Pulses (album)

Pulses
Studio album by Karmin
Released March 25, 2014
Recorded 2012–14
Genre Pop, pop rock, dance-pop, hip hop
Length 42:48
Label Epic
Karmin chronology
  • Pulses
  • (2014)
Singles from Pulses
  1. "Acapella"
    Released: July 9, 2013
  2. "I Want It All"
    Released: January 28, 2014
  3. "Pulses"
    Released: April 1, 2014

Pulses is the debut full-length studio album by pop musical duo Karmin, released on March 25, 2014, by Epic Records.[1]

Release and promotion

In August 2012, Karmin announced they were recording a full-length album, set to be released in November of the same year. The album was then delayed until Summer 2013, but was still not finished.[2] They released the single "Acapella" in early July, stating that the album would follow in September.[3] In August 2013, Dasani featured the song "Try Me On" in its commercials for Dasani Drops.[4] On September 18, 2013, during a live concert on StageIt, Karmin shared that the album is finished, but they are feuding with their label, Epic Records, and are struggling to settle on a second single and a release date for the full record.

On October, the album became available for pre order at the Walmart website. The album was expected to be released on December 31, 2013, but this was later denied by their manager. On October 8, 2013, the duo said through Twitter that they were back in the studio working on the album, with some people speculating that the album would be delayed once again. Currently, the album is scheduled to be released on the first quarter of 2014, with a new single coming before 2013 ends. This single was later confirmed to be "I Want It All".[5] They shot a music video for an unknown song on November 2, 2013, which was later said to be for the title track of the album. Pulses also became available for pre-order on iTunes on February 25, 2014.

On March 11, Karmin announced their "9 Days Of Pulses" that would start 9 days before the release of their highly-anticipated album, Pulses.[6] The promotion consists of playing a "matching cards" game in order to unlock exclusive videos. It also asks you to tweet the "hashtag" #9DaysOfPulses. The duo will pick a winner everyday. The "9 Days Of Pulses" campaign started on the 17th of March and will end on the 25th, leading up to the release of Pulses.

Singles

Karmin released "Acapella" as the first single from Pulses.[7] It premiered on the radio in June 2013. It has peaked at 72 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 9 in New Zealand,[8] and at 4 in Australia, making it their highest charting single in the latter country.[9]

"I Want It All" was chosen as the album's second single in late 2013, and was released on January 28, 2014.[10][11] The music video premiered on February 21, 2014 on Vevo.[12][13]

"Pulses is the title track as well as the third and final single from the album. The music video for the single was premiered on a live Google hangout that Karmin hosted.[14] The Music video was released on the 18th March 2014 on Youtube via Karmin's Vevo channel. [15] The song presents Amy rapping, singing as well as Nick singing. The track was produced by Jon Jon, who previously produced "I Told You So", "I'm Just Sayin'" and "Walking on the Moon" from their previous EP "Hello".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [16]
Knoxville News Sentinel [17]
Rolling Stone [18]
USA Today [19]

Pulses garnered generally mixed reviews from music critics. At USA Today, Brian Mansfield rated the album two-and-a-half stars out of four, writing that on the release the duo "prove to be better at tweaking pop parameters than redefining them."[19] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album two stars out of five, saying that the duo "seem far away from the jokey upstarts that swept the digital nation in 2011, and that's the problem: these are fun songs but they could've been by anybody. It doesn't matter that they're from a Karmin that no longer look or sound like Karmin."[16] At Rolling Stone, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd rated the album one-and-a-half stars out of five, stating that the duo has a "goofy shtick [that] is to decontextualize sounds from other genres until they're utterly meaningless." In addition, Escobedo Shepherd says that "If it all burns down, maybe we deserve it."[18] Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe gave a negative review of the album, writing that "The result is a record with zero vision or identity" because "Of course many pop thrills are ephemeral, but this is a weightless collection filled with numerous trite lyrics (intentionally campy?) and melodic ideas nicked from better dance, hip-pop, or retro new-wave sources."[20] At Knoxville News Sentinel, Chuck Campbell rated the album three stars out of five, stating that even though "Most individual tracks have something going for them, but as a whole, the contrived nature of the arrangements takes its toll, and 'Pulses' loses its overall appeal."[17]

Track listing

The track listing was confirmed on February 21, 2014.[21]

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Geronimo Intro"  
  • Amy Heidemann
  • Nick Noonan
  • Claude Kelly
  • James G. Morales
  • Matt Morales
  • Julio David Rodriguez
The Elev3n 0:41
2. "Pulses"  
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • John Webb Jr.
Jon Jon 3:24
3. "Acapella"  
Johnson 3:19
4. "I Want It All"  
Ryan Williamson 3:47
5. "Night Like This"  
  • Robert Marvin
  • Shearer
 3:02
6. "Neon Love"  
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • Johnson
  • Johnson
 4:27
7. "Drifter"  
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • Webb Jr.
  • Anders Froen
Jon Jon 3:14
8. "Tidal Wave"  
Dre Skull 3:48
9. "Gasoline"  
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • Shearer
  • Emily Warren
  • Marvin
  • Shearer
 3:38
10. "Puppet"  
Nathaniel Motte 3:13
11. "Hate to Love You"  
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • Morales
  • Morales
  • Rodriguez
The Elev3n 3:36
12. "Try Me On"  
The Messengers, Sir Nolan 3:16
13. "What's in It for Me"  
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • Morales
  • Morales
  • Rodriguez
The Elev3n 3:32
Total length:
 42:48

Commercial Performance

"Pulses" debuted at #46 in Australia for the week commencing 7 April 2014.[22]

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref
Canada March 25, 2014
Epic
[23][24]
United States
[25][26]
Australia March 28, 2014
[27]

References

  1. ↑ Wass, Mike (December 18, 2013). "Karmin Unveil Their Fiery ‘Pulses’ Album Cover And Announce Release Date". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ Pajer, Nicole (December 12, 2012). "CHART-TOPPING VIRAL SENSATION KARMIN PREPARES ITS SECOND ACT". Red Bull USA. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  3. ↑ Sheehan, Katie (July 25, 2013). "Karmin to Release "Pulses" in September". Artist Direct. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.karminmusic.com/us/node/1443
  5. ↑ Kevipod (November 1, 2013). "Karmin Announce "Pulses" Headline Tour, New Single and Album Coming Soon". DirectLyrics.com. Spin Media. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  6. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8W8ke40afE
  7. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (June 10, 2013). "Karmin Sings 'Acapella' on New Single: Listen". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Karmin - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  9. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles Chart| Australia's Official Top 50 Songs". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  10. ↑ http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2013/12/12/karmin-i-want-it-all/
  11. ↑ http://www.itemvn.com/song/Karmin-I-Want-It-All-Radio-Rip-I-Want-It-All-Single/7FDE282E7D
  12. ↑ Rought, Karen (February 21, 2014). "Karmin releases ‘I Want It All’ official music video". Hypable. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  13. ↑ "VIDEO: KARMIN – ‘I WANT IT ALL’". Rap-Up.com. February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJAMEiuMHr0
  15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RRrNWF46Ns
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (March 25, 2014). "Pulses - Karmin : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Campbell, Chuck (March 25, 2014). "'Tuned In' review: Karmin pushes too hard with 'Pulses'". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (March 25, 2014). "Karmin 'Pulses' Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Mansfield, Brian (March 24, 2014). "Album of the week: Karmin pulses with energy". USA Today. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  20. ↑ Capobianco, Ken (March 25, 2014). "Album Review: Karmin, 'Pulses'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  21. ↑ Daw, Robbie (February 21, 2014). "Karmin Premiere Flashy "I Want It All" Video & ‘Pulses’ Album Tracklist". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  22. ↑ "ARIA Album Charts". ARIA Charts. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  23. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Pulses by Karmin". iTunes Store (Canada). Apple Inc. March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Pulses: Karmin: Amazon.ca: Music". Amazon.ca. March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  25. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Pulses by Karmin". iTunes Store (United States). Apple Inc. March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Amazon.com: Pulses: Music". Amazon.com. March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  27. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Pulses by Karmin". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple Inc. March 27, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.