Wanderland
Encyclopedia
Wanderland is the second studio album
by American recording artist Kelis
, released in October 2001 by Virgin Records
.
Kelis was living in Europe at the time of the album's release. Wanderland was more experimental
than her previous album, Kaleidoscope, and was a modest success chartwise. According to Kelis, Virgin Records, her US record company at the time, did not like Wanderland. The record executives from Virgin felt the album's material did not have strong enough singles and therefore did not release in the United States, being limited to Europe, Asia, and Latin America only.
The album spawned only one single, "Young, Fresh n' New
", which became Kelis' third solo top forty hit in the United Kingdom. However, the single was not a particularly big hit elsewhere.
Despite the album only being a moderate success, two tracks from Wanderland went on to be used elsewhere. "Flash Back" (retitled "Flashback") would make Kelis' subsequent album Tasty, while a new version of "Popular Thug", which replaced Pusha T of Clipse
with Nas
, was featured on The Neptunes
' 2003 album The Neptunes Present... Clones
.
critic Alexis Petridis
described the music on the album as "clever, exhilarating and original" and praised it as The Neptunes' "most adventurous work to date". Mark Bautz of Entertainment Weekly
commented that "Kelis' brash blend of Curtis Mayfield
soul
, techno
-Zeppelin
funk
, Jobim
-lite bossa nova
, and ultrasmooth R&B shows a more coherent artistry than many recent boundary-busting experiments." Rupert Howe of Blender
believed that "[t]he best thing about Wanderland is that [Kelis] seems finally to have begun celebrating her eccentricities." He also stated that "[a]side from the idiosyncratic lyrics [...] she switchbacks from parodying '70s mack-stylin' (the Funkadelic
'Daddy') to an '80s soul croon ('Scared Money')." In a review for the Irish website entertainment.ie
, Andrew Lynch commended Kelis' "aggressive vocal delivery and intriguing, if sometimes confusing lyrical imagery", while calling the album itself "[b]rilliantly produced" and "strikingly original".
Andy Kellman of Allmusic stated that "the album's first three songs—'Young, Fresh n' New,' 'Flash Back,' and 'Popular Thug'—are on an even standing with the best of the singer's debut", adding that "[a]fter that solid beginning, the album continually loses steam and gains it back." Stephen Dalton from the NME
referred to the album as "a solid sophomore effort", but felt that "there is way too much filler
here for a hotly hyped alterna-soul princess with her eyes on the big prize" and that "[t]here's nothing here as arresting as 'Caught Out There
'." Rolling Stone
s Barry Walters noted that musically, Wanderland "doesn't venture far from its predecessor, Kaleidoscope: The Neptunes are still matching jaunty beats to techno sonics. But her pen is busier now, and the result is smarter, more nuanced but no less confrontational." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine
opined that the album is "far from rote, but the Neptunes's rehashed retro beats and synths are beginning to sound derivative of Britney Spears
's 'I'm a Slave 4 U
.' Much of the disc's hooks are unchallenging and repetitive at best." He nevertheless complimented tracks like "Daddy" and "Perfect Day".
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American recording artist Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
, released in October 2001 by Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
.
Kelis was living in Europe at the time of the album's release. Wanderland was more experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
than her previous album, Kaleidoscope, and was a modest success chartwise. According to Kelis, Virgin Records, her US record company at the time, did not like Wanderland. The record executives from Virgin felt the album's material did not have strong enough singles and therefore did not release in the United States, being limited to Europe, Asia, and Latin America only.
The album spawned only one single, "Young, Fresh n' New
Young, Fresh n' New
"Young, Fresh n' New" is a song by American recording artist Kelis from her second studio album, Wanderland. Written by Kelis and The Neptunes members Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo—who also produced the track—, it was released as the album's only single in 2001, becoming a minor hit in the United...
", which became Kelis' third solo top forty hit in the United Kingdom. However, the single was not a particularly big hit elsewhere.
Despite the album only being a moderate success, two tracks from Wanderland went on to be used elsewhere. "Flash Back" (retitled "Flashback") would make Kelis' subsequent album Tasty, while a new version of "Popular Thug", which replaced Pusha T of Clipse
Clipse
Clipse is a Virginia Beach, Virginia-based hip hop duo. Formed in 1992 by brothers Malice and Pusha T , the group is heavily affiliated with production team The Neptunes and signed to Star Trak Entertainment.- Exclusive Audio Footage :The Thornton brothers were born in The Bronx, New...
with Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, was featured on The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
' 2003 album The Neptunes Present... Clones
The Neptunes Present... Clones
Clones is an album of songs from various artists, produced by the production duo of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, known as The Neptunes. It was released on August 19, 2003, and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart...
.
Critical reception
Wanderland received mostly positive reviews from music critics. The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
critic Alexis Petridis
Alexis Petridis
Alexis Petridis is a British journalist, head rock and pop critic for UK newspaper The Guardian, as well as a regular and contributor to the magazine GQ.Petridis began his career writing for Varsity whilst a student at the University of Cambridge...
described the music on the album as "clever, exhilarating and original" and praised it as The Neptunes' "most adventurous work to date". Mark Bautz of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
commented that "Kelis' brash blend of Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
-Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, Jobim
Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim , also known as Tom Jobim , was a Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist/guitarist. He was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa nova style, and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists within...
-lite bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
, and ultrasmooth R&B shows a more coherent artistry than many recent boundary-busting experiments." Rupert Howe of Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
believed that "[t]he best thing about Wanderland is that [Kelis] seems finally to have begun celebrating her eccentricities." He also stated that "[a]side from the idiosyncratic lyrics [...] she switchbacks from parodying '70s mack-stylin' (the Funkadelic
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
'Daddy') to an '80s soul croon ('Scared Money')." In a review for the Irish website entertainment.ie
Entertainment.ie
entertainment.ie is a Dublin-based Irish website which provides extensive cinema, TV, live music, theatre, comedy, exhibition and festival listings for free, as well as celebrity gossip, music and movie news, movie and DVD reviews, CD reviews and up-to-date lottery results.The site was developed in...
, Andrew Lynch commended Kelis' "aggressive vocal delivery and intriguing, if sometimes confusing lyrical imagery", while calling the album itself "[b]rilliantly produced" and "strikingly original".
Andy Kellman of Allmusic stated that "the album's first three songs—'Young, Fresh n' New,' 'Flash Back,' and 'Popular Thug'—are on an even standing with the best of the singer's debut", adding that "[a]fter that solid beginning, the album continually loses steam and gains it back." Stephen Dalton from the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
referred to the album as "a solid sophomore effort", but felt that "there is way too much filler
Filler (media)
In media, filler is material that is combined with material of greater relevance or quality to "fill out" a certain volume.-Early television:...
here for a hotly hyped alterna-soul princess with her eyes on the big prize" and that "[t]here's nothing here as arresting as 'Caught Out There
Caught out There
"Caught out There" is a song by American recording artist Kelis from her debut album, Kaleidoscope. Written and produced by The Neptunes, the song was released as the album's lead single to moderate chart success in the United States, peaking at number fifty-four...
'." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s Barry Walters noted that musically, Wanderland "doesn't venture far from its predecessor, Kaleidoscope: The Neptunes are still matching jaunty beats to techno sonics. But her pen is busier now, and the result is smarter, more nuanced but no less confrontational." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
opined that the album is "far from rote, but the Neptunes's rehashed retro beats and synths are beginning to sound derivative of Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
's 'I'm a Slave 4 U
I'm a Slave 4 U
"I'm a Slave 4 U" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears. The song was written and produced by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, for Spears' third studio album, Britney . It was released on September 24, 2001 by Jive Records, as the first single from the album...
.' Much of the disc's hooks are unchallenging and repetitive at best." He nevertheless complimented tracks like "Daddy" and "Perfect Day".
Track listing
Notes- The hidden track "Star Wars", which is an extended mix of "Intro", can be found on some editions at the end of "Little Suzie". Other editions can also have the track "I Don't Care AnymoreI Don't Care Anymore"I Don't Care Anymore" is a song by Phil Collins from his second solo album Hello, I Must Be Going!.The song is very dark, which follows a vast majority of songs from the album...
" (Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
).
Personnel
- Kelis – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- C Minus – scratchesScratchingScratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used...
(track 10) - Andrew Coleman – engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
(tracks 1–8, 11–14) - Pauline St. Denis – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Tom DumontTom DumontTom Dumont is an American guitarist and producer. Dumont is a member of third wave ska band No Doubt, and during the band's hiatus, he began Invincible Overlord as a side project and produced Matt Costa's Songs We Sing.-Life and career:The Dumont family lived in Irvine, California...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(track 9) - FieldyReginald ArvizuReginald Quincy "Fieldy" Arvizu is the bassist for the nu metal band Korn, and guitarist for the hard rock band StillWell.-Musical career:...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(track 10) - Brian Garten – engineer (tracks 9, 10)
- Serban GheneaSerban GheneaSerban Ghenea is a four-time Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy Award-winning mixer. He has mixed songs for such artists as Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Jewel, Santana, Ozomatli, Shakira, Jill Scott, R. Kelly, Rod Stewart, and Dave Matthews Band...
– mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
(tracks 3, 9)
- Ken "Duro" Ifill – mixing (tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 10–14)
- Tony KanalTony KanalTony Kanal is an English musician, record producer and songwriter. Kanal is the bassist for the American rock band No Doubt...
– bass (track 9) - Michelle Laurita – cover photoCover artCover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
- The NeptunesThe NeptunesThe Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
– producersRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
s, arrangersArrangementThe American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, instrumentationInstrumentation (music)In music, instrumentation refers to the particular combination of musical instruments employed in a composition, and to the properties of those instruments individually... - Rob Walker – executive producer
- Keith Wood – A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
- Adrian YoungAdrian YoungAdrian Samuel Young is the drummer for the rock band No Doubt.-Biography:Young's parents were hippies. He has four brothers: Alex, Damian, Jeff and Aaron. His father is a teacher in Cypress CA and his stepmother, Jeanne, is currently suffering from ALS...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(track 9)
Charts
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French Albums Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
133 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
79 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
78 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | October 17, 2001 | EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
| Germany | October 26, 2001 | |
| United Kingdom | October 29, 2001 | Virgin Records Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny... |
| Switzerland | EMI | |
| France | November 1, 2001 | |
| Brazil |