In a Perfect World (Kodaline album)

In a Perfect World
Studio album by Kodaline
Released 14 June 2013
Recorded 2012
Genre Indie rock, alternative rock, folk rock
Length 44:09
Label B-Unique/RCA Victor
Kodaline chronology

In a Perfect World
(2013)		 Coming Up for Air
(2015)
Singles from In a Perfect World
  1. "High Hopes"
    Released: 15 March 2013
  2. "Love Like This"
    Released: 31 May 2013
  3. "Brand New Day"
    Released: 23 August 2013
  4. "All I Want"
    Released: 2014
  5. "One Day"
    Released: 6 February 2014

In a Perfect World is the debut studio album by Irish rock band Kodaline. The album was released in Ireland on 14 June 2013 and includes the singles "High Hopes" and "Love Like This". On 20 June 2013 the album entered the Irish Albums Chart at number 1.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 47/100
Review scores
Source Rating
Clash [1]
Consequence of Sound [2]
The Independent [3]
The Guardian [4]
The Observer [5]
DIY
Q
The Irish Times

The album received mixed reviews, and currently holds a score of 47 out of 100 on aggregate review site Metacritic, based on 9 reviews.[6]

Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave the album a mixed review, saying that "Each track nods to the album's namesake by being acutely aware of unobtainable aspirations, but accepting the stark reality nonetheless. Kodaline are not offering a complete folk redesign - albeit some songs lean more towards indie rock than their contemporaries' efforts - but In A Perfect World is packed with enough heart and soul to make it an enjoyable debut."[7] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian also gave the album a mixed review stating "Kodaline have already mastered the craft of piling chorus upon unshakable chorus. Most of these 11 songs contain a killer hook, such as the one that transforms High Hopes from wobbly-lipped ballad to hair-tearing tearjerker. Singer Steve Garrigan has modelled himself on vocalists who are experts at jerking the tears, including Art Garfunkel and Keane's Tom Chaplin, in the service of songs that require him constantly to sound as if he's on the verge of a seizure. All told, there's a lot of bodice-ripping emotion to take in, and it's this, rather than the lack of original ideas, that makes In a Perfect World hard to take in large doses."[4]

Ally Carnwath of The Observer gave the album 2 stars out of 5, and felt "That for all their stadium uplift and notionally anthemic choruses, they never deliver a hook or melodic sucker punch that really floors you."[8] Lauren Murphy of The Irish Times gave a similar review, saying "Kodaline are a bit drab...It sounds like [they] are more focused on ticking boxes in order to appeal to their target audience, than on blazing their own trail by attempting something original."[9] Bevis Man from DIY gave a negative review, saying "Let’s be frank here, what this band needs is a punch in the face and to grow some balls. It’s hard not to imagine the band, all still in their 20s, writing the album wistfully looking out of a window and feeling incredibly sorry for themselves."[10] Q Magazine were highly critical of the album, calling it "Entirely meritless", and awarded 1 star out of 5.

Singles

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "One Day"   4:15
2. "All I Want"   5:05
3. "Love Like This"   3:36
4. "High Hopes"   3:50
5. "Brand New Day"   3:25
6. "After The Fall"   3:35
7. "Big Bad World"   4:21
8. "All Comes Down"   4:55
9. "Talk"   4:28
10. "Pray"   3:33
11. "Way Back When"   3:26

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013-14) Peak
position
scope="row" Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 24
scope="row" Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] 44
scope="row" Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[13] 79
scope="row" Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[14] 8
scope="row" Irish Albums (IRMA)[15] 1
scope="row" Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] 2
scope="row" Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 8
scope="row" UK Albums (OCC)[18] 3
US Billboard 200[19] 89
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[20] 16
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[21] 22
US Top Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[22] 7
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[23] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Irish Albums (IRMA)[24] 6
Chart (2014) Position
Irish Albums (IRMA)[25] 10

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Ireland (IRMA)[26] 2× Platinum 30,000x
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[27] Gold 10,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Gold 100,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Ireland 14 June 2013 Digital download, CD B-Unique

References

  1. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (7 June 2013). "Kodaline: In a Perfect World – review". Clash. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  2. ↑ Hardy, Tony (20 June 2013). "Album Review: Kodaline - In a Perfect World". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Gill, Andy (14 June 2013). "Album review: Kodaline, In a Perfect World (B-Unique)". The Independent. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sullivan, Caroline (20 June 2013). "Kodaline: In a Perfect World – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Carnwath, Ally (16 June 2013). "Kodaline: In a Perfect World – review". The Observer. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Critic Reviews for In a Perfect World". Metacritic. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  7. ↑ "Kodaline: 'In A Perfect World' - Album review". Digital Spy.
  8. ↑ Ally Carnwath (2013-06-16). "Kodaline: In a Perfect World – review | Music | The Observer". Guardian. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  9. ↑ "Kodaline: In a Perfect World". Irish Times.
  10. ↑ "Kodaline - In A Perfect World | Album Reviews | DIY". Thisisfakediy.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  11. ↑ "Kodaline – In a Perfect World". Australiancharts.com. Hung Medien.
  12. ↑ "Kodaline – In a Perfect World" (in Dutch). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien.
  13. ↑ "Kodaline – In a Perfect World" (in French). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien.
  14. ↑ "Kodaline – In a Perfect World" (in Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien.
  15. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 14, 2014". Chart-Track. IRMA.
  16. ↑ "2013-06-29 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company.
  17. ↑ "Kodaline – In a Perfect World". Swisscharts.com. Hung Medien.
  18. ↑ "2013-06-29 Top 40 UK Albums Archive". Official Charts Company.
  19. ↑ "Kodaline Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for Kodaline. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Kodaline Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for Kodaline. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Kodaline Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Kodaline. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  22. ↑ "Kodaline Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums for Kodaline. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  23. ↑ "Kodaline Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Independent Albums for Kodaline. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  24. ↑ "Best of 2013 – Top 20 Albums". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  25. ↑ ">> IRMA << Welcome to our site >>". irma.ie.
  26. ↑ "Irish album certifications – Kodaline – In a Perfect World". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  27. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Kodaline; 'In a Perfect World')". Hung Medien.
  28. ↑ "British album certifications – Kodaline – In a Perfect World". British Phonographic Industry. Enter In a Perfect World in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search