The Haunted Man (album)
The Haunted Man | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by Bat for Lashes | ||||
Released | 12 October 2012 | |||
Recorded | 2010–12 | |||
Studio | Abbey Road Studios, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 51:28 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Producer | ||||
Bat for Lashes chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from The Haunted Man | ||||
|
The Haunted Man is the third studio album by English singer and songwriter Natasha Khan, professionally known as Bat for Lashes. It was released on 12 October 2012 by Parlophone. The album was preceded by the lead single "Laura", which was released on 24 July 2012.
Background
Khan stated in July 2012 that, after she returned home in March 2010 from touring in support of Two Suns (2009), she tried to rehabilitate herself to rebuild a sense of who she was without the music.[4] In May 2010, Khan stated that although she had enough songs to put out as an album, she wanted to take more time working on new material, as she had been on tour for a long time, and found it boring to write songs about being on tour.[5] She experienced a "profound writer's block", which led her to call Thom Yorke, lead singer of Radiohead, to ask, "What do you do when you feel like you're going to die because you can't write anything?"[4] He advised her to draw, and subsequently Khan took life-drawing classes and a children's illustration course. Combined with intensive dance classes to boost her confidence, Khan began to feel inspiration enough to begin writing again, penning the album's opening song, "Lilies", which she said was inspired by a scene in the 1970 film Ryan's Daughter.[4]
The album's artwork was photographed by American photographer Ryan McGinley,[6] and features a nude Khan carrying an also naked man on her back.[7] Khan told the NME: "I really wanted to strip things back in honour of women like Patti Smith; just these raw, honest women. I had no make-up on, it's just me and my haunted man!"[6]
Singles
"Laura" was released as the album's lead single on 24 July 2012.[8] The song reached number 144 on the UK Singles Chart.[9] "All Your Gold" was released as the second single from the album on 19 September 2012,[10] and was sent to US triple-A radio stations on 22 October.[11] "A Wall" was released as the album's third and final single on 18 February 2013.[12]
Critical reception
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 78/100[13] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [14] |
The A.V. Club | B−[15] |
The Daily Telegraph | [16] |
The Guardian | [17] |
The Independent | [18] |
NME | 8/10[19] |
Pitchfork Media | 8.4/10[20] |
Q | [21] |
Rolling Stone | [22] |
Spin | 8/10[23] |
The Haunted Man received generally positive reviews from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 78, based on 35 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[13] Pitchfork Media's Marc Hogan named The Haunted Man "one of the year's most beguiling albums", writing that it "sounds like effort magnificently realized. The rawness of feeling is achieved through equally raw ambition."[20] Ben Hewitt of the NME commented that "while The Haunted Man deals in less trinkets than its predecessor, it's not scant in splendour. Instead, for large swathes, it's like being plunged into a fairytale soundtracked by skin-prickling electro and populated by downtrodden sods hunting for breadcrumbs of comfort."[19] Rolling Stone's Will Hermes praised the album as Khan's "sexiest, spookiest LP", stating that "the visions here seem all her own. And they're pretty awesome."[22] Spin's Julianne Escobedo Shepherd felt that it was "strongest in its simplest moments".[23] The Guardian critic Alexis Petridis wrote that The Haunted Man "sounds like a bold, confident album that strips away a lot of the sonic embellishments from Khan's sound", adding that "[p]erhaps it's the sound of someone who's worked out that less can sometimes be more, that not trying too hard isn't the same as not trying."[17] Q noted a sense of clarity on the album "that comes from the sense of physical boundaries being pushed, of personal space being tested to its limits".[21]
Heather Phares of AllMusic opined, "Focus and restraint might not sound exciting in and of themselves, but The Haunted Man is more direct than any of Bat for Lashes' previous work, and manages to keep the air of mystique around Khan that has made her one to watch and listen to since her early days."[14] Slant Magazine's Kevin Liedel viewed that "while the album's comparatively restrained arrangements occasionally wilt in the face of Khan's fierce melodrama, The Haunted Man is still a worthy, often gorgeous entry in the Bat for Lashes canon."[24] In a mixed review, Annie Zaleski of The A.V. Club critiqued that Khan's "moody charisma and piercing vocals ensure the album is still an enjoyable listen. All the same, it's disappointing that The Haunted Man's beauty is too often only skin deep."[15] Despite citing the album as Khan's "strongest yet", The Observer's Kitty Empire felt that it "does not [...] deal the killer blow of originality that by now Khan should have in her power", concluding that "The Haunted Man is an assured and sonically seductive record—if only it didn't echo a little too often the sound of other women's work."[25] Andy Gill of The Independent argued that "[t]here are moments on The Haunted Man when Natasha Khan's carefully-marshalled musical forces evoke exactly the right ambience for songs pivoting on the notion of renewal. But sometimes the recurrent mood of ecstatic affirmation of life that's evident in her singing can be short-changed by arrangements that fuss to no great purpose, dissipating their impact in brittle beats and pointless detail."[18] Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph expressed that although the album "occasionally draw[s] blood", it "doesn't live up to its stripped and dangerous cover", adding, "For every song that opens up and invites you in to experience the startling wonders of [Khan's] private world, there's another that just hangs like a gauzy veil of unusual sounds and vague lyrics, not so much impenetrable as too insubstantial to be worth the effort of investigation."[16]
Accolades
The album was listed at number six on Spin's 50 Best Albums of 2012, and the magazine wrote, "[W]hen the often-fantastical, mythology-loving [...] Bat for Lashes dropped a testament to her strength—an open, plaintive meditation on courage, self-esteem, and coming into one's own that also pushed her opulent, operatic sound forward—it was cultural reinforcement that self-sacrifice needn't be a part of the female pop-star narrative."[26] DIY named The Haunted Man the 10th best album of 2012, stating it "shines as an exemplary beacon of what can be achieved within the mainstream, given great ambition and artistic integrity."[27] Pitchfork Media placed the album at number 17 on its list of The Top 50 Albums of 2012, calling it "empathetic, bold, and outlandish".[28] The Haunted Man was ranked the 21st and 22nd best album of 2012 by The Guardian and the NME, respectively.[29][30]
PopMatters included the album at number 33 on its list of The 75 Best Albums of 2012 and noted that it "lays off the thick orchestration to reveal even more rhythmic complexity than usual", while citing it as Khan's "richest release".[31] It was named the 40th best album of 2012 by Fact magazine, which opined that Khan's "mimicry of Kate Bush outpaces her contemporaries (ahem, Florence) and sonically, the influence of austere, icy post-punk is a welcome development. The Haunted Man is not perfect, but with standouts like 'Laura' and 'Lilies', it's a well-composed pop album."[32] AllMusic ranked The Haunted Man as the 44th best album of 2012 and commented it contains "some of [Khan's] most striking and vital-sounding songs yet", concluding, "Balancing the primal beauty of her first album and the elaborate character studies of her second, she moved between sparkling synth pop and spare piano balladry with a dreamlike ease that reaffirmed her as one of pop's most captivating figures since Kate Bush's heyday."[3]
Commercial performance
The Haunted Man debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart, selling 13,334 copies in its first week.[33] The following week, it fell to number thirty-six on sales of 3,991 copies.[34] The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 64, becoming Khan's highest-charting album so far in the United States.[35]
Track listing
All tracks written by Natasha Khan, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Lilies" |
| 4:45 | |
2. | "All Your Gold" | 4:31 | ||
3. | "Horses of the Sun" |
| 4:59 | |
4. | "Oh Yeah" | 4:54 | ||
5. | "Laura" |
|
| 4:25 |
6. | "Winter Fields" |
| 3:41 | |
7. | "The Haunted Man" |
| 5:16 | |
8. | "Marilyn" |
| 4:35 | |
9. | "A Wall" |
| 4:00 | |
10. | "Rest Your Head" |
| 4:03 | |
11. | "Deep Sea Diver" |
| 6:19 |
iTunes Store bonus tracks[36] | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length |
12. | "Lumen" | 2:23 |
13. | "Daphne" | 3:24 |
14. | "Laura" (video) | 4:30 |
- Notes
- ^a signifies an additional producer.
Personnel
Credits for adapted from the liner notes of The Haunted Man.[37]
|
|
|
Charts
Chart (2012–13) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[38] | 21 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[39] | 12 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[40] | 21 |
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[41] | 81 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[42] | 18 |
French Albums (SNEP)[43] | 31 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[44] | 72 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[45] | 7 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[46] | 74 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[47] | 32 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[48] | 24 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[49] | 8 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[50] | 53 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] | 29 |
UK Albums (OCC)[52] | 6 |
US Billboard 200[53] | 64 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[54] | 13 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[55] | 21 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] | Silver | 60,000^ |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
Release history
Region | Date | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Australia | 12 October 2012 | EMI | [57] |
Germany | [58] | ||
Ireland | Parlophone | [59] | |
United Kingdom | 15 October 2012 | [60] | |
France | EMI | [61][62] | |
Italy | 16 October 2012 | [63] | |
United States | 23 October 2012 | Capitol | [64] |
Poland | 29 October 2012 | EMI | [65] |
References
- ↑ McGovern, Kyle (16 June 2016). "Dearly Beloved: Bat for Lashes on Becoming 'The Bride'". Spin. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Bat for Lashes". Time Out New York. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- 1 2 "AllMusic Best of 2012". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- 1 2 3 Snapes, Laura (18 October 2012). "Cover Story: Bat for Lashes". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
- ↑ Paine, Andre (28 May 2010). "Bat For Lashes May Recruit Beck For Album". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- 1 2 Hooton, Christopher (24 July 2012). "Bat For Lashes on naked album cover 'I wanted The Haunted Man to be raw'". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "Bat For Lashes poses naked on 'The Haunted Man' album cover". NME. Time Inc. UK. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ↑ "Laura: Bat For Lashes: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "CHART: CLUK Update 4.08.2012 (wk30)". Zobbel. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ↑ "All Your Gold: Bat For Lashes: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ↑ "A Wall: Bat For Lashes: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- 1 2 "Reviews for The Haunted Man by Bat for Lashes". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- 1 2 Phares, Heather. "The Haunted Man – Bat for Lashes". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- 1 2 Zaleski, Annie (16 October 2012). "Bat For Lashes: The Haunted Man". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- 1 2 McCormick, Neil (12 October 2012). "Bat for Lashes, The Haunted Man, Pop CD review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- 1 2 Petridis, Alexis (11 October 2012). "Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- 1 2 Gill, Andy (13 October 2012). "Album: Bat For Lashes, The Haunted Man (Parlophone)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- 1 2 Hewitt, Ben (12 October 2012). "Bat For Lashes – 'The Haunted Man'". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- 1 2 Hogan, Marc (22 October 2012). "Bat For Lashes: The Haunted Man". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- 1 2 "Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man". Q (316): 97. November 2012.
- 1 2 Hermes, Will (23 October 2012). "The Haunted Man". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- 1 2 Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (23 October 2012). "Bat for Lashes, 'The Haunted Man' (Parlophone)". Spin. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ↑ Liedel, Kevin (19 October 2012). "Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ Empire, Kitty (14 October 2012). "Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man – review". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (3 December 2012). "SPIN's 50 Best Albums of 2012". Spin. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ Paterson, Ian (7 December 2012). "DIY Albums Of 2012: 10 – 1". DIY. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ Harvey, Eric (20 December 2012). "The Top 50 Albums of 2012". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Best albums of 2012: 40–21". The Guardian. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "Albums and Tracks of the Year for 2012". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ↑ Bloom, David (10 December 2012). "The 75 Best Albums of 2012". PopMatters. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "The 50 best albums of 2012". Fact. The Vinyl Factory. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ↑ Jones, Alan (22 October 2012). "Official Charts Analysis: Jake Bugg beats Leona Lewis to No.1 by 8k sales". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 23 October 2012. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ Jones, Alan (29 October 2012). "Official Charts Analysis: Taylor Swift LP sells 61k". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 1 November 2012. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ Willams, Paul (1 November 2012). "US charts: Swift poised to overtake One Direction's sales". Music Week. Intent Media. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ↑ "The Haunted Man by Bat for Lashes". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ The Haunted Man (CD liner notes). Bat for Lashes. Parlophone. 2012. P3270492.
- ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 42, 2012". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ↑ "Bat for Lashes – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Bat for Lashes. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ↑ "Bat for Lashes – Chart history" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for Bat for Lashes. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ↑ "Bat for Lashes – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Bat for Lashes. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ↑ "British album certifications – Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man". British Phonographic Industry. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2016. Enter The Haunted Man in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
- ↑ "Haunted Man, The". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "Bat for Lashes // The Haunted Man" (in German). EMI Music Germany. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ↑ "Bat For Lashes – Haunted Man". Tower Records Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ↑ "The Haunted Man by Bat For Lashes". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "The haunted man – Bat for Lashes – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "The haunted man – Inclus CD – Bat for Lashes – Vinyl album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ↑ "Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man" (in Italian). Internet Bookshop Italia. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ↑ "The Haunted Man". Amazon.com. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ↑ "The Haunted Man – Bat for Lashes" (in Polish). Empik. Retrieved 25 October 2012.