# CexCells

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***CexCells*** (pronounced "**Sex Sells**"[2]) is the debut studio album by the American [electronic music](/source/Electronic_music) duo [Blaqk Audio](/source/Blaqk_Audio). It was initially scheduled to be released on August 7, 2007,[3] however, it was rescheduled and released a week further on August 14, 2007 through [Interscope Records](/source/Interscope_Records). It debuted at number 18 on the *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* [200](/source/Billboard_200), selling more than 29,000 copies within its first week.[4] It received mixed reviews from music critics. It spawned one [single](/source/Single_(music)): "[Stiff Kittens](/source/Stiff_Kittens_(song))".

## Background and recording

Before [Davey Havok](/source/Davey_Havok) and [Jade Puget](/source/Jade_Puget) formed [Blaqk Audio](/source/Blaqk_Audio), the two began including more synthesized elements into [AFI](/source/AFI_(band))'s songs, notably in the albums *[Sing the Sorrow](/source/Sing_the_Sorrow)* and *[Decemberunderground](/source/Decemberunderground)*.[5][6] In the August 2006 issue of *[Guitar World](/source/Guitar_World)*, Puget revealed that "[Love Like Winter](/source/Love_Like_Winter)" and "37mm" from *[Decemberunderground](/source/Decemberunderground)* were initially intended to be a part of the side project.[7] 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.[8][9] Puget began experimenting with a multitude of [industrial](/source/Industrial_music) to [ambient](/source/Ambient_music) sounds, and was influenced by many different types of [electronic music](/source/Electronic_music).[10]

Havok and Puget entered the studio in January 2007 to begin recording *CexCells*.[11] Puget began updating fans through their official [Myspace](/source/Myspace) page.[12] Dan Under of [The Dear & Departed](/source/The_Dear_%26_Departed) and [Nick 13](/source/Nick_13) of [Tiger Army](/source/Tiger_Army), who has previously performed with [AFI](/source/AFI_(band)) (see *[I Heard a Voice](/source/I_Heard_a_Voice_%E2%80%93_Live_from_Long_Beach_Arena)*), provided background vocals for the album. The album's name and defunct release date was announced via Myspace and [AbsolutePunk](/source/AbsolutePunk).[3]

## Release and promotion

On August 3, 2007, [Hot Topic](/source/Hot_Topic) stores across the [United States](/source/United_States) began having listening parties to preview the entire album.[13]

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](/source/The_Eye_(2008_film))*.[14]

### References to other bands

The song title "On a Friday" is an old band name belonging to [Radiohead](/source/Radiohead), while "Stiff Kittens" is an old band name belonging to [Joy Division](/source/Joy_Division). Additionally, the duo recorded a cover of [Blur](/source/Blur_(band))'s "[Girls & Boys](/source/Girls_%26_Boys_(Blur_song))", exclusive to Hot Topic. Blaqk Audio also covered the song "No New Tale to Tell" by [Love and Rockets](/source/Love_and_Rockets_(band)).

Vocalist Davey Havok confirmed in an interview with [Rhapsody](/source/Rhapsody_(online_music_service)) that he and Puget settled on the album title *CexCells* before realizing that American electronic musician [Cex](/source/Cex_(musician))'s debut album was titled *[Cells](/source/Cells_(album))*.[2]

## Track listing

All songs written by [Davey Havok](/source/Davey_Havok) and [Jade Puget](/source/Jade_Puget).

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

### Bonus tracks and B-sides

- "Black Electric" ([iTunes](/source/ITunes_Store) exclusive) – 3:12[15]
- "[Girls & Boys](/source/Girls_%26_Boys_(Blur_song))" ([Hot Topic](/source/Hot_Topic) exclusive; [Blur](/source/Blur_(band)) cover) – 3:21
- "Mute" ([Best Buy](/source/Best_Buy) exclusive) – 3:45
- "The Ligature" (Myspace download exclusive) – 2:51
- "Black-Ink Style" (unreleased)
- "Nothing Good Happens Past 3" (unreleased)
- "If Only" (music video)

## Personnel

- [Davey Havok](/source/Davey_Havok) – lead vocals
- [Jade Puget](/source/Jade_Puget) – keyboards, [synthesizer](/source/Synthesizer), backing vocals, [programming](/source/Programming_(music)), [producer](/source/Record_producer)
- Chad Bamford – vocal engineer
- David Bascombe – [mixing](/source/Audio_mixing_(recorded_music))
- Matthew Cooke – photography
- [Jennifer Goodridge](/source/Jennifer_Goodridge) – backing vocals (track 11)
- Joe LaPorta – [mastering](/source/Audio_mastering) assistant
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- Morning Breath Inc. – [art direction](/source/Art_director), [design](/source/Graphic_design)
- [Nick 13](/source/Nick_13) – backing vocals (tracks 5, 7)
- Jason Odell – band photography
- Matt Paul – mixing assistant
- [Dan Under](/source/The_Dear_%26_Departed) – backing vocals (tracks 5, 7)

## Charts

### Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for CexCells Chart (2007) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] 86 Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[17] 55

### Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for CexCells Chart (2007) Position US Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[18] 13

## See also

- [List of Billboard number-one electronic albums of 2007](/source/List_of_Billboard_number-one_electronic_albums_of_2007)

## References

1. Fanale, Matt (December 17, 2009). ["Lost VF Mag interviews: Blaqk Audio"](http://causticmusic.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/lost-vf-mag-interviews-blaqk-audio/). *VF Magazine*. Caustic. Retrieved December 17, 2009.

1. ["Blaqk Audio: The Rhapsody Interview by Blaqk Audio"](http://play.rhapsody.com/blaqk-audio/blaqk-audio-the-rhapsody-interview/on-the-name-cexcells). [Rhapsody](/source/Rhapsody_(online_music_service)). 5 August 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2007.

1. Tate, Jason (June 11, 2007). ["Blaqk Audio Release Date"](http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=244134). *[AbsolutePunk](/source/AbsolutePunk)*. Retrieved June 11, 2007.

1. ["'High School Musical 2' Blasts in at No. 1"](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049747/high-school-musical-2-blasts-in-at-no-1). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. 22 August 2007.

1. *Sing the Sorrow* (CD liner notes). [DreamWorks Records](/source/DreamWorks_Records). 2003. 450380.

1. *Decemberunderground* (CD liner notes). [Interscope Records](/source/Interscope_Records). 2006. 0006988.

1. "The Shape of Punk to Come". *[Guitar World](/source/Guitar_World)*. August 2006.

1. ["EXCLUSIVE Blaqk Audio Interview: Part I"](http://blaqkaudio.buzznet.com/user/video/play/1467271/). *[Buzznet](/source/Buzznet)*. August 22, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2007.[dead link]

1. ["Blaqk Audio – Profile"](http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?showlink.php?do=showdetails&l=4442). *[AbsolutePunk](/source/AbsolutePunk)*. Retrieved August 27, 2007.

1. Lash, Jolie (September 4, 2003). ["AFI Go Electronic"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080120040752/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5935498/afi_go_electronic). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5935498/afi_go_electronic) on January 20, 2008.

1. Puget, Jade (January 9, 2007). ["So I must apologize for my tardiness"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091114064857/http://shyboyswin.blogspot.com/2007/01/so-i-must-apologize-for-my-tardiness.html). Shy Boys Win. Archived from [the original](https://shyboyswin.blogspot.com/2007/01/so-i-must-apologize-for-my-tardiness.html) on 2009-11-14. Retrieved June 13, 2007.

1. ["Blaqk Audio"](http://www.myspace.com/blaqkaudio). [Myspace](/source/Myspace). Retrieved June 13, 2007.

1. ["BLAQK AUDIO "CEXCELLS" listening events at all HOT TOPIC stores!"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120929183340/http://www.interscope.com/artist/news/default.aspx?nid=8403&aid=565). [Interscope Records](/source/Interscope_Records). July 27, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.interscope.com/artist/news/default.aspx?nid=8403&aid=565) on September 29, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2011.

1. ["IMDb Video: The Eye"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071102054057/http://imdb.com/title/tt0406759/trailers-screenplay-E35391-314). [Internet Movie Database](/source/Internet_Movie_Database). Archived from [the original](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406759/trailers-screenplay-E35391-314) on November 2, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2007.

1. ["CexCells by Blaqk Audio"](https://music.apple.com/us/album/cexcells/1443635469). *[iTunes Store](/source/ITunes_Store) US*. [Apple Inc.](/source/Apple_Inc.). January 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2011.

1. ["ARIA Top 100 Albums – Week Commencing 20th August 2007"](https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20071019140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20071020-0000/issue911.pdf). [Australian Recording Industry Association](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association). Archived from [the original](http://www.aria.com.au/issue911.pdf) on 2007-10-19. Retrieved June 9, 2011. – via [Australian Web Archive](/source/Australian_Web_Archive)

1. ["Albums : Top 100"](https://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20070904184550/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html). *[Jam!](/source/Jam!)*. August 26, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html) on September 4, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2026.

1. ["Dance/Electronic Albums – Year-End 2007"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/dance-electronic-albums). *Billboard*. 2 January 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2018.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [CexCells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CexCells) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CexCells?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.