Broken Bells (album)

Broken Bells
Studio album by Broken Bells
Released March 9, 2010 (2010-03-09)
Recorded Mondo Studio, Los Angeles, CA
Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA (strings)
Genre Indie rock, alternative rock, post-punk revival
Length 37:30
Label Columbia
Producer Danger Mouse
Singles from Broken Bells
  1. "The High Road"
    Released: December 21, 2009
  2. "The Ghost Inside"
    Released: June 28, 2010
  3. "October"
    Released: August 16, 2010
  4. "The Ghost Inside/Meyrin Fields"
    Released: October 25, 2010
  5. "Vaporize (US)"
    Released: January 25, 2011[1]
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]
Drowned in Sound (9/10)[3]
Entertainment Weekly (B+)[4]
The Guardian [5]
idobi [6]
The Independent [7]
NME (7/10)[8]
Pitchfork Media (7.2/10)[9]
Q Magazine [10]
Rolling Stone [11]
Spin [12]
Robert Christgau [13]

Broken Bells is the eponymous debut album from Broken Bells (James Mercer of indie rock band The Shins with producer and multi-instrumentalist Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse), and was released on March 9, 2010.

The first single from the album, "The High Road", was offered as a free download from the band's website on December 21, 2009, before being officially released on December 22, 2009.[14]

A deluxe version of the album was due for release on September 3, 2010.

Contents

Track listing

All songs written by James Mercer and Brian Burton.

No. Title Length
1. "The High Road"   3:52
2. "Vaporize"   3:30
3. "Your Head Is on Fire"   3:04
4. "The Ghost Inside"   3:19
5. "Sailing to Nowhere"   3:46
6. "Trap Doors"   3:19
7. "Citizen"   4:29
8. "October"   3:40
9. "Mongrel Heart"   4:24
10. "The Mall & Misery"   4:07
Bonus Tracks
No. Title Length
11. "An Easy Life"   2:44

Chart performance

Chart Peak position
Billboard 200 7
US Alternative Albums 2
US Rock Albums 3
Australian Albums Chart[15] 20
Canadian Albums Chart 16
Danish Albums Chart 14
Swedish Albums Chart 40
UK Albums Chart 47

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
US Billboard 200 126[16]

Personnel

Broken Bells
Additional personnel
  • Peter Kent – strings
  • Johana Krejci – strings
  • Daniele Luppi – string conductor
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering engineer
  • Miriam Mayer – strings
  • Calabria McChesney – strings
  • Todd Monfalcone – engineer, mixing assistant
  • Michele Nardone – strings
  • Frank W. Ockenfels – photography
  • Carolyn Osborn – strings
  • Anton Riehl – score preparation
  • Christopher J. Tedesco – strings
  • Philip Vaiman – strings
  • Jessica van Velzen – strings
  • Jennifer Walton – strings
  • John Wittenberg – strings
  • Alwyn Wright – strings
  • Adriana Zoppo – strings

Appearances in media

References

  1. ^ http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_usa_singles.htm
  2. ^ Phares, Heather (2010-03-09). "((( Broken Bells > Overview )))". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1716460. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  3. ^ Gourlay, Dom (2010-03-03). "Broken Bells - Broken Bells / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/15114/reviews/4139273. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  4. ^ Reviewed by Leah Greenblatt (2010-03-03). "Broken Bells | Music". EW.com. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20348255,00.html. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  5. ^ Dave Simpson (2010-03-05). "Broken Bells: Broken Bells | CD review | Music". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/mar/04/broken-bells-cd-review. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  6. ^ Thornton, Shingai (2010-03-10). "Album review: James Mercer, Danger Mouse are Broken Bells". idobi. http://idobi.com/news/2010/03/broken-bells-album-review/. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  7. ^ Gill, Andy (2010-03-05). "Album: Broken Bells, Broken Bells (Columbia) - Reviews, Music". London: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-broken-bells-broken-bells-columbia-1916261.html. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  8. ^ "Latest Broken Bells Reviews from NME.com – Music Videos, CDs, Live Gig Reviews & More". Nme.com. http://www.nme.com/reviews/artist/broken-bells. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  9. ^ "Album Reviews: Broken Bells: Broken Bells". Pitchfork. 2010-03-11. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13979-broken-bells/. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  10. ^ "Reviews of Broken Bells by Broken Bells, collected by Any Decent Music". Anydecentmusic.com. 2010-03-03. http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/1599/Broken-Bells.aspx. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  11. ^ By  Will Hermes (2010-04-28). "Broken Bells by Broken Bells | Rolling Stone Music | Music Reviews". Rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/broken-bells-20100303. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  12. ^ Login or Register to post comments. "Broken Bells, 'Broken Bells' (Columbia)". SPIN.com. http://www.spin.com/reviews/broken-bells-broken-bells-columbia. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  13. ^ Consumer Guide
  14. ^ NME (2009-12-21). "Danger Mouse/Shins new band Broken Bells give away new song". http://www.nme.com/news/broken-bells/48981. Retrieved 2009-12-29. 
  15. ^ "Australian Record Industry Association". Ariacharts.com.au. http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_album.asp?chart=1G50. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  16. ^ "Best of 2010 - Billboard Top 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts-year-end/top-billboard-200?year=2010. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 

External links

Broken Bells
Studio albums
Broken Bells (2010)
Extended plays
Singles
"The High Road" • "The Ghost Inside" • "October" • "Vaporize"