Thank You Camellia Explained

Thank You Camellia
Type:studio
Artist:Kris Allen
Cover:Kris Allen - Thank You Camellia.png
Recorded:2011
Genre:Pop rock
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Thank You Camellia is the third studio album and second major-label album by American singer-songwriter Kris Allen. It was released on May 18, 2012.

Background

Allen confirmed on April 4, 2012, via a WhoSay Twitter-based fan interview (and reiterated in following interviews) that the album's title is a reference to the home that he shared with friends from his home state of Arkansas while living in Los Angeles, where he recorded the majority of the songs featured on his sophomore release.[1]

Reception

Entertainment Weeklys Grady Smith gave the album a positive (B+) review. Ceding that the songs may come off "downright Amish" compared to contemporaries on the pop charts, Smith noted that "Allen delivers his lyrics with an earnest confidence (and occasional swagger) that keeps his songs from becoming treacly," concluding that the album was "a cohesive, warmhearted charmer." USA Today's Brian Mansfield also described it as "warmhearted" with "charming flourishes."[2] People gave the album 3 out of 4 stars, calling it a "smoothly and surely executed . . . winner." Yahoo Music's Lyndsey Parker observed that "[Allen's] songwriting skills have clearly grown more sophisticated," praising the range of the material from "jaunty, summer-convertible-cruising anthems" to darker tracks such as "the propulsive and sinister alt-rocker 'Monster'" and noting that "the lyrics are plain-spoken, refreshingly unflowery, and . . . cut right to the heart of the matter."[3]

Singles

The only single from the album is "The Vision of Love", which was released digitally on March 26, 2012.[4]

Live performances

Allen performed new material from his forthcoming album for the first time at a sold out show at The Mint in Los Angeles on February 9, 2012.[5]

Allen performed "The Vision of Love" and other new material from his forthcoming album at the Live in the Vineyard festival on April 13 at the Uptown Theater, in Napa, California. The show also featured Jason Mraz, Mayer Hawthorne, Mat Kearney, and more.[6]

He also performed at Mix 94.1's Pet-a-Palooza in Las Vegas on April 21, 2012. On May 19, 2012, Allen performed songs from the record on 96.9 WINK FM's Spring Fling. He also covered "She Works Hard for the Money", paying respect to the late Donna Summer.

Personnel

Acoustic tracks

Production and Technical

Release dates

CountryDateLabelFormats
IrelandMay 18, 2012RCA Records
United KingdomMay 21, 2012
United StatesMay 22, 2012

Notes and References

  1. News: Kris Allen answers questions via Twitter. WhoSay . April 4, 2012 . April 10, 2012.
  2. Web site: Kris Allen looks beyond himself on 'Thank You Camellia' . Brian Mansfield . May 18, 2012 . May 18, 2012.
  3. Web site: Giving Thanks For Kris Allen’s ‘Thank You Camellia’ . Lyndsey Parker . May 19, 2012 . May 19, 2012.
  4. News: Get "The Vision of Love" on iTunes! . RCA News .
  5. Web site: Kris Allen Debuts Mint-y Fresh New Songs at Rare L.A. Show . Lyndsey Parker . February 10, 2012 . . May 7, 2012.
  6. News: American Idol Season 8 Winner Kris Allen to Release Brand New Album Thank You Camellia May 22nd on 19 Recordings/RCA Records . RCA Music . March 29, 2012 . March 29, 2012 .