Icon for Hire (album)

Icon for Hire
Studio album by Icon for Hire
Released October 15, 2013 (2013-10-15)
Recorded 2013 at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California
Genre Alternative metal
Length 42:49
Label Tooth & Nail
Producer Mike Green
Icon for Hire chronology
Scripted
(2011)		 Icon For Hire (2013) You Can't Kill Us
(2016)
Singles from Icon for Hire
  1. "Cynics & Critics"
    Released: August 16, 2013
  2. "Sugar & Spice"
    Released: October 3, 2013
  3. "Counting on Hearts"
    Released: January 14, 2014
  4. "Sorry About Your Parents"
    Released: September 8, 2014

Icon for Hire is the self-titled second studio album by American rock band Icon for Hire, released on October 15, 2013 through Tooth & Nail Records. It was recorded with producer Mike Green (All Time Low, Pierce the Veil) at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California. It is a musical departure from the band's debut album Scripted (2011), incorporating elements of hip hop, electronica, dubstep, and post-hardcore into the band's previously established hard rock style.[1][2] The tracks "Cynics & Critics", "Sugar & Spice", "Counting on Hearts" and "Sorry About Your Parents" were released as singles. Upon release, the album received largely positive reviews and debuted at No. 66 on the Billboard 200.

Release and promotion

The album was officially announced with a lyric video for first single "Cynics & Critics", released on August 15, 2013.[3] Preorders for the album were made available the following month.[4] A short clip of the song "Sugar & Spice" was released on October 3, 2013.[5] Tooth & Nail announced they would be releasing another single, "Counting on Hearts". The final single was announced on September 8, 2014. The song was revealed to be "Sorry About Your Parents".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
CCM Magazine[7]
Christian Music Zine[8]
CM Addict[2]
HM[9]
Jesus Freak Hideout[10]
[11]
Mind Equals Blown[1]
New Release Tuesday[12]
Outburn8/10[13]

Icon for Hire received mostly positive critical reception. William James of Outburn said that the band "courageously bucks the standard female fronted act comparisons" with the release, and noted how the group "wisely self-titled this record, confidently assuring listeners that this is their definitive work."[13] At CCM Magazine, Matt Conner felt that the band was "clearly up to the challenge" with the album that proves "the best is yet to come from Tooth & Nail's young anchors."[7] Mary Nikkel of New Release Tuesday described the album as an "edgy masterpiece in the tradition of Nine Inch Nails or Linkin Park," praising the lyrics for their "delicate balance between honesty...and hope," and declaring the album "a milestone moment, both for the band and for their genre as a whole."[12] AllMusic's Matt Collar praised the band's "passionate, high-energy music" and Ariel's "resonant vocal chops".[6] Micah Garnett of Christian Music Zine stated "this album takes the best features from Scripted and improves upon them substantially." He concludes his review by saying "this is one of the best rock albums of the year."[8] Kelcey Wixtrom of CM Addict called it "an impressive album."[2] From Mind Equals Blown's Jeremy Vane-Tempest: "If you want a tonne of fun ... listen to Icon for Hire."[1]

By contrast, Jesus Freak Hideout's Michael Weaver declared that the album "finds the band trying too hard: Trying too hard to be different, trying too hard to be hip, and trying too hard to be cute and interesting lyrically," and labeled it "the very definition of sophomore slump."[10] Second Opinion reviewer Cortney Warner further noted that the lyrics "can come across as snarky and defensive, which can sometimes make it difficult to appreciate and empathize with their music," and felt it to be a "step backwards from their debut", despite praising the "diverse" music as a highlight of the album.[11]

Commercial performance

For the Billboard charting week of November 2, 2013, Icon for Hire was the No. 66 most sold album in the entirety of the United States by the Billboard 200,[14] and it was the No. 4 Top Christian Album sold the same week.[15] On the other charts, it was the No. 20 most sold album on Top Rock Albums chart,[16] the No. 16 Top Alternative Albums, the No. 8 Top Hard Rock Albums,[17] and it came in at No. 11 on the Independent Albums chart.[18]

Track listing

All tracks written by Icon For Hire. 

No. Title Length
1. "Cynics & Critics"   3:22
2. "Nerves"   3:15
3. "Sugar & Spice"   4:02
4. "Hope of Morning"   3:49
5. "Sorry About Your Parents"   3:17
6. "Pop Culture"   3:23
7. "Watch Me"   3:34
8. "Slow Down"   3:46
9. "Rock and Roll Thugs"   3:36
10. "Think I'm Sick"   2:54
11. "Fix Me"   3:47
12. "Counting on Hearts"   3:59
Total length:
 42:49

Chart performance

Chart (2013) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[19] 66
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[20] 16
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[21] 4
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[22] 8
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[23] 11
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[24] 20

Personnel

Icon for Hire
Additional personnel

References

  1. 1 2 3 Vane-Tempest, Jeremy (October 11, 2013). "Icon For Hire – Icon For Hire (Review)". Mind Equals Blown. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Wixtrom, Kelcey (October 21, 2013). "Review of Icon For Hire by Icon For Hire". CM Addict. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  3. ↑ Bird, Michele (Aug 16, 2013). "Icon For Hire release new song, "Cynics & Critics"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Bird, Michele (September 7, 2013). "Icon For Hire to launch pre-orders for new album next week". Alternative Press. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. ↑ Bird, Michele (October 3, 2013). "Icon For Hire tease new song, "Sugar & Spice"". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Collar, Matt. "Icon for Hire - Icon for Hire". Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  7. 1 2 Conner, Matt (November 1, 2013). "Icon For Hire: Icon for Hire (Tooth & Nail)" (PDF). CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing. p. 70. ISSN 1524-7848. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Garnett, Micah (October 13, 2013). "Icon For Hire – Icon For Hire (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ Brehm, Sarah (November 6, 2013). "Icon for Hire - Icon for Hire". HM. HM Publications LLC. ISSN 1066-6923. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  10. 1 2 Weaver, Michael (October 13, 2013). "Icon For Hire, "Icon For Hire" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  11. 1 2 Warner, Cortney (October 13, 2013). "Icon For Hire, "Icon For Hire" Review: Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  12. 1 2 Nikkel, Mary (October 18, 2013). "Songs for the Soul-sick". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  13. 1 2 James, William (2014). "Icon For Hire (Tooth & Nail)". Outburn. Octavia Laird and Rodney Kusano. Jan/Feb 2014 (72): 59. ISSN 1542-1309. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Billboard 200: Nov 02, 2013". billboard.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "Christian Albums: Nov 02, 2013". billboard.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Top Rock Albums: Nov 02, 2013". billboard.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  17. ↑ "Hard Rock Albums: Nov 02, 2013". billboard.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Independent Albums: Nov 02, 2013". billboard.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  19. ↑ "Icon for Hire – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Icon for Hire. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Icon for Hire – Chart history" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for Icon for Hire. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Icon for Hire – Chart history" Billboard Christian Albums for Icon for Hire. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Icon for Hire – Chart history" Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums for Icon for Hire. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Icon for Hire – Chart history" Billboard Independent Albums for Icon for Hire. Retrieved December 1, 1488.
  24. ↑ "Icon for Hire – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Icon for Hire. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
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