Twisted Angel
2002 studio album by LeAnn Rimes
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Twisted Angel is the seventh studio album by American country pop artist LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on October 1, 2002, by Curb Records. After a legal battle with Curb and her father, Wilbur C. Rimes, she re-signed with the label. Unlike the country albums that popularized her, Twisted Angel is a pop album with influences of hip hop, techno, and rock; it was her attempt at a pop crossover album, similar to Faith Hill's Cry, which was released two weeks later.[3][4] Rimes began recording the album in 1999, describing it as an exploration of more adult sounds and themes.[5] As Twisted Angel was her first album recorded without her father's involvement, she co-wrote four of the album's 13 tracks and co-produced the record with Desmond Child, Peter Amato, and Gregg Pagani.
- Henson (Hollywood)
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| Twisted Angel | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 1, 2002 | |||
| Recorded | 1999–2002 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | [1][2] | |||
| Length | 51:04 | |||
| Label | Curb | |||
| Producer |
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| LeAnn Rimes chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Twisted Angel | ||||
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Three singles were released, all of which failed to match the success of her previous releases in the United States. "Life Goes On", released on August 5, 2002, as the album's lead single, peaked within the top ten in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Sweden, but did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100; it peaked at number 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The second single, "Tic Toc", only charted on the Dance Club Songs chart, where it peaked at number 10. "Suddenly", the third and final single, only entered the top forty in New Zealand and peaked at number 43 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Upon release, Twisted Angel received mixed reviews from music critics, with most criticizing her move to pop. Rimes's core-country fanbase was reportedly ambivalent toward the album due to its more pop direction.[6] Commercially, it was not as successful as her previous releases. It debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200, becoming her first album to miss the top ten. Internationally, it only entered the top ten in New Zealand. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies in the United States.[7] Despite the album's disappointing critical and commercial performance, Rimes has stated that she does not regret the album and the move to a different genre.[8]
Background
After re-signing her contract with Curb Records, Rimes began work recording songs for Twisted Angel for three years.[9] It is the first album she would do under her new management, and the first where she assumed a direct role as producer.[10] Before the album came out, Rimes said about the title: "The 'Angel' is that little girl with the big voice who grew up with everyone watching her. The 'Twisted' part is me growing into my own as a strong woman."[11] When it was released, Twisted Angel's sales were donated to the Amie Karen Cancer Fund for Children, based at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.[12] The song "You Made Me Find Myself" was originally written and recorded by Australian artist Tina Arena on her fifth studio album Just Me (2001). "Review My Kisses" was later covered by Belgian/Italian artist Lara Fabian on her second English-language studio album A Wonderful Life (2004).
Singles
Three singles were released from the album. "Life Goes On" was released as the lead single from the album on August 26, 2002.[13] Holly George-Warren of Entertainment Weekly claimed the song would "probably go on to number one on the pop chart."[14] The song peaked at number nine on the Adult Contemporary chart, thirty-five on the Pop Songs chart, twenty-eight on the Adult Pop Songs and sixty on the Country Songs chart in the US.[15]
The second single, "Tic Toc", was released to US pop radio on November 11, 2002.[16] The song peaked at number ten on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.[17]
The third and final single, "Suddenly", was released internationally on February 18, 2003.[18] The song peaked at forty-three on the Country song chart in the US.[19]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 51/100[20] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [21] |
| Blender | [20] |
| Entertainment Weekly | C+[22] |
| MTV Asia | 5/10[23] |
| Q | [20] |
| Rolling Stone | [24] |
| New Straits Times | |
The album was met with mixed reviews by music critics, being rated by Metacritic a score of 51 out of 100.[20] Billboard praised Rimes for her vocal prowess, noting that while upbeat tracks like "Trouble With Goodbye" and "Wound Up" showcased style and energy, her ballads and midtempo songs such as "The Safest Place" and "Suddenly" highlighted her mastery of tone and range."[25] The Lakeland Ledger gave a mostly favorable review, stating that Rimes' "balladeering backgrounds and impassioned vocals are intact, just slicker – like Kelly Clarkson with a twang," and added that "'Angel' may not be Rimes' Nashville Skyline, but it could be her Blonde on Blonde. Maybe."[26] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave a mixed review, praising Rimes's transition to pop but criticizing the uneven songwriting, dated production, and overly sexualized image, and suggested she might struggle to connect with her older audience.[21]
Chili Paddy from MTV Asia described Twisted Angel as slick, middle-of-the-road adult pop, noting Rimes's powerful voice and highlights like "Life Goes On" and "Suddenly." However, he criticized the album for too many forgettable songs and safe pop production, suggesting that Rimes risks alienating her country fans while failing to make a strong impact in mainstream pop.[23] Jon Caramanica of Entertainment Weekly on the other hand gave the album a C+, stating that Rimes "desperately wants to play with the bad girls" and concluded by writing "Someone unbreak her heart, please."[22] Dave Gil de Rubio of Barnes & Noble.com stated that Rimes is "moving farther from her country music roots with a set of songs closer in spirit to junior divas Britney and Christina."[27] In a review for Rolling Stone, Caramanica gave the album two out of five stars and stated, "Rimes, who got her start aping Patsy Cline, slaps her throaty drawl over hip-hop lite beats Jessica Simpson wouldn't touch, and a succession of mushy love songs don't help. With golden pipes and white-bread good looks, she could succeed Celine Dion as North America's ranking pop balladeer; in the meantime let's hope Nashville will take her back, and quick."[24] R.S. Murthl of New Straits Times gave a mostly unfavorable review, ending it by saying "the by-the-numbers approach to song selection and production diminishes whatever pleasure you may derive from these tunes."[28]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Life Goes On" |
| 3:33 |
| 2. | "Wound Up" |
| 4:15 |
| 3. | "The Safest Place" | 3:52 | |
| 4. | "Trouble with Goodbye" |
| 3:22 |
| 5. | "Damn" |
| 3:29 |
| 6. | "Suddenly" |
| 3:58 |
| 7. | "Tic Toc" |
| 3:40 |
| 8. | "Sign of Life" |
| 4:28 |
| 9. | "Review My Kisses" |
| 5:31 |
| 10. | "No Way Out" |
| 3:55 |
| 11. | "Love Is an Army" |
| 4:01 |
| 12. | "You Made Me Find Myself" |
| 3:39 |
| 13. | "Twisted Angel" |
| 3:21 |
| Total length: | 51:04 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can't Fight the Moonlight" | Diane Warren | 3:35 |
| 2. | "Life Goes On" (Amato/Pagani Country Mix) |
| 3:38 |
| 3. | "Life Goes On" (Almighty Mix) |
| 3:46 |
| 4. | "Life Goes On" (Peter Amato Mix) |
| 3:21 |
| 5. | "Life Goes On" (M*A*S*H Mix) |
| 8:07 |
| 6. | "Life Goes On" (29 Palms Transgressive Mix) |
| 8:58 |
| Total length: | 31:25 | ||
Credits and personnel
Credits for Twisted Angel were adapted from liner notes.[10]
- A thru K
- Peter Amato – arrangement, keyboards, producer, programming, recording
- Stephanie Bennett – harp
- Charlie Bisharat – violin
- Gareth Bowser – assistant engineer
- Chandler Bridges – additional engineering
- Chris Brooke – recording
- Denyse Buffum – viola
- Eve Butler – violin
- David Campbell – French horn, string quintet arrangement, timpani arrangement, conductor
- Andreas Carlsson – background vocals
- Sue Ann Carwell – background vocals
- Rob Chairelli – mix, recording
- Susan Chatman – violin
- Desmond Child – producer
- Steve Churchyard – recording
- Chris Clark – assistant engineer, assistant mix engineer
- Jon Clarke – alto flute, oboe
- Peter Cobbin – mixing, piano, programming, recording
- Brian Coleman – production manager
- Luis Conte – percussion
- Larry Corbett – cello
- Joel Derouin – violin
- Brad Dutz – timpani
- Gyan Evans – background vocals*
- Charlie Everett – violin
- DJ Mega Man – scratches
- Phill Dukes – viola
- Steve Ferrone – drums
- Michelle Forbes – assistant mix engineer
- Sherree Ford – background vocals
- Matt Funes – viola
- Humberto Gatica – recording
- Alex Gibson – assistant engineer
- Conrad Golding – additional engineering, assistant engineer
- Jules Gondar – recording
- Matt Gruber – recording
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Dino Herrmann – additional engineering
- Gerry Hilera – violin
- Brian Humphrey – assistant engineer
- Eric Jackson – acoustic guitar
- Corky James – electric guitar
- Suzi Katayama – orchestra manager
- Zev Katz – acoustic bass
- Peter Kent – violin
- Pat Kiernan – violin
*Note: Gary Evans appears courtesy of Deston Entertainment
- L thru Z
- Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums
- Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar
- Michael Landau – electric guitar
- Ana Landauer – violin
- Greg Landon – assistant engineer
- Matt Lavalla – recording, assistant engineer
- Craig Lozowick – additional engineering
- Darrin McCann – viola
- Bill Malina – additional engineering
- Nathan Malki – additional engineering
- Manny Marroquin – mixing
- Joe Meyer – French Horn
- John Morrical – assistant engineer
- Robbie Nevil – electric guitar
- Pete Novak – assistant mix engineer
- Jeanette Olsson – background vocals
- Simon Oswell – viola
- Charlie Paakkari – assistant engineer
- Gregg Paganni – arrangement, keyboard, producer, programming, recording
- Sid Page – violin
- Sara Parkins – violin
- Nora Payne – background vocals
- Bob Peterson – violin
- Kazi Pitelka – viola
- Tony Pleeth – cello
- Michelle Richards – violin
- Steve Richards – cello
- LeAnn Rimes – lead vocals, background vocals, executive producer
- Anatoly Rosinski – violin
- Alan Sanderson – assistant engineer
- Jonathan Schwarts – acoustic bass
- Mary Scully – bass guitar
- Leland Sklar – bass guitar
- Dan Smith – cello
- Ed Stein – violin
- Ruby Stein – cello
- Michael Thompson – electric guitar
- Rebeka Tuinei – assistant mix engineer
- John Wittenberg – violin
- Margaret Wooten – violin
- Gavyn Writer – violin
- Jennifer Young – assistant engineer
Charts
Twisted Angel debuted at #12 on Billboard 200 with 61,398 copies sold in its 1st week,[30] it fell by 47% with 32,619 copies sold in its 2nd week.[31] and a 14% decrease in its 3rd with 28,176 copies sold.[32]
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[54] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[55] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Korea | — | 20,610[56] |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[57] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[58] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[59] | Gold | 500,000[7] |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | October 1, 2002 | Curb Records | CD | D2-78747 | [60] |
| Brazil | Warlock Records | 5050466093127 | [61] | ||
| United Kingdom | October 14, 2002 | Curb Records | 5046611562 | [62] | |
| Australia | October 28, 2002 | 5098059000 | [63] |
