Finest Hours. It has also been used in The Shannara Chronicles.[8]

Critical reception

The album so far has received mixed reviews from music critics. Jon Pareles of The New York Times stated that Day "sings about desire and self-destruction, about pleasure bound up with addiction, betrayal and surrender."[9]

Track listing

Credits adapted from AllMusic,[10] and Tidal.[11]

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Jerome"  
 3:32
2. "High"  
  • WAX LTD
 3:38
3. "Ace of Hearts"  
  • Kerr
  • Barry
  • Gagel
  • Gustav Jonsson
  • WAX LTD
 3:37
4. "1965"  
  • Kerr
  • Barry
  • Jonsson
  • WAX LTD
 3:38
5. "East of Eden"  
  • Kerr
  • Barry
  • Gagel
  • Bonnie Baker
  • WAX LTD
 3:06
6. "Hypnotic"  
  • WAX LTD
  • The Blueprint
 2:56
7. "Mustang Kids" (featuring Baby E)
  • Kerr
  • Barry
  • Gagel
  • Ethan Lowery
  • Alexander Vasquez
  • WAX LTD
 3:02
8. "The Outlaw Josey Wales"  
  • Kerr
  • Barry
  • WAX LTD
 3:08
9. "Jameson"  
  • Kerr
WAX LTD 3:08
10. "Shadow Preachers"  
  • WAX LTD
 2:37
11. "Sweet Ophelia"  
  • Kerr
  • Barry
  • Gagel
  • WAX LTD
 3:09
12. "Compass"  
  • Kerr
  • Barry
  • Michaels
  • WAX LTD
 3:13
Total length:
 38:10

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[12] 65
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[13] 7

Release history

Region Date Format
Worldwide June 29, 2015 Digital stream, Digital download
America June 2, 2015 Digital stream, Digital download, CD, Vinyl
Canada
North America

References

  1. 1 2 "Zella Day Interview". West Coast Fix. August 20, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Wax Ltd: the sound of East LA". musicradar. May 17, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Zella Day unveils 'Hypnotic' video, announces debut album Kicker". The 405. February 27, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Zella Day Reveals 'Kicker' Album Details". Buzznet's Tinadobeena. May 17, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Zella Day wants to impress with her live show; see her at Ortlieb’s". Philly.com. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Zella Day Song Premiere: Hear 'High' From The Pop Newcomer's Debut Album". Billboard. May 1, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ "SWOON: Zella Day Premieres "High"". UNDER THE GUN REVIEW. May 1, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  8. ↑ chase_k (5 January 2016). "Music from The Shannara Chronicles: Season 1 PREMIERE".
  9. ↑ Pareles, Jon (May 29, 2015). "New Albums Feature Mbongwana Star, Karen Dalton Covers and Zella Day". Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  10. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/kicker-mr0004405035
  11. ↑ http://listen.tidal.com/album/45462421
  12. ↑ "Zella Day – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Zella Day. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Zella Day – Chart history" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for Zella Day. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
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