Orion (X Ambassadors album)

Orion (stylized in all caps) is the second studio album by American rock band X Ambassadors. It was released on June 14, 2019, by record labels KIDinaKORNER and Interscope Records. The album follows X Ambassadors' first studio album, VHS (2015), and is the first album to feature the band as a trio since Noah Feldshuh took a personal break from X Ambassadors in 2016. Three singles have been released from Orion: "Boom", "Hey Child", and "Hold You Down". The album features production from musicians such as Ricky Reed and Malay.[2][3][4]

Orion
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 14, 2019 (2019-06-14)
Recorded2017–2019
Genre
Length35:20
Label
Producer
X Ambassadors chronology
VHS
(2015)
Orion
(2019)
Belong
(2020)
Singles from Orion
  1. "Boom"
    Released: January 25, 2019
  2. "Hey Child"
    Released: April 19, 2019
  3. "Hold You Down"
    Released: May 31, 2019

Background edit

X Ambassadors released their debut album, VHS, on June 30, 2015. The band went on tour to support the album, where they wrote several songs that became singles.[5] On January 26, 2018, the song "Joyful" was released. Later that day, an album of the same name was announced. The album was originally slated for an April 2018 release.[6] On February 2, 2018, a second single titled "Don't Stay" was released.

On April 19, 2019, roughly a year after the planned release date, X Ambassadors announced that they had cancelled the album "Joyful". Singer Sam Harris stated in an interview with Billboard that the album was cancelled because "it didn't feel like it fully represented where [they] were at."[7]

Promotion and tour edit

On January 24, 2019, the trio released the lead single from Orion titled "Boom". On April 19, 2019, X Ambassadors released another single, titled "Hey Child". A tour supporting Orion was announced on May 13, 2019, with 27 dates around the USA. 5 days later, additional dates were added.

The track listing was released through X Ambassadors' social media accounts on May 28, 2019. The next day, the band announced that the song "Happy Home" would be on the Target exclusive version.

Track listing edit

Orion – Standard edition[8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hey Child"
  • Wells
  • Jared Scharff
3:28
2."Confidence" (featuring K.Flay)
2:53
3."Quicksand"
  • X Ambassadors
  • DeZuzio
3:09
4."Boom"
  • X Ambassadors
  • Frederic
  • Thomas Eriksen
  • Tom Peyton
  • X Ambassadors
  • Reed
  • Earwulf
2:44
5."Rule"
3:25
6."History"X Ambassadors
  • Reed
  • Nate Mercereau
4:17
7."Recover"
3:32
8."Wasteland"
  • X Ambassadors
  • Frederic
  • X Ambassadors
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
3:08
9."Shadows"
  • X Ambassadors
  • DeZuzio
3:14
10."I Don't Know How to Pray"X AmbassadorsX Ambassadors2:13
11."Hold You Down"
  • X Ambassadors
  • Frederic
  • Jacob Kasher
  • Ho
  • X Ambassadors
  • Reed
  • Malay
3:17
Total length:35:20
Orion Target exclusive bonus track[9]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Happy Home"
3:21
Total length:38:41

Notes

Personnel edit

Adapted credits from the liner notes of Orion.[11]

Charts edit

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[12] 95
US Billboard 200[13] 125
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[14] 25

References edit

  1. ^ https://www.spacecityrock.com/2019/10/16/x-ambassadors-orion/
  2. ^ Olivier, Bobby (April 19, 2019). "X Ambassadors' Sam Harris Talks 'Hey Child' Single, 'Game of Thrones' Music & Rock's Urgent Need for Diversity". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  3. ^ Iahn, Buddy (April 22, 2019). "X Ambassadors Announce 'Orion' for June 14th". The Music Universe. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  4. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (May 3, 2019). "X Ambassadors Want To Redefine What It Means To Be A Band". Grammy.com. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  5. ^ "X Ambassadors: Go From Joyful to Orion". WQKL-FM. April 19, 2019. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  6. ^ Hudelson, Molly (January 30, 2018). "X Ambassadors release "Joyful" new single and announce headlining tour". Substreammagazine.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  7. ^ "X Ambassadors' Sam Harris Talks 'Hey Child' Single, 'Game of Thrones' Music & Rock's Urgent Need for Diversity". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  8. ^ "ORION by X Ambassadors". Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  9. ^ "X Ambassadors - ORION (Target Exclusive) : Target". Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  10. ^ "Orion". Google Play Music. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  11. ^ Orion (booklet). X Ambassadors. Kidinakorner. Interscope. 2019. B0030413-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 21, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  13. ^ "X Ambassadors Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "X Ambassadors Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.