My Head Is an Animal

My Head Is an Animal
Studio album by Of Monsters and Men
Released 20 September 2011 (Icelandic release)
3 April 2012 (International release)
Recorded 26–28 March 2011;
9–25 January 2012
Studio Syrland, Vatnagarðar, Reykjavík[1]
Genre Indie folk, indie pop, indie rock
Length 59:38
Label Record, Republic
Producer Of Monsters and Men, Aron Arnarsson, Jacquire King
Of Monsters and Men chronology
My Head Is an Animal
(2011)		 Live From Vatnagarðar
(2013)
Icelandic release
Singles from My Head Is an Animal
  1. "Little Talks"
    Released: 20 December 2011
  2. "Dirty Paws"
    Released: 12 April 2012
  3. "Mountain Sound"
    Released: 2 September 2012
  4. "King and Lionheart"
    Released: 3 March 2013

My Head Is an Animal is the debut studio album by the Icelandic indie folk band Of Monsters and Men,[2] released through Record Records in Iceland on 20 September 2011. After their success, topping the Icelandic charts with their debut single, "Little Talks", the band signed with Universal Music Group and the album was released in North America through Republic Records on 3 April 2012. The title of the album comes from the second line in "Dirty Paws".

The international version of the vinyl LP was pressed by United Record Pressing in Nashville, Tennessee.

Release and promotion

Singles

"Little Talks" was released as the debut single by the band, and the lead single from My Head Is an Animal on 20 December 2011,[3] after it had been released as a promo to radio stations in the US and Europe in July 2011.[4] The single propelled the band to nationwide popularity in the US, and has so far sold a million copies there.[5] The success of the single in the US led to the band's signing with Universal Music Group, and the single, along with a revised version of My Head Is an Animal was released in North America on 3 April 2012.[6] The music video for the song debuted in February 2012.

"Dirty Paws" served as the second single from My Head Is an Animal in the UK and Ireland. It was released on 12 April 2012, in the lead up to the album's re-release in Europe. A promotional single followed in June.[7]

"Six Weeks" was released as a promotional single from the album in the UK and Ireland. It was released as a digital download on 27 August 2012.[8]

"Mountain Sound" was released in the US as the second single from the album, and the fourth overall. Seeing a release worldwide as the follow-up to "Little Talks" as well, it was released on 2 September 2012.[9] A music video to accompany the single was released on 24 September.

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic66/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Beats Per Minute81%[12]
Rolling Stone[13]
Paste Magazine[14]
Sputnik Music[15]

The album received positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic it currently holds a rating of 66/100, signifying generally favourable reviews.[16]

Commercial performance

The album debuted in the United States at number six on the Billboard 200, selling 55,000 units in its first week alone.[17] This marked the best chart performance for an Icelandic musical artist in U.S. history.[17][18] The previous chart record was held by Björk's Volta, which peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 in 2009.[17] In January 2014, the band announced via Facebook that the album had achieved platinum certification in the United States.[19] As of June 2015, the album has sold 1.1 million copies in the US.[20]

Track listing

All songs are credited to Of Monsters and Men, but were actually written by the band's individuals and/or others. The actual writers are listed alongside the tracks.[21]

Original Iceland release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dirty Paws"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson4:26
2."King and Lionheart"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir4:35
3."Numb Bears"  Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson2:45
4."Sloom"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson4:42
5."Little Talks"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson4:24
6."From Finner"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson, Brynjar Leifsson3:41
7."Six Weeks"  Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson5:32
8."Love Love Love"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir4:02
9."Your Bones"  Ragnar Þórhallsson4:07
10."Lakehouse"  Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Brynjar Leifsson5:42
11."Yellow Light" (ends at 4:52; hidden song "Sinking Man" starts at 13:04)Ragnar Þórhallsson15:45
Total length:59:38

Personnel

Of Monsters and Men
Additional musicians
  • Ari Bragi Kárason – trumpet
  • Ragnhildur Gunnarsdóttir – trumpet
  • Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir – French horn
Production (Icelandic release)
  • Of Monsters and Men – producer on all tracks
  • Aron Arnarsson – producer, engineer, mixing on all tracks
  • Styrmir Hauksson – mastering
  • Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson – artwork, design
  • Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir – artwork, design
  • Ragnar Þórhallsson – artwork, design
Production (U.S. release)
  • Of Monsters and Men – producer on tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
  • Aron Arnarsson – engineer, producer on tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12
  • Jacquire King – producer on tracks 2, 3, 4, 11
  • Craig Silvey – mixing
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Heather Kolker – manager
  • Maureen Kenny – A&R
  • Ben Adelson – co-A&R
  • Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson – artwork, design
  • Ragnar Þórhallsson – artwork, design

Music & Lyric videos

Little Talks

For more info see, "Little Talks" for music and lyric video.

King and Lionheart

For more info see, "King and Lionheart" for music and lyric video.

Dirty Paws

The lyric video features a black-furred beast carrying a flag through a blizzard while birds fly overhead.

Mountain Sound

For more info see, "Mountain Sound" for music and lyric video.

Slow and Steady

The lyric video features a bird flying over a snowy landscape.

From Finner

The lyric video features a sea monster carrying a village on its back.

Six Weeks

The lyric video features a forest on a winter night with a giant occasionally walking past.

Love Love Love

The lyric video features a Minotaur on a boat during a rainstorm while a sea serpent stares at him from the sea.

Your Bones

The lyric video features a boat made out of bones sailing away into the sunset and eventually bursting into flames.

Sloom

The lyric video features a swamp and a sea monster swimming in the water.

Lakehouse

The lyric video features a very tall house with fur and eyes.

Yellow Light

The lyric video features beasts walking though the night, carrying people.

Sinking Man

The lyric video features Jellyfish swimming away from the camera as it sinks.

Numb Bears

The lyric video features an Anteater-like creature walking across the back of a Bull-like creature.

Album artwork

The picture on the front of the international release is a picture that Brynjar's grandfather took of his friend. The original was black and white; Arnar Hilmarsson added the coloring. The picture on the back is a family picture that Ragnar found in his family pictures.[22]

The pictures on the front and back of the Icelandic release depict men dressed for the Icelandic national sport of Glima.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2012–13) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[23] 1
Austrian Albums Chart[24] 17
Belgium Albums Chart (Flanders)[25] 14
Belgium Albums Chart (Wallonia)[26] 45
Canadian Albums Chart[27] 4
Danish Albums Chart[28] 36
Dutch Albums Chart[29] 5
French Albums Chart[30] 55
German Albums Chart[31] 4
Icelandic Albums Chart 1
Irish Albums Chart[32] 1
Italian Albums Chart[33] 44
New Zealand Albums Chart[34] 4
Norwegian Albums Chart[35] 23
Spanish Albums Chart[36] 30
Swedish Albums Chart[37] 43
Swiss Albums Chart[38] 29
UK Albums Chart[39] 3
US Billboard 200[40] 6
US Alternative Albums[40] 1
US Rock Albums[40] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
Australian Albums Chart[41] 55
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[42] 57
Dutch Albums Chart[43] 72
US Billboard 200 56
US Billboard Rock Albums 12
US Billboard Alternative Albums 10
Chart (2013) Position
Australian Albums Chart[44] 18
New Zealand Albums Chart[45] 19
US Billboard 200 48
US Billboard Rock Albums 9
US Billboard Alternative Albums 6
Chart (2014) Position
US Billboard Rock Albums[46] 54
US Billboard Alternative Albums[47] 41

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[48] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[49] 2× Platinum 160,000^
Germany (BVMI)[50] Platinum 200,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[51] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Gold 270,347[53]
United States (RIAA)[54] Platinum 1,093,000[20]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Stúdíó Sýrland | About Sýrland Vatnagarðar Reykjavík http://www.syrland.is/syrland/hljodver-syrlands/
  2. ↑ Beckmann, Jim (6 December 2011). "Of Monsters And Men: From Reykjavik With Love", NPR Music. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  3. ↑ "Of Monsters And Men – Little Talks – Single (2011)". iTunes Archive. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  4. ↑ "Best New Releases, April 3rd, Vol. I – Of Monsters and Men, The Lumineers, Max and the Moon, Lux, Black Mountain, Twin Steps - Indie Rock Cafe – Best new indie rock songs, bands, music, playlists". indierockcafe.com.
  5. ↑ Grein, Paul (24 October 2012). "Week Ending 21 October 2012. Songs: Maroon 5′s "Nixon Moment"". Chart Watch. Yahoo Music. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  6. ↑ "My Head Is an Animal - Of Monsters and Men". iTunes US. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  7. ↑ "Of Monsters And Men – Dirty Paws". Of Monsters And Men Discography. Discogs. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  8. ↑ "Six Weeks - Single Of Monsters and Men". iTunes UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  9. ↑ "Of Monsters And Men – Mountain Sound". Of Monsters And Men Discography. Discogs. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  10. ↑ "Reviews for My Head is an Animal". Metacritic. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Collar, Matt (10 July 2012). "My Head Is An Animal - Of Monsters And Men; Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  12. ↑ Ubas, Ace (2012-04-04). "Of Monsters And Men My Head Is An Animal". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  13. ↑ Rosen, Jody (10 July 2012). "My Head Is An Animal". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  14. ↑ Saunders, Hilary (11 April 2012). "Of Monsters And Men: My Head Is An Animal". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  15. ↑ "Of Monsters And Men My Head Is An Animal". Sputnik Music. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  16. ↑ "My Head Is an Animal Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  17. 1 2 3 "More Success for Of Monsters And Men". Iceland Review. 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  18. ↑ "Thousands Attend Of Monsters And Men Concert". Iceland Review. 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  19. ↑ "Of Monsters and Men". 14 January 2014.
  20. 1 2 Partridge, Kenneth (June 15, 2015). "Of Monsters and Men Sink Their Teeth Into 'Beneath the Skin': Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  21. ↑ BMI Entry
  22. ↑ http://fuckyeahofmonstersandmen.com/post/54615500187/who-is-the-man-on-the-album-cover-for-mhiaa
  23. ↑ "australian-charts.com - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". australian-charts.com/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
  24. ↑ "austriancharts.at - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". austriancharts.at/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  25. ↑ "ulttratop.be - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Ultratop (Flanders). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  26. ↑ "ultratop.be - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Ultratop (Wallonia). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  27. ↑ "Of Monsters and Men and Making Sense of Success". Dose.ca. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  28. ↑ "danishcharts.com - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". danishcharts.com/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  29. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". dutchcharts.nl/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  30. ↑ "lescharts.com - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". lescharts.com/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  31. ↑ "Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal - Music Charts". Alpha Charts. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  32. ↑ "Top 100 Individual Artist Albums - Week ending 30th August 2012". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  33. ↑ "Album - Classifica settimanale WK 34 (dal 20/08/2012 al 26/08/2012)". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  34. ↑ "charts.org.nz - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". charts.org.nz/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  35. ↑ "hitparade.ch - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  36. ↑ "TOP 100 ALBUMES" (PDF) (in Spanish). PROMUSICAE. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  37. ↑ "hitparade.ch - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  38. ↑ "hitparade.ch - Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal". Schweizer Hitparade. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  39. ↑ "Top 40 Official Albums Chart Archive—8 September 2012". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  40. 1 2 3 "My Head is an Animal - Of Monsters and Men". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  41. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2012". ARIA. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
  42. ↑ ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS
  43. ↑ dutchcharts.nl - Dutch charts portal
  44. ↑ http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2013.htm
  45. ↑ "Lorde topped by Sol3 Mio in album charts". New Zelaand Herald. December 25, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  46. ↑ "2014 Year End Charts - Top Billboard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Alternative Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  48. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  49. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal". Music Canada.
  50. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Of Monsters and Men; 'My Head Is an Animal')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  51. ↑ "Irish album certifications – Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  52. ↑ "British album certifications – Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal". British Phonographic Industry. Enter My Head Is an Animal in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  53. ↑ Jones, Alan (15 June 2015). "Official Charts Analysis: Muse's Drones fly to No.1 on sales of 72,863". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 5 November 2015. (subscription required (help)).
  54. ↑ "American album certifications – Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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