A Kiss Before You Go
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| A Kiss Before You Go | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 7, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock, dark cabaret, alternative | |||
| Label | Propeller, Universal Music Group | |||
| Producer | Kåre Chr. Vestrheim, Mike Hartung | |||
| Katzenjammer chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from A Kiss Before You Go | ||||
A Kiss Before You Go is the second studio album by Norwegian band Katzenjammer; it was released on September 9, 2011, by Propeller Recordings.[3] The album's lyrics and visual direction were inspired by the French film The City of Lost Children, a maritime fantasy adventure.[4]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 66/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [6] |
| BBC Music | (favorable)[7] |
| The Independent | [8] |
| MusicOHM | [9] |
A Kiss Before You Go received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 66, based on four reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[5] Jon O'Brien of Allmusic wrote "it's difficult not to be enamored by [the album's] inventiveness and inherent avant-garde charm."[6] BBC Music's Mischa Pearlman called the album "peculiar and unconventional" because it "constantly shape-shifts and surprises, but does so with a graceful, effortless ease that feels incredibly natural and utterly delightful".[7] In a review for The Independent, Hugh Montgomery said its "oompah brass [and] jaunty jigs" were "best in small doses." He also described A Kiss Before You Go as "exhilarating and nauseous".[8] MusicOHM reviewer Ben Weisz wrote that Katzenjammer's "latest effort is often raucous, occasionally majestic and close to brilliance."[9]
Chart performance
In Norway, A Kiss Before You Go debuted at number eight on the albums chart. The following week it reached its peak position of number six.[10] The album reached number seven in Germany,[11] where it sold 100,000 copies and was certified gold.[12][13]
A Kiss Before You Go debuted at number thirty-three in Switzerland. It remained on the chart for three weeks.[14] The album also charted in the top fifty in Austria and the Netherlands.[15][16] In Belgium, it peaked at number one hundred and thirty-one.[17]
Track listing
Songs written and composed by Mats Rybø, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Kiss Before You Go" (Rybø, Anne Marit Bergheim) | Jørgensen | 1:16 |
| 2. | "I Will Dance (When I Walk Away)" | Heilo | 3:50 |
| 3. | "Cherry Pie" (Marianne Sveen, Mike Hartung) | Sveen | 3:01 |
| 4. | "Land of Confusion" (Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks, Phil Collins) | Sveen | 3:35 |
| 5. | "Lady Marlene" (Solveig Heilo) | Bergheim | 4:35 |
| 6. | "Rock-Paper-Scissors" (Katzenjammer, Robert Ellis Orral) | Heilo | 3:28 |
| 7. | "Cocktails and Ruby Slippers" | Bergheim | 3:59 |
| 8. | "Soviet Trumpeter" (Rybø, Bergheim) | Heilo | 4:12 |
| 9. | "Loathsome M" | Jørgensen | 2:41 |
| 10. | "Shepherd's Song" (Marianne Sveen) | Sveen | 3:06 |
| 11. | "Gypsy Flee" (Sveen) | Instrumental | 2:44 |
| 12. | "God's Great Dust Storm" | Sveen | 4:06 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from A Kiss Before You Go liner notes.[18]
- Anne Marit Bergheim – instruments, vocals
- Mathias Fossum – photography
- Mike Hartung – arrangement, production, recording
- Solveig Heilo – arrangement, instruments, vocals
- Heyday – design
- Daniel Herskedal – sousaphone
- Hans Andreas Horntveth – recording assistant
- Turid Jørgensen – arrangement, instruments, vocals
- Gunnhild Mathea Olaussen – violin
- Mr. Orkester – percussion
- Chris Sansom – mastering
- Marianne Sveen – arrangement, instruments, vocals
- Kåre Chr. Vestrheim – arrangement, instruments, production, recording
- Dweezil Zappa – electric guitar
