Situation: Critical
Situation: Critical is Ultra Naté's third album, released on Strictly Rhythm in 1998. The album and especially its lead single, "Free", has become her most successful work of music in the mainstream pop world on both sides of the Atlantic so far. "Found a Cure" and "New Kind of Medicine" were also hit singles. As of July 1999, the album sold 150,000 units in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.[3] She told in an interview about the album, "It has dance elements but it's much broader than just that. There are ballads, mid-tempo grooves. Overall I think it's very warm. I think it's a good llstening album."[4]
| Situation: Critical | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 27, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1996-1997 | |||
| Genre | Electronica, garage house, dance-pop | |||
| Length | 55:16 | |||
| Label | Strictly Rhythm | |||
| Producer | Masters at Work, Mood II Swing, D-Influence | |||
| Ultra Naté chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Situation: Critical | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Music Week | (favorable)[2] |
Critical reception
British magazine Music Week wrote, "As well as tackling traditional disco topics such as the pain of love, self-written songs such as the title track and "Release the Pressure" focus on social comment, always from a personal, uplifting perspective. There are times when the slickness of the production stands in the way of the message, but Ultra Nate's personality always shines through."[2]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Situation: Critical" | Ultra Naté, Al Mack | 5:28 |
| 2. | "New Kind of Medicine" | Naté, Ed Baden-Powell, Kwame Kwaten, Sarah Webb, Steve Marston | 5:02 |
| 3. | "Free" | Naté, Lem Springsteen, John Ciafone | 5:52 |
| 4. | "Found a Cure" | Naté, Ciafone, Woody Pak, Springsteen | 6:06 |
| 5. | "It's Crying Time" | Naté, Springsteen | 3:51 |
| 6. | "Release the Pressure" | Naté, Mack | 5:00 |
| 7. | "Any Ole Love" | Naté, Springsteen | 4:01 |
| 8. | "Love You Can't Deny" | Naté, Baden-Powell, Kwaten, Webb, Marston | 4:38 |
| 9. | "Every Now + Then" | Naté, Springsteen | 3:57 |
| 10. | "Divine Love" | Naté, Carl K. Gonzales, Luis F. Vega | 7:14 |
| 11. | "Found a Cure" (Full Intention Mix) | 4:07 |
Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart[5] | 17 |
References
- AllMusic review
- "Album reviews". Music Week. April 1998.
- "Since signing to the label, Naté has issued the album "Situation: Critical", which has sold 150,000 units in the U.S., according to SoundScan.". Billboard. July 24, 1999. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- "Ultra Nate" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). April 18, 1998. p. 2. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- Ultra Naté - Situation: Critical Charts Stats. Retrieved 2010-06-18.