Pulses (Karmin album)

Pulses is the debut full-length studio album by American musical duo Karmin, released on March 25, 2014, by Epic Records.[1]

Pulses
Studio album by
Karmin
ReleasedMarch 25, 2014 (2014-03-25)
Recorded2012–2014
Genre
Length42:48
LabelEpic
Karmin chronology
Hello
(2012)		 Pulses
(2014)		 Leo Rising
(2016)
Singles from Pulses
  1. "Acapella"
    Released: July 9, 2013
  2. "I Want It All"
    Released: January 28, 2014

Release and promotion

In August 2012, Karmin announced they were recording a full-length album, set to be released in November of the same year. The album was then delayed until Summer 2013, but was still not finished.[2] They released the single "Acapella" in early July, stating that the album would follow in September.[3] In August 2013, Dasani featured the song "Try Me On" in its commercials for Dasani Drops.[4] On September 18, 2013, during a live concert on StageIt, Karmin shared that the album is finished, but they are feuding with their label, Epic Records, and are struggling to settle on a second single and a release date for the full record.

In October, the album became available for pre-order at the Walmart website. The album was expected to be released on December 31, 2013, but this was later denied by their manager. Pulses also became available for pre-order on iTunes on February 25, 2014.

Singles

Karmin released "Acapella" as the first single from Pulses.[5] It premiered on the radio in June 2013. It peaked at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100,[6] number 9 in New Zealand, and at 4 in Australia, making it their highest charting single in the latter country.[7]

"I Want It All" was chosen as the album's second single in late 2013, and was released on January 28, 2014.[8][9] The music video premiered on Vevo on February 21, 2014.[10][11]

"Pulses" is the title track as well as a promotional single from the album. The music video for the single was premiered on a live Google hangout that Karmin hosted.[12] The Music video was released on the 18th March 2014 on Youtube via Karmin's Vevo channel.[13] The song presents Amy rapping and singing as well as Nick singing. The track was produced by Jon Jon, who previously produced "I Told You So", "I'm Just Sayin'" and "Walking on the Moon" from their previous EP Hello.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Knoxville News Sentinel[15]
Rolling Stone[16]
USA Today[17]

Pulses garnered generally mixed reviews from music critics. At USA Today, Brian Mansfield rated the album two-and-a-half stars out of four, writing that on the release the duo "prove to be better at tweaking pop parameters than redefining them."[17] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album two stars out of five, saying that the duo "seem far away from the jokey upstarts that swept the digital nation in 2011, and that's the problem: these are fun songs but they could've been by anybody. It doesn't matter that they're from a Karmin that no longer look or sound like Karmin."[14] At Rolling Stone, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd rated the album one-and-a-half stars out of five, stating that the duo has a "goofy shtick [that] is to decontextualize sounds from other genres until they're utterly meaningless." In addition, Escobedo Shepherd says that "If it all burns down, maybe we deserve it."[16] Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe gave a negative review of the album, writing that "The result is a record with zero vision or identity" because "Of course many pop thrills are ephemeral, but this is a weightless collection filled with numerous trite lyrics (intentionally campy?) and melodic ideas nicked from better dance, hip-pop, or retro new-wave sources."[18] At Knoxville News Sentinel, Chuck Campbell rated the album three stars out of five, stating that even though "Most individual tracks have something going for them, but as a whole, the contrived nature of the arrangements takes its toll, and 'Pulses' loses its overall appeal."[15]

Commercial performance

Pulses debuted and peaked at number 46 in Australia for the week commencing April 7, 2014.[19]

Track listing

The track listing was confirmed on February 21, 2014.[20]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Geronimo Intro"
  • Amy Heidemann
  • Nick Noonan
  • Claude Kelly
  • James G. Morales
  • Matt Morales
  • Julio David Rodriguez
The Elev3n0:41
2."Pulses"
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • John Webb Jr.
Jon Jon3:24
3."Acapella"
Johnson3:19
4."I Want It All"
Ryan Williamson3:47
5."Night Like This"
  • Robert Marvin
  • Shearer
3:02
6."Neon Love"
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • Johnson
  • Johnson
4:27
7."Drifter"
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • Webb Jr.
  • Anders Froen
Jon Jon3:14
8."Tidal Wave"
Dre Skull3:48
9."Gasoline"
  • Marvin
  • Shearer
3:38
10."Puppet"
Nathaniel Motte3:13
11."Hate to Love You"
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • Morales
  • Morales
  • Rodriguez
The Elev3n3:36
12."Try Me On"
The Messengers, Sir Nolan3:16
13."What's in It for Me"
  • Heidemann
  • Noonan
  • Morales
  • Morales
  • Rodriguez
The Elev3n3:32
Total length:42:48

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] 46
US Billboard 200[21] 32

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Canada March 25, 2014
Epic
[22][23]
United States
[24][25]
Australia March 28, 2014
[26]

References
  1. Wass, Mike (December 18, 2013). "Karmin Unveil Their Fiery 'Pulses' Album Cover And Announce Release Date". Idolator. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  2. Pajer, Nicole (December 12, 2012). "Chart-Topping Viral Sensation Karmin Prepares Its Second Act". Red Bull USA. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  3. Sheehan, Katie (July 25, 2013). "Karmin to Release "Pulses" in September". Artist Direct. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Lipshutz, Jason (June 10, 2013). "Karmin Sings 'Acapella' on New Single: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  6. "Karmin Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  7. "Discography Karmin". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  8. http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2013/12/12/karmin-i-want-it-all/
  9. http://www.itemvn.com/song/Karmin-I-Want-It-All-Radio-Rip-I-Want-It-All-Single/7FDE282E7D
  10. Rought, Karen (February 21, 2014). "Karmin releases 'I Want It All' official music video". Hypable. Archived from the original on July 18, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  11. "Video: Karmin – 'I Want It All'". Rap-Up. February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJAMEiuMHr0
  13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RRrNWF46Ns
  14. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (March 25, 2014). "Pulses - Karmin : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  15. Campbell, Chuck (March 25, 2014). "'Tuned In' review: Karmin pushes too hard with 'Pulses'". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  16. Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (March 25, 2014). "Karmin 'Pulses' Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  17. Mansfield, Brian (March 24, 2014). "Album of the week: Karmin pulses with energy". USA Today. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  18. Capobianco, Ken (March 25, 2014). "Album Review: Karmin, 'Pulses'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  19. "Australiancharts.com – Karmin – Pulses". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  20. Daw, Robbie (February 21, 2014). "Karmin Premiere Flashy "I Want It All" Video & 'Pulses' Album Tracklist". Idolator. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  21. "Karmin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  22. "iTunes – Music – Pulses by Karmin". iTunes Store (Canada). March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  23. "Pulses: Karmin: Amazon.ca: Music". Amazon.ca. March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  24. "iTunes – Music – Pulses by Karmin". iTunes Store (United States). March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  25. "Amazon.com: Pulses: Music". Amazon.com. March 25, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  26. "iTunes – Music – Pulses by Karmin". iTunes Store (Australia). March 27, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
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