Wikked Lil' Grrrls
| Wikked Lil' Grrrls | ||||
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| Studio album by Esthero | ||||
| Released | June 28, 2005 | |||
| Recorded | 2003-2005 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 67:57 | |||
| Label | Reprise Records | |||
| Producer |
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| Esthero chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Wikked Lil' Grrrls | ||||
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Wikked Lil' Grrrls is Canadian American singer Esthero's second album, her first full-length in seven years. It was released on June 28, 2005 in North America by Reprise Records and was her first album to feature a Parental Advisory warning.
Background
Esthero was dropped from Sony Music Entertainment in late 1999 due to poor sales of her first album Breath from Another. She joined Reprise Records the same year. Orlando Puerta, marketing director at Reprise Records noted: "Somehow she persevered, and she is special enough for us not to let go of her." Esthero began writing material for her second studio album before her departure from SME. It took over 4 years and in late 2003 she started recording sessions.
In November 2004 a six-song promotional EP entitled "We R in Need of a Musical ReVoLuTIoN!" was released. It features 3 tracks not included on the album: "The Lull-a-Bye", "I Drive Alone" and "Amber & Tiger's Eye".
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | (57/100)[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    |
| Billboard | |
| Prefix Magazine | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Slant Magazine | |
| Splendid Magazine | |
The album received generally mixed reviews from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 57, based on 8 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews". Predominantly positive review came from Sal Cinquemani by Slant Magazine who awarded it four out of five stars, saying that album "establishes her as the progenitor of what could be called electro-ethno-pop". Billboard magazine also was positive, calling the album "another eclectic musical trip". Rolling Stone gave the album three stars out of five and noted that album "lyrically feisty and stylistically expanded".
Johnny Loftus of Allmusic felt that Wikked Lil' Grrrls is a "personal statement, if not a labor of love", however considers that the album "occasionally gets lost between songwriting, thematics, and stylistic flow". He gave the album 2.5 stars out of 4 and highlighted tracks "We R in Need of a Musical Revolution", "Everyday Is a Holiday (With You)" and "If Tha Mood" as album's highlights.[2] In extremely negative review from Splendid magazine, Mike Meginnis said: "A towering monument to Esthero's overpowering sense of self satisfaction, this mess overstays its welcome and abuses whatever attention you're willing to spend on it. In short, it's not a career highlight".
Singles
"O.G. Bitch" was released in April 2004 as CD single. It became first Esthero single without Doc's assistance and also her first Hot Dance Club hit where it reached number one. Single wasn't included on album.
"We R in Need of a Musical Revolution" was released in October 2004 as six-track EP. A music video was filmed to promote the single, however it failed to chart.
"Fastlane" was released in July 2005 as second single from album. It became second Esthero hit on Hot Dance Club chart where it reached number five. There is no official music video for the single.
Uses in media
The title track appeared on the soundtrack to film Miss Congeniality 2.
The title track was also used in an early promotion for the TV show Desperate Housewives.
The title track was also used in an early promotion for the TV show Las Vegas.[3]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We R in Need of a Musical Revolution" | Esthero, James Robertson, Jully Black, Spookey Ruben | James Robertson, Spookey Ruben, Esthero | 4:06 |
| 2. | "Dragonfly's Intro" | Jemeni | 1:32 | |
| 3. | "Blanket Me in You (Never Is So Soon)" | Esthero, Adam Bravin | Adam 12, Esthero | 4:58 |
| 4. | "Everyday Is a Holiday (With You)" (feat. Sean Lennon) | Esthero, Sean Lennon | Esthero, Sean Lennon | 4:05 |
| 5. | "Thank Heaven 4 You" | Esthero, Camara Kambon | Camara Kambon | 4:30 |
| 6. | "If Tha Mood" (feat. Shakari Nyte) | Doc McKinney, Kobe Eshun, Krista Gonzales | Doc McKinney | 4:31 |
| 7. | "Bad Boy Clyde" | Esthero, Krista Gonzales | Doc McKinney | 3:36 |
| 8. | "Beautiful Lie" | Esthero, Larry Kline | Esthero | 5:10 |
| 9. | "Junglebook" | Esthero, Brian West, Gerald Eaton | Track & Field, Esthero | 4:49 |
| 10. | "My Honeybrown" | Esthero | 0:26 | |
| 11. | "Wikked Lil' Grrrls" | Esthero, Krista Gonzales, Malik Worthy | Doc McKinney, Malik Worthy, Esthero | 4:18 |
| 12. | "Gone" (feat. Cee Lo Green) | Esthero, Keith Crouch, Green, Jubu | Keith Crouch, Kamillion, Esthero | 5:16 |
| 13. | "My Torture" | Esthero, Bravin, Oliver Johnson | Adam 12, Esthero | 6:26 |
| 14. | "Melancholy Melody" | Esthero, James Poyser | Esthero | 4:36 |
| 15. | "Fastlane" (feat. Jelleestone & Jemeni) | Esthero, Krista Gonzales, Doc | Doc McKinney | 4:53 |
| 16. | "Dragonsfly's Outro" | Esthero, Bill Conti | Adam 12, Esthero | 4:05 |
| 17. | "Brave Bear Woman" | Esthero | 0:18 | |
Total length: |
67:57 | |||
References
- ↑ "Reviews for Wikked Lil' Grrrls by Esthero - Metacritic". Apps.metacritic.com. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
- ↑ Johnny Loftus (2005-06-28). "Wikked Lil' Grrrls - Esthero | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/las-vegas-original-tv-soundtrack-mw0000170979
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