Kris Allen (album)

Kris Allen
Studio album by Kris Allen
Released November 17, 2009
Recorded 2009
Genre Pop rock, alternative rock
Length 48:05
Label Jive, 19
Producer Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner, Greg Kurstin, Mike Elizondo, Toby Gad, Eg White, Mike Flynn, Warren Huart, Tobias Karlsson, Joe King, Salaam Remi
Kris Allen chronology

Brand New Shoes
(2007)		 Kris Allen
(2009)		 Thank You Camellia
(2012)
Singles from Kris Allen
  1. "Live Like We're Dying"
    Released: September 21, 2009
  2. "The Truth"
    Released: May 11, 2010[1]
  3. "Alright With Me"
    Released: October 13, 2010
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]
Entertainment Weekly (B-)[3]
Salt Lake Tribune (D)[4]
Slant Magazine [5]
Sputnik Music [6]

Kris Allen is the major-label album debut (second overall) from the American Idol season 8 winner Kris Allen. The album was released on November 17, 2009 in the US. It was released in New Zealand on November 23, 2009.

Album information

Allen has writing credits on 9 of the 12 tracks on the album, including one solo credit for "Red Guitar", a song that he wrote prior to participating in American Idol. "Is It Over" was written by Allen with Cale Mills, who is an Arkansas friend of the "Idol" champ.[7] According to a preview of the album,[8] the tracks are

“ ...big, widescreen adult-alt-pop records reminiscent of VH1 house bands like Carolina Liar, Maroon 5, or Augustana, all full of huge hooky choruses ridiculously readymade for radio. The album is positively teeming with potential hits, and the folks at 19 will have a tough job selecting a follow-up single for the already-released 'Live Like We're Dying'. ”

In a break with American Idol tradition, Allen's Idol "coronation song", "No Boundaries", was not included on his major-label debut, becoming only the second Idol winner album to do so after Taylor Hicks' self-titled album. Instead, a newly recorded version of "Heartless", covered by Allen during his run on Idol, was included as a bonus track.[9] There has been speculation that this was because "No Boundaries" was already included on the Walmart exclusive season 8 compilation album,[10] which is the first time the winning single was included on the season's compilation since Kelly Clarkson in 2002 and is the first new compilation since season five. However, it has been included as part of the deluxe album version at iTunes.

Allen previewed three songs from his album "Written All Over My Face", "Can't Stay Away," and "Before We Come Undone" at a Miami Dolphins tailgate-party before their game against the New Orleans Saints on October 25, 2009.[11]

AOL Music began streaming the full album on November 9, 2009.[12]

The album was released in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2009[13] making its official release before that of the United States.

In general, the album has received mixed reviews, gathering a rating of 52 out of 100 on Metacritic, which assigns a rating for albums based on cumulative reviews.[14]

Singles

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Live Like We're Dying"  Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton, Danny O’Donoghue, Mark SheehanFrampton, Kipner 3:29
2. "Before We Come Undone"  Kris Allen, Lindy Robbins, Greg KurstinKurstin 3:31
3. "Can't Stay Away"  Allen, Robbins, Mike ElizondoElizondo 3:19
4. "The Truth"  Pat Monahan, Toby GadGad 4:40
5. "Written All Over My Face"  Kipner, Frampton, O'Donoghue, SheehanFrampton, Kipner 3:34
6. "Bring It Back"  Allen, Francis WhiteEg White 3:42
7. "Red Guitar"  AllenMike Flynn, Warren Huart 4:27
8. "Is It Over"  Allen, Elizondo, Cale MillsElizondo 3:34
9. "Let It Rain"  Allen, Tobias KarlssonKarlsson 3:29
10. "Alright with Me"  Allen, Joe KingFlynn, King 3:07
11. "Lifetime"  Allen, Elizondo, Jon ForemanElizondo 3:38
12. "I Need to Know"  Allen, Robbins, GadGad 3:34

Chart performance

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 11 with 80,000 sold for the week.[19]

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Canadian Albums Chart 50
U.S. Billboard 200 11

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
US Billboard 200 115[20]

References

  1. ↑ Slezak, Michael (May 5, 2010). .com/2010/05/05/kris-allen-the-truth-pat-monahan-train/ "Kris Allen on the controversy over his new single, 'The Truth" and those added Pat Monahan vocals". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  2. ↑ "Review: Kris Allen". Allmusic. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  3. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  4. ↑ Salt Lake Tribune review
  5. ↑ Keefe, Jonathan. "Kris Allen: Kris Allen". Slant Magazine. Slant Magazine. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
  6. ↑ Sputnik Music review
  7. ↑ Is It Over Songfacts
  8. ↑ "Preview Alert: Reality Rocks Kris Allen Listening Session". music.yahoo.com.
  9. ↑ "Kris Allen: We exclusively reveal the track listing for his self-titled debut!". entertainmentweekly.com.
  10. ↑ "American Idol: Season 8, Various Artists: Pop". Walmart.com. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  11. ↑ "Kris Allen - Miami Tailgate Party - VIDEO". mjsbigblog.com.
  12. ↑ "Kris Allen's Self-Titled Album Now Streaming on AOL". mjsbigblog.
  13. ↑ "Kris Allen: Kris Allen: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  14. ↑ Allen
  15. ↑ ""Live Like We’re Dying" Out Now". krisallenofficial.com.
  16. ↑ "Kris Allen 'Live Like We're Dying' Video Premiere". PopEater.
  17. ↑ "Twitter / Kris Allen: The next single will be "A". Twitter.com. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  18. ↑ "Kris Allen - "Alright With Me" (For The Fans) [VIDEO] | The Official Kris Allen Site". Krisallenofficial.com. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  19. ↑ Brian Mansfield (2009-11-25). "Album sales: Kris Allen fails to make Top 10". Idol Chatter (USA Today).
  20. ↑ "Best of 2010 - Billboard Top 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2010-12-31.

External links