Thank You Camellia
Thank You Camellia is the third studio album and second major-label album by American singer-songwriter Kris Allen. It was released on May 22, 2012.[4]
| Thank You Camellia | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 22, 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Kris Allen chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Thank You Camellia | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[1] |
| People |   [2] |
| AllMusic |  [3] |
Background
Allen confirmed on April 4, 2012, via a WhoSay Twitter-based fan interview (and reiterated in following interviews) that the album's title is a reference to the home that he shared with friends from his home state of Arkansas while living in Los Angeles, where he recorded the majority of the songs featured on his sophomore release.[5]
Reception
Entertainment Weekly's Grady Smith gave the album a positive (B+) review. Ceding that the songs may come off "downright Amish" compared to contemporaries on the pop charts, Smith noted that "Allen delivers his lyrics with an earnest confidence (and occasional swagger) that keeps his songs from becoming treacly," concluding that the album was "a cohesive, warmhearted charmer."[1] USA Today's Brian Mansfield also described it as "warmhearted" with "charming flourishes."[6] People gave the album 3 out of 4 stars, calling it a "smoothly and surely executed . . . winner."[2] Yahoo Music's Lyndsey Parker observed that "[Allen's] songwriting skills have clearly grown more sophisticated," praising the range of the material from "jaunty, summer-convertible-cruising anthems" to darker tracks such as "the propulsive and sinister alt-rocker 'Monster'" and noting that "the lyrics are plain-spoken, refreshingly unflowery, and . . . cut right to the heart of the matter."[7]
Singles
The only single from the album is "The Vision of Love", which was released digitally on March 26, 2012. [8]
Live performances
Allen performed new material from his forthcoming album for the first time at a sold out show at The Mint in Los Angeles on February 9, 2012.[9]
Allen performed "The Vision of Love" and other new material from his forthcoming album at the Live in the Vineyard festival on April 13 at the Uptown Theater, in Napa, California. The show also featured Jason Mraz, Mayer Hawthorne, Mat Kearney, and more.[4]
He also performed at Mix 94.1's Pet-a-Palooza in Las Vegas on April 21, 2012. On May 19, 2012, Allen performed songs from the record on 96.9 WINK FM's Spring Fling. He also covered "She Works Hard for the Money", paying respect to the late Donna Summer.
Track listing
The track list was revealed on April 10, 2012.[10]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Better With You" | Tim Pagnotta | 3:14 | |
| 2. | "The Vision of Love" | The Messengers | 3:34 | |
| 3. | "My Weakness" |
| Bonilla | 2:43 |
| 4. | "Out Alive" |
| Pagnotta | 3:42 |
| 5. | "Monster" |
| Curt Schneider | 3:35 |
| 6. | "Blindfolded" | Bonilla | 3:09 | |
| 7. | "Teach Me How Love Goes" |
| Pagnotta | 3:26 |
| 8. | "Rooftops" |
|
| 3:02 |
| 9. | "Leave You Alone" |
| Schneider | 4:22 |
| 10. | "Loves Me Not" (featuring Meiko) |
| Schneider | 3:33 |
| 11. | "You Got a Way" |
| Schneider | 3:30 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Turn the Pages" |
| DeStefano | 3:01 |
| 13. | "Fighters" |
|
| 3:03 |
| 14. | "The Vision of Love" (Maison & Dragen Radio Remix) |
| Maison & Dragen | 3:47 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Shut That Door" (Acoustic) |
| Schneider | 2:52 |
| 16. | "The Vision of Love" (Acoustic) |
| Schneider | 3:37 |
| 17. | "Better with You" (Acoustic) |
| Schneider | 2:58 |
| 18. | "Out Alive" (Acoustic) |
| Schneider | 3:44 |
| 19. | "Leave You Alone" (Acoustic) |
| Schneider | 4:38 |
Release formats
- CD, Vinyl – containing the 11-track album.
- Deluxe Digital version – 14-track edition containing the album plus three bonus tracks.
- CD Fan version – 19-track edition containing the album plus three bonus tracks and five acoustic recordings.
Credits and personnel
- Performance credits
- All vocals – Kris Allen
- Background vocals – Kevin Kadish, Boots Ottestad
- Featured artist – Meiko
- Instruments
- Bass – Kris Allen, David Baron, Jonathan Berry, Kevin Kadish, Curt Schnedier
- Drums – Carlos de la Garza, Ryland Steen, Kevin Weaver
- Electric slide guitar – Bruce Watson
- Fender Rhodes – David Baron
- Guitars – Kris Allen, Jonathan Berry, David Givhan, Kevin Kadish, David Levita, Boots Ottestad
- Hammond B3 – David Baron
- Keyboards – Zac Rae
- Mandolin – Bruce Watson
- Percussion – Kris Allen
- Piano – Francois-Paul Aiche, Kris Allen, Kevin Kadish, Boots Ottestad
- Polysix – Kevin Kadish
- Shaker – Kevin Weaver
- Strings – David Baron
- Tambourine – Kevin Weaver
- Viola – Chris Woods
- Violin – Chris Woods
- Production
- A&R – Rob Inadomi, Myles Lewis, Keith Naftaly, Iain Pirie
- Assistant – Ryan Lipman
- Art directors – Maria P. Marulanda
- Design – Maria P. Marulanda
- Creative director – Erwin Gorostiza
- Engineer – J. Bonilla, Jorge Costa, Carlos de la Garza, Ryan Gillmor, Kevin Kadish, Gavin MacKillop, Tim Pagnotta, Daniele Rivera, Curt Schnedier
- Assistant engineer – Daniele Rivera
- Instrumentation – Adam Messinger
- Groomer – Su Han
- Management – Josh Klemme
- Mastering – Chris Gehringer
- Mixers – Phil Tan, Jon Zook
- Producers – J. Bonilla, Kevin Kadish, Maison & Dragen, Adam Messinger, Nasri, Boots Ottestad, Tim Pagnotta, Curt Schnedier
- Vocal producer – JP Clark
- Programming – Brandon Belsky
- Drum programming – Kevin Kadish
- Photographer – Leann Mueller
- Sound design – Kevin Kadish
- Studio assistant – Jared Woodard
- Stylist – Scott Free
Release dates
| Country | Date | Label | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | May 18, 2012 | RCA Records |
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| United Kingdom | May 21, 2012 | ||
| United States |
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| Worldwide | Sony Music Entertainment | May 22, 2012 |
References
- Grady Smith (May 16, 2012). "Music Review: Thank You Camellia (2012), Kris Allen". Retrieved May 17, 2012.
- "Kris Allen: Thank You Camellia". People. June 4, 2012.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Thank You Camellia at AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- "American Idol Season 8 Winner Kris Allen to Release Brand New Album Thank You Camellia May 22nd on 19 Recordings/RCA Records". RCA Music. March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- "Kris Allen answers questions via Twitter". WhoSay. April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- Brian Mansfield (May 18, 2012). "Kris Allen looks beyond himself on 'Thank You Camellia'". Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- Lyndsey Parker (May 19, 2012). "Giving Thanks For Kris Allen's 'Thank You Camellia'". Retrieved May 19, 2012.
- "Get "The Vision of Love" on iTunes!". RCA News.
- Lyndsey Parker (February 10, 2012). "Kris Allen Debuts Mint-y Fresh New Songs at Rare L.A. Show". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- MJ Santilli (April 9, 2012). "Kris Allen Reveals "Thank You Camellia" Track List". Retrieved May 7, 2012.