Wikipedia

I've Failed You

I've Failed You is the sixth studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on August 30, 2011, through eOne Music. Considered by the band to be their darkest and most introspective release, the album acts as a continuation of the sound featured on In the Black (2009), and features more personal and introspective lyrics that drew from various events of turmoil that vocalist and guitarist Morgan Lander experienced in the two years following the aforementioned album's release. The album was produced by Siegfried Meier and was primarily recorded at Beach Road Studios in London, Ontario; Ivy Jenkins' bass tracks were recorded separately in the United States, as immigration difficulties prevented her from travelling to Canada.

I've Failed You
Studio album by
Kittie
ReleasedAugust 30, 2011 (2011-08-30)
StudioBeach Road (Goderich)[N 1]
Genre
Length36:26
LabeleOne
ProducerSiegfried Meier
Kittie chronology
In the Black
(2009) 		I've Failed You
(2011) 		Not So... Safe
(2012)
Kittie studio album chronology
In the Black
(2009) 		I've Failed You
(2011) 		Fire
(2024)
Singles from I've Failed You
  1. "We Are the Lamb"
    Released: July 20, 2011
  2. "Empires, Pt. 2"
    Released: August 2, 2011

I've Failed You received mixed reviews from critics and debuted at number 178 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 3,000 copies in its first week. Between August 2011 and May 2012, Kittie embarked on tours of the United States, Canada and Australia. During the Australia tour in February 2012, Jenkins amicably left Kittie and was replaced by former bassist Trish Doan, who would remain with the band until her death in 2017. In 2022, Jenkins rejoined the band.

Music, writing and recording edit

"I don’t want to say it’s a concept record, but pretty much every song is about the same thing. It’s about things that happen in your life that you have no control over, the feeling that you’ve let someone down. It’s weird; I didn’t put too much thought into what I wanted to call the album. I guess I wanted to be as honest as possible. A lot of the lyrics that I’ve written in the past are very veiled, and I guess I tried to leave them as open to interpretation as possible so people could read into them whatever they wanted. I didn’t want to be too personal in the past, but this time it was a bit different. I wanted to put all my cards on the table and say exactly how I felt."

— Morgan Lander on the meaning and themes of I've Failed You[2]

According to Metal Hammer, I've Failed You "nailed the balance between accessibility and brutality [...], adding melody and harmonies to [Kittie's] steely-eyed thrash and death metal."[3] Kittie described the as a continuation of their fifth album In the Black (2009), expanding upon its style and production, as well as their darkest, most introspective release.[4][5][6] The album's lyrics drew from various events of turmoil that vocalist and guitarist Morgan Lander experienced in the two years following the release of In the Black,[7][8] the most notable being the end of a decade-long relationship and the death of David Lander, Morgan and drummer Mercedes Lander's father and Kittie's manager, in 2008.[2][6] Although Morgan found it difficult to go into detail about the album's lyrics in interviews,[7] Mercedes would describe them as "quite literal".[8]

Kittie began working on new material in January 2011, after taking a small hiatus following the end of their year-long international tour in support of In the Black in October 2010.[1][7][9] The band finished writing in early March,[10] and in mid-April 2011 they commenced the recording of I've Failed You with producer Siegfried Meier at Beach Road Studios in London, Ontario.[11] Recording sessions lasted a total of three weeks.[9] As with In the Black, Meier used a Studer A827 tape machine to record I've Failed You's tracks; Mercedes drums, which had been recorded digitally on In the Black, were also tracked using the tape machine.[1] Due to immigration difficulties preventing her from joining the other members of Kittie in Canada, Meier was forced to travel to the United States with a mobile recording setup to record Ivy Jenkins' bass tracks, which he recorded with no distortion so he could run them through a bass amplifier and some comps at Beach Road.[1][12] In a 2011 interview with OnMilwaukee, Meier said that he and Kittie had joking compared the album's "bassless" sound during production to Metallica's ...And Justice for All.[1] Despite this setback, the other members of Kittie managed to keep Jenkins as involved as possible with the album during production, sending her rough mixes as recording progressed.[1] The band had initially planned on having Jenkins send material over to them as well, but this was scrapped due to time constraints.[13]

Morgan described "We Are the Lamb" as "a tale of self-sacrifice, to give those you love a chance to grow and learn to live for themselves".[14] Its lyrics were written by Mercedes, who, according to Morgan, "[gave] me a sheet of paper that was more of a poem. She said, "Do what you would like with it - extrapolate."[7][15] "Empires, Pt. 1" and "Empires, Pt. 2" both share the same chords and structure, with the former being a solo acoustic piece written and performed by lead guitarist Tara McLeod and the latter a heavier, more aggressive song.[16] In an interview with Revolver, Morgan said that the song was "about the fall of something that at one time was considered great and indestructible. It likens a union, or relationship to the idea of a great empire, and as history has taught us, even the most mighty and powerful of empires crumble and fall eventually. Nothing is forever."[16]

Release edit

Promotion edit

On July 20, 2011, Kittie exclusively announced the release of I've Failed You on Noisecreep and premiered "We Are the Lamb" as its lead single.[17] Its music video, released on August 30, 2011,[14] was produced by MGYNYC, a video production company run by Dave Brodsky and Allison Woest, whom Kittie had previously worked with on the music videos for "Cut Throat" and "Sorrow I Know" (both off of In the Black).[18] Mercedes described the video as the band's "take on the [1970s] italian zombie movie", with her and Morgan both noting their love of horror movies.[8][18] On August 2, 2011, the album's second single, "Empires Pt. 2", was premiered through Revolver magazine's website, with a music video for the song being released on August 15, 2011.[16][19]

On August 23, 2011, Kittie made I've Failed You available for streaming through Exclaim!.[20][21] The album was officially released in the United States through eOne Music on August 30, 2011, and in Europe through Massacre Records on September 5, 2011.[22] Selling 3,000 copies in its first week of release, the album debuted and peaked at number 178 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[23][24] The album also made appearances on three other Billboard charts, peaking at number 10 on the Top Hard Rock Albums, number 26 on the Top Independent Albums and number 46 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts.[24]

Touring edit

Kittie began touring in support of I've Failed You on August 11, 2011, when they performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois.[25] From August 12 to September 21, 2011, they toured the United States, taking Dirge Within and Diamond Plate with them as support.[26] In mid-February 2012, the band performed two shows in Canada before embarking on their first tour of Australia since 2002, between February 25 and March 5, 2012.[27] Prior to these performances, on February 13, 2012, Kittie announced that they would be amicably parting ways with Ivy Jenkins and that Trish Doan, who played bass on the band's fourth album Funeral for Yesterday (2007), would rejoin the band following their performance at the Soundwave Festival in Sydney on February 26, 2012.[28][29] Doan had previously left the band in mid-2007 after struggling with anorexia athletica-nervosa whilst on tour.[30][31][32] McLeod said that it "was a great regret for Trish that things didn't work out for her the first time, and I think she did want that second opportunity to kind of try again. Kinda prove to herself that she could do it."[33] Following the Australia tour, Kittie toured the United States and Canada again from April 10 to May 25, 2012, supported by The Agonist (from April 19 onwards),[34] Blackguard and Bonded by Blood.[35][36]

Kittie's final performance for nearly four years took place at the Spread the Metal Festival at The Opera House in Toronto on September 7, 2013—their only performance that year—after which the band went on a hiatus, citing rising costs associated with touring and writing new music.[37][38][39] Morgan later noted declining turnouts at the band's shows as a factor,[40] with her and Mercedes both feeling that Kittie had "overstayed [their] welcome" by the time I've Failed You was released.[41] Doan would remain with Kittie until her death on February 11, 2017.[42] Though never officially breaking up,[41] Kittie remained largely inactive until January 2022, by which point Jenkins had rejoined the band.[43]

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [44]
Blabbermouth.net7/10[45]
Consequence of Sound     [46]
Edmonton Journal     [47]
laut.de     [48]
Metal.de6/10[49]
Metal Hammer6/10[50]
Now     [51]

I've Failed You received mixed reviews from critics. Exclaim!'s Denise Falzon referred to the album as Kittie's "most accomplished release to date", praising its production and greater cohesion of its members' talents.[5] Scott Alisoglu of Blabbermouth.net similarly praised the album's production and dynamics, stating that it "won't irreversibly alter the face of metal, but it'll leave some nasty cuts and scratches from those permanently sharp claws."[45] However, he felt that its mellower, alternative rock-inspired tracks—namely "Never Coming Home" and "Time Never Heals"—"[flirted] with the generic".[45] Holly Wright of Metal Hammer praised the album's "sledgehammer" riffs and its guitar solos, but noted that it occasionally "[sounded] a bit too much like Gwen Stefani covering At the Gates".[50] Andreas Himmelstein and Frank Albrecht, both from Rock Hard, gave differing opinions.[52] Himmelstein gave the album a 5 out of 10, criticizing its "total lack of ideas" and Morgan Lander's limited range, whilst Albrecht gave the album a 7.5 out of 10, finding its mix of death metal riffs and melodic vocals to be "highly entertaining".[52]

AllMusic stated that the album "sounds nearly interchangeable with their previous releases, which may provide solace for some of the quartet's many fans, but will likely provide a whole lot of ammunition for their detractors."[44] Carla Gillis of Now criticized the album's failure to "improve on or diverge from" Kittie's previous albums, as well as its lack of "memorable lyrics, riffs or melodies".[51] Katharina of Metal.de felt the album was monotonous, uninspired, and lacking in focus.[49] In a highly negative review, David Buchanan of Consequence of Sound said that the album "[offered] nothing short of mediocre hardcore ("I’ve Failed You") with a 50% sentimental 'epic' for show (the two-part "Empires")" and criticized its overall design and aesthetic, which he claimed "yields the reason some late-’90s cusp performers will never regain their footing commercially or artistically: they flat out sucked to begin with."[46]

Track listing edit

All songs written by Kittie.[53]

No.TitleLength
1."I've Failed You"2:11
2."We Are the Lamb"2:51
3."Whisper of Death"4:18
4."What Have I Done?"5:25
5."Empires, Pt. 1"2:13
6."Empires, Pt. 2"3:41
7."Come Undone"2:15
8."Already Dead"2:51
9."Never Come Home"3:15
10."Ugly"2:57
11."Time Never Heals"4:30
Total length:36:26

Personnel edit

Adapted from CD liner notes.[53]

Charts edit

Chart (2011) Peak

position

US Billboard 200[24] 178
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[24] 10
US Top Independent Albums (Billboard)[24] 26
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[24] 46

Release history edit

Reigon Label Format Date Catalog # Ref.
United States eOne Music
August 30, 2011 EOM-CD-2153 [17]
Germany Massacre Records September 2, 2011 MAS CD0728 [54]
Europe September 5, 2011 [22]

References edit

Notes

  1. ^ Ivy Jenkins' bass tracks were recorded in the United States and reworked by Meier at Beach Road.[1]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f Schulze, John (August 21, 2011). "Kittie builds on a career's worth of metal". OnMilwaukee. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Begai, Carl (September 20, 2011). "Kittie - The Mourning After". bravewords.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Leivers, Dannii (April 6, 2024). ""We were coming back and taking no prisoners": every Kittie album in their own words". Metal Hammer (loudersound). Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  4. ^ Simms, Kelley (October 10, 2011). "Interview with Kittie". Metal Maniacs. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Falzon, Denise (August 29, 2011). "Kittie - I've Failed You". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Harde 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d Falzon, Denise (August 25, 2011). "Kittie's Morgan Lander". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Källmalm, Daniel (October 16, 2011). "Kittie: The Kittens are back!" (PDF). hallowed.se. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 17, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Gencarelli, Mike (August 28, 2011). "Interview with Kittie's Mercedes Lander". Media Mikes. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Blabbermouth (March 9, 2011). "Kittie Completes Writing 'Most Pissed-Off-Sounding Record We Have Ever Had'". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  11. ^ Blabbermouth (April 11, 2011). "Kittie To Enter Studio Next Week". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  12. ^ McCallum 2017, 1:20:41–1:21:07.
  13. ^ McCallum 2017, 1:21:40–1:21:59.
  14. ^ a b Blabbermouth (August 30, 2011). "Kittie: 'We Are The Lamb' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Prato, Greg (October 14, 2015). "Morgan Lander of Kittie : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Grow, Kory (August 2, 2011). "Kittie Premiere "Empires (Part 2)"". Revolver. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Ramirez, Carlos (July 20, 2011). "Kittie Return With a Vengeance on 'We Are the Lamb' — Song Premiere". Noisecreep. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Ehrhardt, Claudia (September 29, 2011). "Metal World :: Kittie". ice-vajal.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Blabbermouth (August 15, 2011). "Kittie: 'Empires (Part 2)' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  20. ^ Falzon, Denise (August 23, 2011). "Kittie". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  21. ^ Blabbermouth (August 23, 2011). "Kittie: Entire New Album Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Goodwyn, Tom (September 5, 2011). "This Week's New Music Releases: September 5 2011". NME. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  23. ^ Blabbermouth (September 7, 2011). "Kittie: 'I've Failed You' First-Week Sales Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c d e f "Kittie". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  25. ^ wookubus (June 5, 2011). "CKY, Kittie, Saliva, Etc. To Perform At 2011 "Gathering Of The Juggalos"". ThePRP. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  26. ^ Blabbermouth (June 2, 2011). "Kittie To Tour U.S. With Dirge Within, Diamond Plate". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  27. ^ Crabb, Brendan (February 16, 2012). "Kittie: Failure is Not an Option". loudmag.com.au. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  28. ^ Blabbermouth (February 13, 2012). "Kittie Parts Ways With Ivy Vujic, Welcomes Back Bassist Trish Doan". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  29. ^ Blabbermouth (March 4, 2012). "Kittie: 'Soundwave Festival' Performance Footage Available". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  30. ^ Blabbermouth (June 28, 2007). "Kittie Bassist To Sit Out Tour". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  31. ^ Blabbermouth (September 3, 2007). "Kittie Frontwoman Says Bassist's 'Serious Eating Disorder' Prevented Her From Touring". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  32. ^ Blabbermouth (March 4, 2008). "Kittie Parts Ways With Bassist Trish Doan". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  33. ^ McCallum 2017, 1:27:21–1:27:35.
  34. ^ "The Agonist cancels first 9 shows of Kittie tour". lambgoat.com. April 11, 2012. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  35. ^ Adams, Gregory (December 1, 2011). "Kittie Announce Sprawling North American Tour". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  36. ^ Anon. (March 25, 2012). "Updated Tour Dates!". kittierocks.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  37. ^ BraveWords (September 29, 2013). "Kittie - Five More Songs From Toronto's Spread The Metal Festival Posted, Video Available". bravewords.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  38. ^ John (July 3, 2014). "An interview with Morgan Lander of Kittie". London Groove Machine. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  39. ^ McCallum 2017, 3:52, 4:04.
  40. ^ Alderslade, Merlin (April 3, 2024). ""The world is ready for us now." Why nu metal heroes Kittie are finally ready to grab the limelight once again". Metal Hammer (loudersound). Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  41. ^ a b Begai, Carl (April 15, 2024). "Kittie - Rise Above The Flames". bravewords.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  42. ^ Kaufman, Gil (February 14, 2017). "Kittie Bassist Trish Doan Dies at 31". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  43. ^ Blabbermouth (January 26, 2022). "Kittie Announces Band Lineup For Reunion Shows". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  44. ^ a b Monger, James Christopher. "I've Failed You - Kittie". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  45. ^ a b c Alisoglu, Scott (October 17, 2011). "I've Failed You". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  46. ^ a b Buchanan, David (August 29, 2011). "Album Review: Kittie - I've Failed You". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  47. ^ Bennett 2011.
  48. ^ Edele, Michael (September 2, 2011). "Kein großer Keks trotz großem Abwechslungsreichtum" [Not a big biscuit despite great variety.]. laut.de (in German). Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  49. ^ a b Catherine (August 13, 2011). "Kittie - I've Failed You Review". Metal.de (in German). Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  50. ^ a b Wright 2011.
  51. ^ a b Gillis, Carla (January 5, 2012). "Kittie - I've Failed You". Now. Vol. 31, no. 19. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  52. ^ a b Himmelstein, Andreas; Albrecht, Frank (August 24, 2011). "I've Failed You". Rock Hard (Vol. 292) (in German). Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023. (subscription required)
  53. ^ a b Kittie (2011). I've Failed You (booklet). Port Washington: eOne Music. EOM-CD-2153.
  54. ^ "Schedule". massacre-records.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2024.

Bibliography edit

External links edit

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