Business Casual (Chromeo album) explained

Business Casual
Type:studio
Artist:Chromeo
Cover:Chromeo - Business Casual.png
Border:yes
Studio:
  • Metrosonic (Brooklyn)
  • Clinton Recording (Manhattan)
  • The Studio (Philadelphia)
  • Masterkut (Montreal)
  • Endangered Species (Montreal)
Genre:
Length:39:35
Label:
Producer:Chromeo
Prev Title:Fancy Footwork
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:White Women
Next Year:2014

Business Casual is the third studio album by Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo, released on September 14, 2010, by Last Gang Records and Turbo Recordings. The album is Chromeo's major-label debut, following the duo's signing to Atlantic Records.[1] Upon its release, Business Casual was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Four singles were released from the album: "Night by Night", "Don't Turn the Lights On", "Hot Mess", and "When the Night Falls".

Promotion

The album's lead single, "Night by Night", was released on September 22, 2009 as a free download through Green Label Sound, a Mountain Dew-sponsored record label.[2] The Jérémie Rozan-directed music video, which was also funded by Mountain Dew,[3] was filmed at a warehouse in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.[4] Chromeo performed "Night by Night" on Late Show with David Letterman on September 20, 2010.[5]

"Don't Turn the Lights On" was released on June 28, 2010, as the second single from Business Casual,[6] and its music video was directed by Keith Schofield.[7]

"Hot Mess" served as the album's third single. An alternative version of the song featuring Elly Jackson of La Roux was released in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2011,[8] while the original version was released in the United States on February 15 and in Canada on March 1.[9] [10] The accompanying video, directed by Jérémie Rozan,[11] was shot in Dumbo, Brooklyn.[12] The duo performed "Hot Mess" on Conan on February 21, 2011.[13]

"When the Night Falls" was released on July 25, 2011, as the album's fourth and final single.[14] The song's video was directed by Daniels and features Solange Knowles,[15] who also provides additional vocals for the track.

Critical reception

Business Casual received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average of 68, based on 19 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[16] Simon Vozick-Levinson of Entertainment Weekly wrote that despite the duo's major-label deal, "[o]n Business Casual they remain adept students of the Hall & Oates school of hooks, which they surround with gleaming synth grooves and robotic talkbox solos that recall '80s funk masters like Zapp & Roger."[17] Chris Martins of The A.V. Club stated that the album "opens with a powerful three-part salvo crafted for maximum dance-floor penetration. [...] But as the album progresses, an unexpected soulfulness emerges".[18] Anupa Mistry of URB remarked, "The defining thread running through Chromeo's body of work is earnestness: you might scoff at the Lothario-obsession, the legs on display in the artwork, the almost-religious adherence to '80s stylistics, but in the end you either have to a) give it up for their studiousness, or b) just dance."[19] Marc Hogan of Spin opined that Business Casuals "libidinous wit can't quite match 2007's Fancy Footwork, but this day at the office still features booty calls, romantic squabbles, and digitally syrupy declarations of devotion."[20]

Slant Magazine's Jesse Cataldo found the album to be "transparent and tacky enough that its not becoming insufferable is a triumph in itself. Its earnestness, and the enthusiasm which it presents its reconstituted '80s sounds, is even lovable."[21] AJ Ramirez of PopMatters felt that "Chromeo still won't win any points for originally or distinctiveness", but noted, "For the majority of its runtime, Business Casual booms with the allure of a greatest hits collection, and actually stands as a more consistent work than the full-length efforts of many of Chromeo's influences."[22] AllMusic's Jason Lymangrover commented that the album has "the typically synth-suave electro-funk jams [...] As the album progresses, though, [the duo] dig[s] deeper into crates for cheesy inspiration, and you can hear glimmers of Rockwell, Lionel Richie, Oran Juice, and even The Kids from Fame TV series."[23] Pitchfork Larry Fitzmaurice suggested that the album's "most successful moments are the result of genre-related leg-stretching", adding that "the record is a unique situation, as it represents Chromeo's growth as master arrangers and producers, despite feeling like a step backwards in overall quality."[24] Kevin Ritchie of Now concluded that "Business Casual has a few bangers, but over the course of an album, the synth soloing gets old fast. Still, while we wait for a pop saviour to take the genre forward, Chromeo provide a nice enough tribute to its past."[25] In a review for NME, Mike Williams expressed that "Phillippe Zdar's production is a deluxe weave of dreamy synths, biting snares, throbbing bass and warbly Vocoders, but it feels as if Chromeo are just doodling knobs over the top."[26]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Business Casual.[27]

Musicians

Technical

Technical

Charts

Chart (2010)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Dance Albums (ARIA)[28] 20
Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[29] 44

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatEditionLabel
CanadaSeptember 14, 2010[30] [31] [32] [33]
United States[34] [35] [36] [37]
LPStandard[38]
JapanDigital downloadKSR[39]
September 15, 2010CD + DVD[40]
AustraliaSeptember 17, 2010Modular[41] [42]
Germany!K7[43] [44]
FranceSeptember 21, 2010Digital download[45]
United KingdomSeptember 26, 2010Back Yard[46]
September 27, 2010CD[47]
FranceOctober 13, 2010!K7| align="center"| [48] |-! scope="row"| Canada| November 16, 2010| LP| | align="center"| [49] |-! scope="row"| United Kingdom| February 6, 2011| Digital download| Deluxe| Back Yard| align="center"| [50] |}

References

]

Notes and References

  1. Wood . Mikael . Chromeo Keeps 'Casual' for Major Label Debut . . September 14, 2010 . July 9, 2022.
  2. Web site: Audio: Chromeo – Night by Night . . September 22, 2009 . December 8, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131101233107/http://green-label.com/sound/chromeo-night-by-night-2/ . November 1, 2013.
  3. Web site: Sisario . Ben . Looking to a Sneaker for a Band's Big Break . . October 6, 2010 . December 8, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130628184202/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/arts/music/10brand.html?pagewanted=all . June 28, 2013.
  4. Web site: Ryan . Chris . Video Premiere: Chromeo, 'Night By Night' . . December 3, 2009 . December 8, 2014 . https://archive.today/20141208205104/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2009/12/03/video-premiere-chromeo-night-by-night/ . December 8, 2014.
  5. Web site: Singh . Amrit . Chromeo Bring "Night By Night" To Late Night With David Letterman . . September 21, 2010 . December 8, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141218170710/https://www.stereogum.com/517372/chromeo-bring-night-by-night-to-late-night-with-david-letterman/video/ . December 18, 2014.
  6. Web site: Don't Turn The Lights On: Chromeo: MP3 Downloads . . United Kingdom . December 8, 2014.
  7. Web site: Gottlieb . Steven . WATCH IT: Chromeo "Don't Turn The Lights On" (Keith Schofield, dir.) . VideoStatic . August 4, 2010 . December 8, 2014.
  8. Web site: Hot Mess Ft Elly Jackson – Single by Chromeo . . 7 February 2011 . United Kingdom . December 8, 2014.
  9. Web site: Hot Mess – Deluxe Single by Chromeo . iTunes Store . 15 February 2011 . United States . December 8, 2014.
  10. Web site: Hot Mess by Chromeo . iTunes Store . Canada . December 8, 2014.
  11. Web site: Ryan . Chris . New Video: Chromeo, 'Hot Mess' . MTV Buzzworthy . November 30, 2010 . December 8, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101130183905/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2010/11/30/new-video-chromeo-hot-mess/ . November 30, 2010.
  12. Web site: Sutton . Benjamin . Chromeo's NSFW-ish "Hot Mess" Video Was Shot in Dumbo! . . November 15, 2010 . December 8, 2014 . December 8, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141208225303/http://www.thelmagazine.com/2010/11/chromeos-nsfw-ish-hot-mess-video-was-shot-in-dumbo/ . dead .
  13. Web site: Young . Alex . Last Night: Chromeo and their lady cops make a Hot Mess of Conan . . February 22, 2011 . July 9, 2022.
  14. Web site: When the Night Falls (feat. Solange Knowles) – EP by Chromeo . iTunes Store . 25 July 2011 . United Kingdom . December 8, 2014.
  15. Web site: Pajot . S. . Chromeo Gets Solange Knowles Pregnant in "When the Night Falls" Video . . August 16, 2011 . December 8, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110917094415/http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2011/08/chromeo_gets_solange_knowles_pregnant_when_the_night_falls_video.php . September 17, 2011.
  16. Web site: Business Casual by Chromeo Reviews and Tracks . . May 9, 2012.
  17. Vozick-Levinson . Simon . Business Casual Review . . 1120–1121 . September 17, 2010 . July 9, 2022.
  18. Web site: Martins . Chris . Chromeo: Business Casual . . September 14, 2010 . July 9, 2022.
  19. Web site: Mistry . Anupa . Chromeo – Business Casual (Review) . . September 7, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100912002935/http://www.urb.com/2010/09/07/chromeo-business-casual/ . September 12, 2010 . May 9, 2012.
  20. Web site: Hogan . Marc . Chromeo, 'Business Casual' (Atlantic) . . August 23, 2010 . May 9, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100829095821/http://www.spin.com/reviews/chromeo-business-casual-atlantic . August 29, 2010.
  21. Web site: Cataldo . Jesse . Review: Chromeo, Business Casual . . September 12, 2010 . July 9, 2022.
  22. Web site: Ramirez . AJ . Chromeo: Business Casual . . September 16, 2010 . May 9, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140519083324/http://www.popmatters.com/review/130025-chromeo-business-casual/ . May 19, 2014.
  23. Web site: Lymangrover . Jason . Business Casual – Chromeo . . December 8, 2014.
  24. Web site: Fitzmaurice . Larry . Chromeo: Business Casual . . September 22, 2010 . May 9, 2012.
  25. Web site: Ritchie . Kevin . Chromeo – Business Casual . . September 30, 2010 . December 8, 2014 . December 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221209214751/https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/chromeo-2010-09-30/ . dead .
  26. Web site: Williams . Mike . Album Review: Chromeo – Business Casual (Atlantic) . . September 17, 2010 . May 9, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131215070110/https://www.nme.com/reviews/chromeo/11571 . December 15, 2013.
  27. Business Casual . liner notes . . . 2010 . Q201248.
  28. ARIA Dance – Week Commencing 27th September 2010 . . 1074 . September 27, 2010 . 17 . May 7, 2012 . . dead . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20101018041851/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20101011-0000/Issue1074.pdf . October 18, 2010.
  29. Web site: Albums : Top 100 . . September 23, 2010 . May 7, 2012 . usurped . https://archive.today/20041226005640/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html . December 26, 2004.
  30. Web site: Business Casual (Deluxe Edition) by Chromeo . iTunes Store . Canada . May 7, 2012.
  31. Web site: Business Casual by Chromeo . . December 8, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052548/https://www.hmv.ca/en/Search/Details?sku=589902 . March 4, 2016.
  32. Web site: Business Casual (Dlx Ltd Ed): Chromeo . Amazon . Canada . December 8, 2014.
  33. Web site: Business Casual by Chromeo . iTunes Store . Canada . May 7, 2012.
  34. Web site: Business Casual (Deluxe Version) by Chromeo . iTunes Store . 14 September 2010 . United States . December 8, 2014.
  35. Web site: Chromeo: Business Casual (CD) . Amazon . United States . May 7, 2012.
  36. Web site: Chromeo: Business Casual (Deluxe Edition) . Amazon . United States . December 8, 2014.
  37. Web site: Business Casual: Chromeo: MP3 Downloads . Amazon . United States . December 8, 2014.
  38. Web site: Chromeo: Business Casual (Vinyl) . Amazon . United States . May 7, 2012.
  39. Web site: Business Cassual by Chromeo . iTunes Store . Japan . May 7, 2012.
  40. Web site: Business Casual . KSR . May 7, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121102075258/http://ksr-corp.com/label/discs.php?disc_id=274 . November 2, 2012.
  41. Web site: Business Casual . . December 8, 2014.
  42. Web site: Business Casual by Chromeo . iTunes Store . Australia . May 7, 2012.
  43. Web site: Business Casual . Amazon . de . Germany . May 7, 2012.
  44. Web site: Business Casual (Bonus Version) by Chromeo . iTunes Store . Germany . May 7, 2012.
  45. Web site: Business Casual: Chromeo: Téléchargements MP3 . Amazon . fr . France . December 8, 2014.
  46. Web site: Business Casual by Chromeo . iTunes Store . United Kingdom . May 7, 2012.
  47. Web site: Business Casual by Chromeo . Amazon . United Kingdom . December 8, 2014.
  48. Web site: Business casual – Chromeo – CD album . fr . . July 9, 2022.
  49. Web site: Business Casual : Ltd by Chromeo . HMV Canada . December 8, 2014 .
  50. Web site: Business Casual (Deluxe Version) by Chromeo . iTunes Store . United Kingdom . May 7, 2012.

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