Invincible Summer
Invincible Summer is the fifth solo album by k.d. lang, released by Warner Bros. Records in 2000. The album's title derives from a quote by Albert Camus: "In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."
Invincible Summer | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 20, 2000 | |||
Length | 42:08 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Producer |
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K.d. lang chronology | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 61/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
The A.V. Club | (unfavorable)[3] |
Billboard | (favorable)[4] |
Entertainment Weekly | B−[5] |
Los Angeles Times | [6] |
Mojo | [1] |
Q | [1] |
Robert Christgau | [7] |
Rolling Stone | [8] |
Wall of Sound | (41/100)[9] |
Critical reception
In an Allmusic review, Stacia Proefrock wrote "Glowing with happiness and lovey bliss, this lush album is dripping with the kind of bright, slick production that hasn't seen much light since the Brill Building's heyday. Swelling strings, electronic bubbles and warbles, and the occasional mandolin combine to create a sound that manages to evoke a warm feeling of nostalgia without sounding retro. Topping it all off is lang's smooth-as-maple-syrup voice, which shows even greater range than before."[10]
In a three-and-a-half star Rolling Stone review, James Hunter wrote "On 'Invincible Summer,' k.d. lang reorchestrates the relaxed loveliness of Sixties Southern California pop and, to a lesser extent, Brazilian music...The music is often quick-paced fluff with the retro exactness, and the soul, of a Pottery Barn sofa. But for the most part, lang's lighter musical tack encourages her to retire the galloping self-regard that can cancel the attractiveness of her voice."[11]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The Consequences of Falling" | Marie-Claire D'Ubaldo, Rick Nowels, Billy Steinberg | 3:52 |
2. | "Summerfling" | k.d. lang, David Piltch | 4:15 |
3. | "Suddenly" | Lang, Piltch | 3:32 |
4. | "It's Happening With You" | Lang, Piltch | 2:48 |
5. | "Extraordinary Thing" | Abe Laboriel, Jr., Abraham Laboriel, Lang | 3:35 |
6. | "Love's Great Ocean" | Lang, Ben Mink | 5:40 |
7. | "Simple" | Lang, Piltch | 2:44 |
8. | "What Better Said" | Lang, Abe Laboriel, Jr. | 3:47 |
9. | "When We Collide" | Lang, Abe Laboriel, Jr. | 4:22 |
10. | "Curiosity" | Lang | 3:41 |
11. | "Only Love" | Lang | 3:52 |
Personnel
- k.d. lang - vocals
- Rusty Anderson - guitar
- Wendy Melvoin - guitar
- Smokey Hormel - guitar
- Jon Stewart - guitar
- Rick Baptist - trumpet
- Teddy Borowiecki - accordion, keyboard
- Denyse Buffum - viola
- Larry Corbett - cello
- Mario de Leon - violin
- Joel Derouin - violin
- John Friesen - cello
- John Fumo - trumpet
- Armen Garabedian - violin
- Berj Garabedian - violin
- Jon Hassell - trumpet
- Suzie Katayama - cello
- Peter Kent - violin
- Abe Laboriel Jr. - drums, vocals
- Abraham Laboriel - bass, guitar, vocals
- Damian LeGassick - guitar, keyboard
- Greg Leisz - pedal steel
- Gayle Levant - harp
- Jon Lewis - trumpet
- Ben Mink - violin, keyboard, viola
- Vicki Miskolczy - viola
- Bob Peterson - violin
- David Piltch - bass, guitar, mandolin, cornet, keyboard, human whistle, loop, Moog bass, baritone guitar
- Daniel Smith - cello
- David Stenske - viola
- John Wittenberg - violin
Production
- Producers: David Kahne, Damian LeGassick
- Engineers: Jason Mauza, John Smith
- Assistant engineers: Andy Ackland, Tony Flores, James Stone
- Mixing: Rob Brill, David Kahne, Johnny "Hammond" Smith
- Mastering: Bob Ludwig
- Digital editing: Eric White
- Drum programming: Eric White
- Brass arrangement: Damian LeGassick
- String arrangements: Damian LeGassick, Ben Mink
- Vocal arrangement: Alex Gifford
- Art direction: Jeri Heiden, John Heiden
- Design: Jeri Heiden, John Heiden
- Photography: Just Loomis
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2000) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[12] | 12 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[13] | 45 |
UK Albums Chart[14] | 17 |
United States Billboard 200[15][A] | 58 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[16] | Gold | 35,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
- A^ In the United States, Invincible Summer also entered the Top Internet Albums chart, peaking at #9 there.
References
- "Critic Reviews for Invincible Summer". metacritic.com. Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
- Proefrock, Stacia. Invincible Summer at AllMusic
- Thompson, Stephen (2000-06-20). "k.d. lang: Invincible Summer". avclub.com. The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
- "k.d. lang: Invincible Summer". billboard.com. Billboard. June 24, 2000. Archived from the original on 2001-04-22. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
- Tucker, Ken (2000-07-23). "Invincible Summer Review". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
- Hilburn, Robert (2000-06-11). "ALBUM REVIEW An Adventurous Balance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
- Christgau, Robert. "CG: k.d. lang". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
- Hunter, James (2000-07-06). "k.d. lang: Invincible Summer : Music Reviews". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
- Penn, Roberta. "Invincible Summer". wallofsound.go.com. Wall of Sound. Archived from the original on 2000-08-15. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
- Invincible Summer - k.d. lang | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-03-28
- "k.d. lang: Invincible Summer : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 2008-07-26. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- "Australiancharts.com – k.d lang – Invincible Summer". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- "Charts.nz – k.d lang – Invincible Summer". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- "The Official Charts Company - kd lang - Invincible Summer". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- Allmusic - Invincible Summer - Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.