My Head Is an Animal

My Head Is an Animal
Studio album by Of Monsters and Men
Released 20 September 2011 (Icelandic release)
3 April 2012 (International release)
Recorded 26–28 March 2011;
9–25 January 2012
Studio Syrland, Vatnagarðar, Reykjavík[1]
Genre Indie folk, indie pop
Length 59:38
Label Record, Republic
Producer Of Monsters and Men, Aron Arnarsson, Jacquire King
Of Monsters and Men chronology

My Head Is an Animal
(2011)		 Live From Vatnagarðar
(2013)
International release
Singles from My Head Is an Animal
  1. "Little Talks"
    Released: 20 December 2011
  2. "Dirty Paws"
    Released: 12 April 2012
  3. "Mountain Sound"
    Released: 2 September 2012
  4. "King and Lionheart"
    Released: 3 March 2013

My Head Is an Animal is the debut studio album by the Icelandic folk-pop band Of Monsters and Men,[2] released through Record Records in Iceland in 20 September 2011. After their success, topping the Icelandic charts with their debut single, "Little Talks", the band signed with Universal Music Group and the album was released in North America through Republic Records on 3 April 2012. The title of the album comes from the second line in "Dirty Paws".

The international version of the vinyl LP was pressed by United Record Pressing in Nashville, Tennessee.

Release and promotion

Singles

"Little Talks" was released as the debut single by the band, and the lead single from My Head Is an Animal on 20 December 2011,[3] after it had been released as a promo to radio stations in the US and Europe in July 2011.[4] The single propelled the band to nationwide popularity in the US, and has so far sold a million copies there.[5] The success of the single in the US led to the band's signing with Universal Music Group, and the single, along with a revised version of My Head Is an Animal was released in North America on 3 April 2012.[6] The music video for the song debuted in February 2012.

"Dirty Paws" served as the second single from My Head Is an Animal in the UK and Ireland. It was released on 12 April 2012, in the lead up to the album's re-release in Europe. A promotional single followed in June.[7]

"Six Weeks" was released as a promotional single from the album in the UK and Ireland. It was released as a digital download on 27 August 2012.[8]

"Mountain Sound" was released in the US as the second single from the album, and the fourth overall. Seeing a release worldwide as the follow-up to "Little Talks" as well, it was released on 2 September 2012.[9] A music video to accompany the single was released on 24 September.

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [10]
Beats Per Minute 81%[11]
Rolling Stone [12]
Paste Magazine [13]
Sputnik Music [14]

The album received positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic it currently holds a rating of 66/100, signifying generally favourable reviews.[15]

Commercial performance

The album debuted in the United States at number six on the Billboard 200, selling 55,000 units in its first week alone.[16] This marked the best chart performance for an Icelandic musical artist in U.S. history.[16][17] The previous chart record was held by Björk's Volta, which peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 in 2009.[16] As of February 2013, 673,000 copies of My Head Is an Animal have been sold in the United States.[18] In January 2014, the band announced via Facebook that the album had achieved platinum certification in the United States, indicating sales of 1 million copies.[19]

Track listing

All songs are credited to Of Monsters and Men, but were actually written by the band's individuals and/or others. The actual writers are listed alongside the tracks.[20]

Original Iceland release
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Dirty Paws"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson 4:26
2. "King and Lionheart"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir 4:35
3. "Numb Bears"  Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson 2:45
4. "Sloom"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson 4:42
5. "Little Talks"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson 4:24
6. "From Finner"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson, Brynjar Leifsson 3:41
7. "Six Weeks"  Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson 5:32
8. "Love Love Love"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir 4:02
9. "Your Bones"  Ragnar Þórhallsson 4:07
10. "Lakehouse"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Brynjar Leifsson 5:42
11. "Yellow Light" (ends at 4:52; hidden song "Sinking Man" starts at 13:04)Ragnar Þórhallsson 15:45
Total length:
 59:38

Personnel

Of Monsters and Men
Additional musicians
  • Ari Bragi Kárason – trumpet
  • Ragnhildur Gunnarsdóttir – trumpet
  • Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir – French horn
Production (Icelandic release)
  • Of Monsters and Men – producer on all tracks
  • Aron Arnarsson – producer, engineer, mixing on all tracks
  • Styrmir Hauksson – mastering
  • Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson – artwork, design
  • Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir – artwork, design
  • Ragnar Þórhallsson – artwork, design
Production (U.S. release)
  • Of Monsters and Men – producer on tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Aron Arnarsson – engineer, producer on tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12
  • Jacquire King – producer on tracks 2, 3, 4, 11
  • Craig Silvey – mixing
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Heather Kolker – manager
  • Maureen Kenny – A&R
  • Ben Adelson – co-A&R
  • Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson – artwork, design
  • Ragnar Þórhallsson – artwork, design

Album artwork

The picture on the front of the international release is a picture that Brynjar's grandfather took of his friend. The original was black and white; Arnar Hilmarsson added the coloring. The picture on the back is a family picture that Ragnar found in his family pictures.[21]

The pictures on the front and back of the Icelandic release depict men dressed for the Icelandic national sport of Glima.

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2012–13) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[22] 1
Austrian Albums Chart[23] 17
Belgium Albums Chart (Flanders)[24] 14
Belgium Albums Chart (Wallonia)[25] 45
Canadian Albums Chart[26] 4
Danish Albums Chart[27] 36
Dutch Albums Chart[28] 5
French Albums Chart[29] 55
German Albums Chart[30] 4
Icelandic Albums Chart 1
Irish Albums Chart[31] 1
Italian Albums Chart[32] 44
New Zealand Albums Chart[33] 4
Norwegian Albums Chart[34] 23
Spanish Albums Chart[35] 30
Swedish Albums Chart[36] 43
Swiss Albums Chart[37] 29
UK Albums Chart[38] 3
US Billboard 200[39] 6
US Alternative Albums[39] 1
US Rock Albums[39] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
Australian Albums Chart[40] 55
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[41] 57
Dutch Albums Chart[42] 72
US Billboard 200 56
US Billboard Rock Albums 12
US Billboard Alternative Albums 10
Chart (2013) Position
Australian Albums Chart[43] 18
New Zealand Albums Chart[44] 19
US Billboard 200 48
US Billboard Rock Albums 9
US Billboard Alternative Albums 6
Chart (2014) Position
US Billboard Rock Albums[45] 54
US Billboard Alternative Albums [46] 41

Certifications

Region Certification
Australia (ARIA)[47] Platinum
Canada (Music Canada)[48] 2× Platinum
Germany (BVMI)[49] Platinum
Ireland (IRMA)[50] Gold
United States (RIAA)[51] Platinum

References

  1. ↑ Stúdíó Sýrland | About Sýrland Vatnagarðar Reykjavík http://www.syrland.is/syrland/hljodver-syrlands/
  2. ↑ Beckmann, Jim (6 December 2011). "Of Monsters And Men: From Reykjavik With Love", NPR Music. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  3. ↑ "Of Monsters And Men – Little Talks – Single (2011)". iTunes Archive. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  4. ↑ Best New Releases, April 3rd, Vol. I – Of Monsters and Men, The Lumineers, Max and the Moon, Lux, Black Mountain, Twin Steps | Best new indie rock music songs, albums, bands, ...
  5. ↑ Grein, Paul (24 October 2012). "Week Ending 21 October 2012. Songs: Maroon 5′s "Nixon Moment"". Chart Watch (Yahoo Music). Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  6. ↑ "My Head Is an Animal - Of Monsters and Men". iTunes US. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  7. ↑ "Of Monsters And Men – Dirty Paws". Of Monsters And Men Discography. Discogs. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  8. ↑ "Six Weeks - Single Of Monsters and Men". iTunes UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  9. ↑ "Of Monsters And Men – Mountain Sound". Of Monsters And Men Discography. Discogs. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  10. ↑ Collar, Matt (10 July 2012). "My Head Is An Animal - Of Monsters And Men; Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  11. ↑ Ubas, Ace (2012-04-04). "Of Monsters And Men My Head Is An Animal". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  12. ↑ Rosen, Jody (10 July 2012). "My Head Is An Animal". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  13. ↑ Saunders, Hilary (11 April 2012). "Of Monsters And Men: My Head Is An Animal". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  14. ↑ "Of Monsters And Men My Head Is An Animal". Sputnik Music. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  15. ↑ "My Head Is an Animal Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "More Success for Of Monsters And Men". Iceland Review. 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  17. ↑ "Thousands Attend Of Monsters And Men Concert". Iceland Review. 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  18. ↑ Paul Grein (20 February 2013). "Week Ending 17 February 2013. Albums: Mumford’s Grammy Surge". Yahoo Chart Watch.
  19. ↑ |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151822253056331&set=a.378508001330.164872.367200746330&type=1&theater|title=Of Monsters and Men |date=14 January 2014
  20. ↑ BMI Entry
  21. ↑ Url: http://fuckyeahofmonstersandmen.com/post/54615500187/who-is-the-man-on-the-album-cover-for-mhiaa . Retrieved on 7/21/13.
  22. ↑ "australian-charts.com - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". australian-charts.com/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
  23. ↑ "austriancharts.at - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". austriancharts.at/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  24. ↑ "ulttratop.be - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Ultratop (Flanders). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  25. ↑ "ultratop.be - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Ultratop (Wallonia). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  26. ↑ "Of Monsters and Men and Making Sense of Success". Dose.ca. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  27. ↑ "danishcharts.com - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". danishcharts.com/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  28. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". dutchcharts.nl/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  29. ↑ "lescharts.com - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". lescharts.com/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  30. ↑ "Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal - Music Charts". Alpha Charts. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  31. ↑ "Top 100 Individual Artist Albums - Week ending 30th August 2012". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  32. ↑ "Album - Classifica settimanale WK 34 (dal 20/08/2012 al 26/08/2012)". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  33. ↑ "charts.org.nz - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". charts.org.nz/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  34. ↑ "hitparade.ch - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  35. ↑ "TOP 100 ALBUMES" (in Spanish). PROMUSICAE. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  36. ↑ "hitparade.ch - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  37. ↑ "hitparade.ch - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Schweizer Hitparade. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  38. ↑ "Top 40 Official Albums Chart Archive—8 September 2012". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 "My Head is an Animal - Of Monsters and Men". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  40. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2012". ARIA. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
  41. ↑ ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS
  42. ↑ dutchcharts.nl - Dutch charts portal
  43. ↑ http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2013.htm
  44. ↑ "Lorde topped by Sol3 Mio in album charts". New Zelaand Herald. December 25, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  45. ↑ "2014 Year End Charts - Top Billboard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Alternative Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  47. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  48. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal". Music Canada.
  49. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Of Monsters and Men; 'My Head Is an Animal')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  50. ↑ "Irish album certifications – Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  51. ↑ "American album certifications – Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH