The Golden Age (Woodkid album)
| The Golden Age | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Woodkid | ||||
| Released | 18 March 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2010–2012 | |||
| Genre | Orchestral pop[1] | |||
| Length | 48:34 | |||
| Label | Green United Music | |||
| Woodkid chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Golden Age | ||||
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The Golden Age is the debut studio album from French singer-songwriter and director Woodkid. It was released on March 18, 2013 through independent label, Green United Music. Lemoine released the official album cover through a video he created himself on December 14, 2012[2] and released the album's corresponding track listing one week later on December 21, 2012 on his official Facebook page.
During an interview with NBHAP Lemoine told that childhood is the "The Golden Age" for him.[3]
Singles
Three songs appearing in the album have been released as singles:
- "Iron" – Released on March 28, 2011
- "Run Boy Run" – Released on May 21, 2012
- "I Love You" – Released in February 2013 to coincide with official release of the album
"Run Boy Run" was used in several O2 adverts (those voiced by Sean Bean).[4][5]
The music video for Woodkid track "Run Boy Run" was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video at the 2013 Grammy Awards. It was directed by Yoann Lemoine (Woodkid) himself.[6]
Reception
Critical response
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | (66/100)[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [8] |
| The Guardian | [1] |
| PopMatters | (5/10)[9] |
On Metacritic, the album has a score of 66 out of 100, based on 9 reviews.[7]
Logan Smithson of PopMatters states "There can be no doubt against the fact that The Golden Age feels powerful. Whether it’s more of a thoughtless Michael Bay thriller or a deep adventure with the intricacies of Christopher Nolan, there are definitely explosions galore and production values that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There aren’t many albums that sound like Woodkid’s The Golden Age. If you’re in the mood for something bold, with loud production and poetic lyrics, The Golden Age might be worth hearing. It just might not be an experience that sticks with you in the long run."[9]
Heather Phares of AllMusic said that while "it's beyond cliche to call sweeping, orchestral music "filmic," but in the case of music video director Yoann Lemoine's debut album as Woodkid, The Golden Age, the term fits." He also stated that "Lemoine's music is more in line with Antony & the Johnsons -- lavish, often torchy songs that pair dramatic backdrops with his charmingly imperfect vocals", and, despite the fact that it is an "at times exhausting album, The Golden Age shows Lemoine is skilled at making music as well as music videos."[8]
Track listing
Track list
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Golden Age" | Yoann Lemoine, Dany Héricourt | 3:44 |
| 2. | "Run Boy Run" | Lemoine, Ambroise Willaume | 3:33 |
| 3. | "The Great Escape" | Lemoine, Héricourt, Guillaume Brière | 3:17 |
| 4. | "Boat Song" | Lemoine, Mitchell Yoshida | 4:28 |
| 5. | "I Love You" | Lemoine, Willaume, arranged by Ambroise Willaume | 3:51 |
| 6. | "The Shore" | Lemoine | 4:14 |
| 7. | "Ghost Lights" | Lemoine, arranged by Ambroise Willaume | 3:41 |
| 8. | "Shadows" | Lemoine | 2:02 |
| 9. | "Stabat Mater" | Lemoine, Héricourt, SebastiAn, arranged by SebastiAn | 2:49 |
| 10. | "Conquest of Spaces" | Lemoine, Héricourt | 4:30 |
| 11. | "Falling" | Lemoine | 0:44 |
| 12. | "Where I Live" | Lemoine | 4:26 |
| 13. | "Iron" | Lemoine, arranged by Gustave Rudman | 3:23 |
| 14. | "The Other Side" | Lemoine, Héricourt, arranged by Ambroise Willaume | 3:41 |
Charts
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums Chart | 13 [10] |
| Belgian Albums Chart | 34 [10] |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 23 [10] |
| French Albums Chart | 2 [11] |
| German Albums Chart | 2 [10] |
| Irish Albums Chart | 74 [10] |
| Italian FIMI Albums Chart | 55[12] |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 4 [10] |
| UK Albums Chart | 38 |
| Billboard 200 (US) | 133 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
|---|---|---|
| France (UPFI)[13] | Platinum | 100,000[14] |
|
*sales figures based on certification alone | ||
References
- 1 2 Richardson Andrews, Charlotte (14 March 2013). "Woodkid: The Golden Age – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEyN2CgGDA0
- ↑ Fleischer, Norman. "Interview: Woodkid – "I may call myself an entertainer"". NBHAP. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ↑ "Woodkid - Run Boy Run (Official HD Video)". Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ↑ "O2 Priority Sports - powered by Nike+". Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ↑ "Woodkid Run Boy Run". http://theinspirationroom.com. Retrieved 28 January 2013. External link in
|publisher=(help) - 1 2 "Reviews for The Golden Age by Woodkid". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- 1 2 Heather Phares. "The Golden Age - Woodkid | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- 1 2 Smithson, Logan. "Woodkid: The Golden Age". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 http://acharts.us/album/76554
- ↑ http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Woodkid/The-Golden-Age-a117066310.html
- ↑ http://www.fimi.it/classifiche_result_artisti.php?anno=2013&mese=03&id=457
- ↑ "French album certifications – Woodkid – The Golden Age" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ↑ "Palmarès 2013 des certifications UPFI". UPFI. Retrieved 12 August 2014.