War & Leisure

War & Leisure is the fourth studio album by American singer Miguel, released on December 1, 2017, through RCA Records.[4][5] The album was preceded by the release of the first single: "Sky Walker" featuring Travis Scott. The album features further guest appearances from Rick Ross, Quiñ, Kali Uchis, J. Cole and Salaam Remi, with production led by Miguel himself, alongside a variety of contributors including Happy Perez, Steve Mostyn, David Andrew Sitek. Detail, Raphael Saadiq, Jeff Bhasker, Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis and Remi, among others.

War & Leisure
A man wearing a colorful shirt with dress clothes appears to be in the center of a sand wall background
Studio album by
Miguel
ReleasedDecember 1, 2017 (2017-12-01)
Studio
Various
Genre
Length48:02
Language
Label
Producer
Miguel chronology
Wildheart
(2015)		 War & Leisure
(2017)		 Te Lo Dije
(2019)
Singles from War & Leisure
  1. "Sky Walker"
    Released: August 24, 2017
  2. "Told You So"
    Released: November 3, 2017
  3. "Come Through and Chill"
    Released: April 10, 2018[3]

Background

He describes the album as having "political undertones, because that’s what life feels like right now".[6] He also announced that a Spanish version of the album is in the works.[7]

Release and promotion

An early version of the song "Come Through and Chill" was uploaded to Miguel's SoundCloud page on June 23, 2016. It did not feature vocals by J. Cole, but ended up on the final version.[8][9]

The album's lead single, "Sky Walker", featuring American rapper Travis Scott was released on August 24, 2017.[10][11] The song charted at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Miguel's second-highest charting single as a lead artist since 2012's "Adorn".[12] The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was also certified gold by Music Canada (MC), becoming Miguel's first certified single in that country.

"Told You So", was released on November 3, 2017, as the second single from the album.[13]

Miguel partnered with Revolve Impact and headlined in Schools Not Prisons, along with other partners in late 2017 to spread awareness of the overuse of mass incarceration in California.[14] Footage from his Adelanto stop was used in the music video for "Now".[15][16] He premiered medleys of "Criminal", "City of Angels", and "Now" on the tour.

Promotional singles

The track "Pineapple Skies" was released on November 17, 2017, as a promotional single from the album.[17][18][19]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.6/10[20]
Metacritic81/100[21]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[22]
The A.V. ClubB+[23]
Consequence of SoundB+[24]
Exclaim!8/10[25]
The Guardian[2]
The Irish Times[26]
NME[27]
Pitchfork8.1/10[28]
Rolling Stone[1]
Slant Magazine[29]

War & Leisure was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 81 based on 19 reviews.[21] Reviewing for The Observer, Kitty Empire noted the record's musical daring and scope, while writing that "Miguel's versatility and sureness of touch recall that of [Michael] Jackson in his pomp".[30] Robert Christgau was less enthusiastic in his capsule-review column for Vice, citing "City of Angels" and "Sky Walker" as highlights while finding the album overall to be "more leisurely than the title might make you hope, believe, or fear".[31]

Commercial performance

War & Leisure debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 and topped the Billboard US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with sales 40,000 album-equivalent units in its first week of release.[32] On January 24, 2019, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of 500,000 units in the United States.[33]

Track listing
War & Leisure[34]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Criminal" (featuring Rick Ross)
  • Sitek
  • Miguel
4:34
2."Pineapple Skies"
4:41
3."Sky Walker" (featuring Travis Scott)
  • Miguel
  • Happy Perez
4:19
4."Banana Clip"
  • Pimentel
  • Steve Mostyn
  • Miguel
  • Mostyn
3:21
5."Wolf" (featuring Quiñ)
  • Saadiq
  • Sir Dylan[b]
3:29
6."Harem"
  • Pimentel
  • Perez
  • Perez
  • Miguel
3:13
7."Told You So"
  • Miguel
  • Perez
  • Bhasker
3:10
8."City of Angels"
  • Pimentel
  • Perez
  • Perez
  • Miguel
4:18
9."Caramelo Duro" (featuring Kali Uchis)
  • Mostyn
  • Miguel
3:33
10."Come Through and Chill" (featuring J. Cole and Salaam Remi)
Remi5:22
11."Anointed"
3:53
12."Now"
  • Miguel
  • Perez
4:09
Total length:48:02

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer.
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer.

Sample credits

Personnel

Musicians[35]

  • Miguel – lead artist
  • Rick Ross – featured artist (track 1)
  • Travis Scott – featured artist (track 3)
  • Quiñ – featured artist (track 5)
  • Kali Uchis – featured artist (track 9), background vocals (track 9)
  • J. Cole – featured artist (track 10)
  • Salaam Remi – featured artist (track 10)

Technical[35]

  • Miguel - production (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6-9, 12), instrumentation (tracks 1, 3-8, 11, 12), programming (tracks 3, 6-8, 12), guitar (tracks 6, 7, 10, 12), keyboards (track 7), engineering (track 11)
  • Salaam Remi - production (track 10), co-production (track 2), bass (track 10), drums (track 10), keyboards (track 10)
  • David Andrew Sitek – production (track 1), instrumentation (track 1)
  • Noel "Detail" Fisher – production (track 2), engineering (track 2)
  • Happy Perez – production (tracks 3, 6-8, 12), instrumentation (tracks 3, 6-8, 12), programming (tracks 3, 6-8, 12), guitar (tracks 3, 6-8, 12), keyboards (tracks 3, 7)
  • Steve Mostyn – production (tracks 4, 9), instrumentation (track 4)
  • Raphael Saadiq – production (track 5), instrumentation (track 5)
  • Jeff Bhasker – production (track 7), instrumentation (track 7), programming (track 7), guitar (track 7), keyboards (track 7)
  • Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis – production (track 11), instrumentation (track 11)
  • Sidney Swift – co-production (track 2)
  • Arden "Keyz" Altino – co-production (track 11), keyboards (track 11)
  • Eyal Federman – co-production (track 2)
  • Sir Dylan – additional production (track 5), instrumentation (track 5)
  • David Davis – bass programming (track 1), drums (track 6), additional guitars (track 12), engineering (tracks 1-4, 6, 7, 9, 12), additional engineering (track 5, 11), mixing (track 1, 3, 4, 6, 12)
  • Rogét Chahayed – instrumentation (track 3), keyboards (track 3)
  • Ronald "RJ" Kelly – drums (track 4)
  • Bobby Avila – additional instrumentation (track 4)
  • Izzy Avila – additional instrumentation (track 4)
  • Jayme Silverstein – bass (track 7)
  • Bernard Grobman – additional guitar (track 11)
  • Brandyn Porter – additional guitar (track 11)
  • Gleyder "Gee" Disla – engineering (tracks 2, 10), mixing (track 10)
  • Hotae Alexander Jang – engineering (track 5)
  • Alex Williams – engineering (track 8)
  • Serge Tsai – engineering (track 11)
  • Bo Bodnar – engineering assistance (tracks 1-3, 6, 7, 12)
  • Chad Gordon – engineering assistance (tracks 1-3)
  • Cousin – engineering assistance (track 1)
  • Joshua Adams – engineering assistance (track 2)
  • Roberto Moreno – engineering assistance (track 4), mixing assistance (track 12)
  • Chaz Sexton – engineering assistance (track 6)
  • William Delaney VI – engineering assistance (tracks 7, 12)
  • Michael Peterson – engineering assistance (tracks 9, 12), mixing assistance (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6)
  • Jaycen Joshua – mixing (track 2)
  • Bobby Campbell – mixing (tracks 5, 11)
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (track 7)
  • Christian Plata – mixing (tracks 8, 9)
  • Gerry Brown – mixing (track 11)
  • David Nakaji – mixing assistance (track 2)
  • Ben Milchev – mixing assistance (track 2)
  • Scott Moore – mixing assistance (track 5)
  • Michael Freeman – mixing assistance (track 7)
  • Geoff Swan – mixing assistance (track 7)
  • Joseph Valdovinos – mixing assistance (tracks 8, 9)
  • Wesley Seidman – mixing assistance (track 11)
  • Casey Cuayo – mixing assistance (track 11)
  • Wayne Barrow – associate production
  • Mike Bozzi – mastering
  • Randy Merrill – mastering (track 3)

Miscellaneous

  • Miguel - A&R, executive production
  • Mark Pitts – A&R, executive production
  • Leticia Hilliard – A&R coordination
  • Jordan Feldstein – management
  • Elena Awbrey – management
  • Erwin Gorostiza – creative direction (RCA)
  • Brian Roettinger – art direction, design
  • Timothy Saccenti – photography
  • Van Van Alonso – styling
  • Nadia Mohammadpour – grooming
  • Heath Mattioli – set design
  • Annee Elliot – shoot production

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[45] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Johnston, Maura (December 2, 2017). "Review: Miguel Throws a Psychedelic-Funk Party for a World in Flames". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  2. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (December 2, 2017). "Miguel: War & Leisure review – brilliantly imaginative pop". The Guardian. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  3. "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access. All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  4. "Miguel Announces Release Date For "War & Leisure"; Drops Video For "Told You So"". Hotnewhiphop.com. 3 November 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  5. "Miguel confirms new album release date, shares "Told You So"". Thefader.com. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  6. Lamarre, Carl (November 3, 2017). "Miguel Announces New Album 'War & Leisure', Shares 'Told You So' Video". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  7. "Miguel says he's releasing a Spanish version of War & Leisure".
  8. "Miguel - Come Through and Chill (Prod. By Salaam Remi)". HNHH. 24 June 2016.
  9. "Come Through and Chill prod. By Salaam Remi".
  10. "Sky Walker (feat. Travis Scott) – Single by Miguel on Apple Music". itunes.apple.com. 25 August 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  11. "Miguel Featuring Travis Scott – Sky Walker (2017, File)". Discogs.
  12. "Miguel Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  13. "Miguel Shares New Single "Told You So," Announces Upcoming Album". Highsnobiety.com. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  14. "R&B Singer Miguel Headlines Concert to Close Immigrant Prisons". California Endowment. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  15. Reed, Ryan (1 December 2017). "Watch Miguel's Stirring, Politically Charged 'Now' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  16. Appleford, Steve (7 November 2017). "Inside Miguel's Political Awakening". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  17. "Hear Miguel's Shimmering New Song 'Pineapple Skies'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  18. "Miguel Shares "Pineapple Skies" Off His Upcoming 'War & Leisure' Album". Complex. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  19. "Miguel Comes Through With His Latest Single "Pineapple Skies"". Hotnewhiphop.com. 16 November 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  20. Anon. (n.d.). "War & Leisure by Miguel reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  21. "War & Leisure Lips by Miguel". Metacritic. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  22. Kellman, Andy (2018). "War & Leisure - Miguel". AllMusic. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  23. Garner, Marty Sartini (December 1, 2017). "Here are 3 new albums you should know about this week". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  24. Moulton, Katie (December 2, 2017). "Miguel – War & Leisure". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  25. Mullin, Kyle (December 2, 2017). "Miguel War & Leisure". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  26. Bruton, Louise (December 1, 2017). "Miguel review: an irresistible come-on with a woke mentality". The Irish Times. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  27. Bassett, Jordan (December 2, 2017). "Miguel – 'War & Leisure' Review". NME. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  28. Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (December 2, 2017). "Miguel: War & Leisure Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  29. Hoskins, Zachary (December 2, 2017). "Miguel: War & Leisure". Slant Magazine. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  30. Empire, Kitty (December 3, 2017). "Miguel: War & Leisure review – the new Michael Jackson?". The Observer. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  31. Christgau, Robert (June 1, 2018). "Robert Christgau on the Bold Pop of Janelle Monáe and Perfume Genius". Vice. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  32. "Miguel War & Leisure Debuts at Number 1 on Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  33. "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  34. "War & Leisure by Miguel on Apple Music". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  35. "War & Leisure". www.tidal.com. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  36. "Australiancharts.com – Miguel %5BUS%5D – War & Leisure". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  37. "Miguel Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  38. "Dutchcharts.nl – Miguel %5BUS%5D – War & Leisure" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  39. "Charts.nz – Miguel %5BUS%5D – War & Leisure". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  40. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  41. Caulfield, Keith (December 10, 2017). "U2 Scores Eighth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Songs of Experience'". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  42. "Miguel Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  43. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  44. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  45. "American album certifications – Miguel – War & Leisure". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
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