CexCells

CexCells (pronounced "Sex Sells"[11]) is the debut studio album by the American electronic duo Blaqk Audio. It was initially scheduled to be released on August 7, 2007,[12] however, it was rescheduled and released a week further on August 14, 2007 through Interscope Records. It debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 29,000 copies within its first week.[13] It received mixed reviews from music critics. It spawned one single: "Stiff Kittens".

CexCells
Studio album by
Blaqk Audio
ReleasedAugust 14, 2007 (2007-08-14)
RecordedJanuary–March 2007
GenreSynth-pop, futurepop,[1] EBM, dark wave
Length50:55
LabelInterscope
ProducerJade Puget
Blaqk Audio chronology
CexCells
(2007)		 Bright Black Heaven
(2012)
Alternative cover
Hot Topic edition cover

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The A.V. ClubC−[3]
IndieLondon(2.5/5)[4]
The Phoenix[5]
PopMatters(5/10)[6]
SF Weekly(mixed)[7]
Sputnikmusic(3.0/5)[8]
This Is Fake DIY(4/5)[9]
Virgin Media[10]

Background and recording

Before Davey Havok and Jade Puget formed Blaqk Audio, the two began including more synthesized elements into AFI's songs, notably in the albums Sing the Sorrow and Decemberunderground.[14][15] In the August 2006 issue of Guitar World, Puget revealed that "Love Like Winter" and "37mm" from Decemberunderground were initially intended to be a part of the side project.[16] According to Havok, the concept of Blaqk Audio began at some point between 2001 and 2002, with "Snuff on Digital" being the first song written for the side project.[17][18] Puget began experimenting with a multitude of industrial to ambient sounds, and was influenced by many different types of electronic music.[19]

Havok and Puget entered the studio in January 2007 to begin recording CexCells.[20] Puget began updating fans through their official Myspace page.[21] Dan Under of The Dear & Departed and Nick 13 of Tiger Army, who has previously performed with AFI (see I Heard a Voice), provided background vocals for the album. The album's name and defunct release date was announced via Myspace and AbsolutePunk.[12]

Release and promotion

On August 3, 2007, Hot Topic stores across the United States began having listening parties to preview the entire album.[22]

The album's fourth track, "Bitter For Sweet", was available for streaming via Myspace. A non-album track titled "If Only" was available for streaming on June 14 via Myspace as well. In January 2007, Puget posted lyrics to a song titled "Black-Ink Style" on his official blog, however, it was not included on the album and has not been released to date.

Instrumental segments of "Between Breaths (An XX Perspective)" and "The Love Letter" were used in the trailer for the 2008 remake of The Eye.[23]

References to other bands

The song title "On a Friday" is an old band name belonging to Radiohead, while "Stiff Kittens" is an old band name belonging to Joy Division. Additionally, the duo recorded a cover of Blur's "Girls & Boys", exclusive to Hot Topic. Blaqk Audio also covered the song "No New Tale to Tell" by Love and Rockets.

Vocalist Davey Havok confirmed in an interview with Rhapsody that he and Puget settled on the album title CexCells before realizing that American electronic musician Cex's debut album was titled Cells.[11]

Track listing

All songs written by Davey Havok and Jade Puget.

  1. "Stiff Kittens" – 3:47
  2. "Between Breaths (an xx perspective)" – 4:28
  3. "Snuff on Digital" – 5:03
  4. "Bitter for Sweet" – 6:10
  5. "Where Would You Like Them Left?" – 4:16
  6. "The Fear of Being Found" – 4:44
  7. "On a Friday" – 4:14
  8. "The Love Letter" – 4:23
  9. "Semiotic Love" – 3:32
  10. "Cities of Night" – 3:47
  11. "Again, Again and Again" – 3:26
  12. "Wake Up, Open the Door and Escape to the Sea" – 3:05

Bonus tracks and B-sides
  • "Black Electric" (iTunes exclusive) – 3:12[24]
  • "Girls & Boys" (Hot Topic exclusive; Blur cover) – 3:21
  • "Mute" (Best Buy exclusive) – 3:45
  • "The Ligature" (Myspace download exclusive) – 2:51
  • "Black-Ink Style" (unreleased)
  • "Nothing Good Happens Past 3" (unreleased)
  • "If Only" (appearing as a music video only)

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[25] 86
US Billboard 200[26] 18
US Top Electronic Albums[26] 1
US Top Rock Albums[26] 5
US Top Alternative Albums[26] 5

Year-end charts
Chart (2007) Rank
US Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[27] 13

See also

References
  1. Fanale, Matt (December 17, 2009). "Lost VF Mag interviews: Blaqk Audio". VF Magazine. Caustic. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  2. La Gorce, Tammy. "Cexcells – Blaqk Audio – Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
  3. Kelley, Trevor (August 14, 2007). "Blaqk Audio: Cexcells". The A.V. Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  4. Foley, Jack. "Blaqk Audio – Cexcells". IndieLondon. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  5. Wood, Mikael (September 5, 2007). "Blaqk Audio – Cexcells". The Phoenix. Phoenix Media/Communications Group. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  6. Sawdey, Evan (November 6, 2007). "Blaqk Audio: Cexcells". PopMatters. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  7. Bayer, Jonah (September 10, 2007). "CD Review: Blaqk Audio – CexCells". SF Weekly. Village Voice Media. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  8. Greer, Nick (August 7, 2007). "Blaqk Audio – CexCells". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
  9. Bas, Olga. "Blaqk Audio – CexCells". This Is Fake DIY. Archived from the original on April 14, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  10. Bartholomew, Tony. "Blaqk Audio: Cexcells". Virgin Media. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  11. "Blaqk Audio: The Rhapsody Interview by Blaqk Audio". Rhapsody. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  12. Tate, Jason (June 11, 2007). "Blaqk Audio Release Date". AbsolutePunk. Buzz Media. Retrieved June 11, 2007.
  13. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049747/high-school-musical-2-blasts-in-at-no-1
  14. Sing the Sorrow (CD liner notes). AFI. DreamWorks Records. 2003. 450380.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. Decemberunderground (CD liner notes). AFI. Interscope Records. 2006. 0006988.CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. "The Shape of Punk to Come". Guitar World. Future US. August 2006.
  17. "EXCLUSIVE Blaqk Audio Interview: Part I". Buzznet. Buzz Media. August 22, 2007. Archived from the original on August 25, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  18. "Blaqk Audio – Profile". AbsolutePunk. Buzz Media. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  19. Lash, Jolie (September 4, 2003). "AFI Go Electronic". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008.
  20. Puget, Jade (January 9, 2007). "So I must apologize for my tardiness". Shy Boys Win. Archived from the original on 2009-11-14. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
  21. "Blaqk Audio". Myspace. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
  22. "BLAQK AUDIO "CEXCELLS" listening events at all HOT TOPIC stores!". Interscope Records. July 27, 2007. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  23. "IMDb Video: The Eye". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
  24. "CexCells by Blaqk Audio". iTunes Store US. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  25. "ARIA Top 100 Albums – Week Commencing 20th August 2007" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Pandora Archive. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  26. "Cexcells – Blaqk Audio". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  27. "Dance/Electronic Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
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