Phoenix (Charlotte Cardin album)
Phoenix is the debut full-length album by Canadian pop singer Charlotte Cardin, released April 23, 2021 on Cult Nation.[1]
| Phoenix | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 23, 2021 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 46:00 | |||
| Label | Cult Nation | |||
| Producer | Jason Brando | |||
| Charlotte Cardin chronology | ||||
| ||||
According to Cardin, the album's creation was marked by a significant shift from her usual songwriting process.[2] While she had generally written the songs on her prior EPs Big Boy and Main Girl on her own, when she began writing for Phoenix she felt limited by writers' block and a lack of certainty about what she wanted to say or how she wanted the album to sound, and began cowriting with Cult Nation head Jason Brando.[3] The album had actually been completed and planned for release in 2020, but was delayed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, on the grounds that "nobody really had the headspace or even the media space to talk about music", such that the album would likely have been lost and overlooked had it been released in 2020.[4] However, the singles "Passive Aggressive" and "Daddy" were both released in 2020, and "Meaningless" followed in 2021, in advance of the full album's release.[5]
With full concert touring still impacted by the pandemic, the album was promoted with a livestreamed concert performance, titled The Phoenix Experience, on April 29.[6]
The album debuted at #1 on the Canadian Albums Chart,[7] and remained there for two weeks.[8]
In November 2021 Cardin released a "deluxe edition" of the album, featuring several additional bonus tracks not on the original release.[9]
Critical response
Heather Taylor-Singh of Exclaim! praised the album, writing that "Phoenix feels like an album for the modern young woman. At 26, Cardin effortlessly captures the complicated nature of trying to understand who she is and what she wants...Cardin is good at the buildup, quietly singing about her insecurities and how past lovers have done her wrong, as the instrumentals slowly simmer. But when the beat drops, you can't help but nod your head and dance to oscillating synth beats as the passion in Cardin's voice intensifies, like on "Passive Aggressive." With thoughtfully constructed instrumentals, her voice is powerful."[1]
Awards
The album was longlisted for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize,[10] and won the Felix Award for Anglophone Album of the Year at the 43rd Félix Awards.[11] Cardin also won the awards for Anglophone Concert of the Year for The Phoenix Experience, and Most Successful Artist Outside Quebec.[11]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Phoenix" | 3:48 |
| 2. | "Passive Aggressive" | 3:10 |
| 3. | "Anyone Who Loves Me" | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Meaningless" | 3:38 |
| 5. | "Daddy" | 2:50 |
| 6. | "Sex to Me" | 3:36 |
| 7. | "Good Girl" | 2:39 |
| 8. | "Sad Girl" | 3:16 |
| 9. | "XOXO" | 3:47 |
| 10. | "Oceans" | 3:29 |
| 11. | "Sun Goes Down (Buddy)" | 3:39 |
| 12. | "Romeo" | 3:44 |
| 13. | "Je quitte" | 4:16 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Scorpio Season" | 3:05 |
| 15. | "You Lie, You Die" | 2:30 |
| 16. | "Changing" | 2:37 |
| 17. | "Over Me" | 2:16 |
| 18. | "Passive Aggressive (Johnny Gold Remix)" | 2:51 |
| 19. | "C'est la vie" | 2:43 |
| 20. | "Phoenix (Reprise)" | 3:39 |
Charts
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[12] | 1 |
References
- Heather Taylor-Singh, "Charlotte Cardin Breaks Free from Her Past on 'Phoenix'". Exclaim!, April 19, 2021.
- Nick Krewen, "Charlotte Cardin on the creative process behind her first full album ‘Phoenix’". Toronto Star, July 15, 2021.
- Holly Gordon, "How Charlotte Cardin became more herself — by leaning on others". CBC Music, April 23, 2021.
- "Charlotte Cardin spreads her wings with her debut album Phoenix". Cult MTL, April 23, 2021.
- Calum Slingerland, "Charlotte Cardin Readies Debut Album 'Phoenix'". Exclaim!, February 12, 2021.
- Laurie Dupont, "The Phoenix Experience: le spectacle virtuel de Charlotte Cardin". Elle Québec, April 28, 2021.
- Émilie Côté, "Charlotte Cardin au premier rang du palmarès canadien". La Presse, May 4, 2021.
- "Charlotte Cardin's Phoenix Remains No. 1 Album For 2nd Week". FYI Music News, May 9, 2021.
- Martin Nolibé, "Un nouveau titre et un album version deluxe pour Charlotte Cardin". Métro, October 22, 2021.
- David Friend, "Daniel Lanois, Savannah Ré, Charlotte Cardin make long list of Polaris Music Prize". The Globe and Mail, June 16, 2021.
- Valérie Marcoux, "Gala de l’ADISQ: une année riche en Félix pour Klô Pelgag". Le Soleil, November 7, 2021.
- "Charlotte Cardin Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2021.