{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Let's Get Killed | type = studio | artist = [[David Holmes (musician)|David Holmes]] | cover = Letsgetkilled.jpg | alt = | released = 8 September 1997 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Electronic music|Electronic]] * [[trip hop]] * [[instrumental hip hop]] * [[alternative dance]] }} | length = 59:45 | label = [[Go! Beat]] | producer = David Holmes, [[Jagz Kooner]], Gary Burns, [[Keith Tenniswood]], Richie Fermie, [[Tim Goldsworthy]] | prev_title = [[This Film's Crap Let's Slash the Seats]] | prev_year = 1995 | next_title = [[Bow Down to the Exit Sign]] | next_year = 2000 | misc = {{Singles | name = Let's Get Killed | type = studio | single1 = Gritty Shaker | single1date = 4 August 1997 | single2 = Don't Die Just Yet | single2date = 5 January 1998 | single3 = My Mate Paul | single3date = 23 March 1998 }} }}
'''''Let's Get Killed''''' is the second studio album by [[Belfast]] [[electronica]] [[DJ]] and [[Record producer|producer]] [[David Holmes (musician)|David Holmes]]. It was released in the UK on 8 September 1997 through [[Go! Beat]] Records and contained two [[UK Top 40]] singles: "Don't Die Just Yet" and "My Mate Paul";<ref>{{cite web | title= David Holmes Biography | work=NME | url=https://www.nme.com/artists/david-holmes | accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref><ref name="www.officialcharts.com albuminfo">{{cite web|title=Let's Get Killed The Official Charts Company |work=[[Official Charts Company]] |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/archive/official-albums-chart/ |accessdate=2009-04-10 }}</ref> "Gritty Shaker" was also released as a single. In addition, the album includes a re-working of the [[James Bond]] theme, retitled as "Radio 7", and a remake of [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s songs "Melody" and "Cargo Culte", retitled "Don't Die Just Yet".<ref name="David Holmes - Let's Get Killed">{{cite magazine | title= David Holmes - Let's Get Killed | magazine=Rolling Stone | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davidholmes/albums/album/229258/review/5941229/lets_get_killed | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725202906/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davidholmes/albums/album/229258/review/5941229/lets_get_killed | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 25, 2008 | accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref>
''Let's Get Killed'' was Holmes's first album release in the United States, following the domestic acclaim of his debut long-player ''[[This Film's Crap Let's Slash the Seats]]''.
==Background== Holmes grew up in [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]] as the youngest of ten children.<ref>{{cite news | title= Independent Critic's Choice | work=Independent(Ireland) | url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/day-and-night/critics-choice/music-david-holmes-1461134.html | accessdate=2009-04-10 | first=Eamon | last=Sweeney | date=2008-08-22}}</ref> By the age of 15 he had begun to DJ in his local pubs and bars, playing [[soul music|soul]], [[jazz]], [[rock music|rock]] and [[disco]]. This eclecticism would remain into adulthood, and is a feature of his DJ sets.<ref>{{cite web | title= David Holmes sends out mixed messages | work=Metro | url=http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/article.html?David_Holmes_sends_out_mixed_messages&in_article_id=292400&in_page_id=9&in_a_source= | accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref> When he was 17, Holmes visited [[New York City]], spending time in the [[South Bronx]], [[Washington Square Park, New York|Washington Square]] and [[Central Park]] areas. He took a [[Digital Audio Tape|DAT recorder]] with him as he explored the city, and taped conversations with many people he spoke to. Holmes kept the recordings for over ten years, using them as the basis for ''Let's Get Killed''.
''Let's Get Killed'' is so called because on one occasion Holmes and his associates were ''"... chased by eight guys through the [[South Bronx, New York|South Bronx]] who were after our expensive audio equipment"''.<ref>{{cite web | title= DJ David Holmes Says "Let's Get Killed" | work=MTV | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430128/19980306/holmes_david.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724200809/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430128/19980306/holmes_david.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 July 2008 | accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref>
==Music== Holmes used the recordings he made in [[New York City]] of conversations and other street-level noise as [[Sampling (music)|samples]] on the album. These snippets of conversation were often spoken by people from New York's [[subculture|cultural underbelly]], including [[prostitutes]], [[pimps]] and [[drug-dealer]]s. The samples were used in between the tracks on the album, and in some cases in the tracks themselves.
The record contains a wide variety of [[List of electronic music genres|styles]] within the [[electronica]] spectrum, including [[techno]], [[breakbeat]]s, [[trip hop]] and [[drum 'n' bass]].<ref>{{cite web | title= Let's Get Killed Review | work=allmusic.com | url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r315073|pure_url=yes}} | accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> David Holmes has produced many [[film scores]], and it has often been said that his studio albums have a cinematic feel to them.<ref>{{cite web | title= DJ David Holmes - "Let's Get Killed" | work=almost cool reviews | url=http://www.almostcool.org/mr/538/ | accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= David Holmes biog | work=NME | url=https://www.nme.com/artists/david-holmes#reviews | accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Album ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lets-get-killed-mw0000029211 |title=Let's Get Killed – David Holmes |website=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=6 August 2014 |last=Bush |first=John}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Holmes, David |title=[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]] |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev3score = A−<ref name=ew>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/1997/10/24/album-review-lets-get-killed |title=Lets Get Killed |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=24 October 1997 |accessdate=6 August 2014 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist)}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/POP-CDS-Salt-N-Pepa-Shows-Good-Taste-2800738.php |title=David Holmes, Let's Get Killed, A&M |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=19 October 1997 |accessdate=5 April 2020 |last=Farinella |first=David John}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' | rev5score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-26-ca-46787-story.html |title=David Holmes, 'Lets Get Killed,' 1500/A&M. |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=26 October 1997 |access-date=6 August 2014 |last=Hochman |first=Steve |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922125447/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/oct/26/entertainment/ca-46787 |archive-date=22 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[Muzik]]'' | rev6score = 10/10<ref>{{cite journal |title=David Holmes: Let's Get Killed (Go! Beat) |journal=[[Muzik]] |issue=29 |date=October 1997 |author=Push |author-link=Christopher Dawes (author) |page=111}}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[NME]]'' | rev7score = 7/10<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101001253reviews.html |title=David Holmes – Let's Get Killed |journal=[[NME]] |date=6 September 1997 |accessdate=26 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817212139/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101001253reviews.html |archive-date=17 August 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davidholmes/albums/album/229258/review/5941229/lets_get_killed |title=David Holmes: Let's Get Killed |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=22 January 1998 |accessdate=6 August 2014 |last=Diehl |first=Matt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725202906/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davidholmes/albums/album/229258/review/5941229/lets_get_killed |archive-date=25 July 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev9 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' | rev9score = 8/10<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_o5qLt04pz4C&pg=PA113 |title=David Holmes: Let's Get Killed |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |volume=14 |issue=1 |date=January 1998 |accessdate=26 June 2016 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |pages=113–14}}</ref> | rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' | rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bonner |first=Michael |date=November 1997 |title=David Holmes: ''Let's Get Killed'' |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |page=90 |issue=6}}</ref> }} ''Let's Get Killed'' was well received by critics in general, and the dance music press in particular. Both ''[[Jockey Slut]]'' and ''[[Mixmag]]'' awarded it Album of the Month, whilst ''[[DJ Magazine]]'' gave it a rating of 10/10.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}
The ''NME'' said, "Holmes both evokes the endless possibilities, claustrophobia and madness of The Big Apple and offers a critique ... Not bad at all for a trendy DJ",<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[NME]] |pages=53 |date=1997-09-06}}</ref> and placed it number 40 in the 1997 Critics Poll.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[NME]] |pages=78–79 |date=20–27 December 1997}}</ref> [[Melody Maker]] also included it in their end-of-year poll, this time at number 24.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[Melody Maker]] |pages=66–67 |date=20–27 December 1997}}</ref>
[[AllMusic]] said that the "effect created is like that of a soundtrack, and even though ''Let's Get Killed'' isn't attached to a film, it flows with energy and grace".<ref name="David Holmes - Let's Get Killed"/><ref name=allmusic/> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' rated the album A-minus, saying "Holmes loves airy cinematic beauty, but he tempers it with frisky Latin percussion, gritty electric guitar ... , sound-collage effects, and snippets of crazed street people.".<ref name=ew/>
On the strength of the album, Holmes won Best Rock Artist at [[Ireland|Ireland's]] National Entertainment Awards, the first time it was awarded to a dance artist.<ref>{{cite news | title= Belfast DJ lifts Best Rock Artist award for album | work=[[The Belfast Telegraph]] | url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/belfast-dj-lifts-best-rock-artist-award-for-album-13775281.html | accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> ''Let's Get Killed'' was also included in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite book |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |last=Dimery |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Dimery |year=2006 |publisher=Universe |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7893-1371-3 |url=http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v3=1&DB=local&CMD=010a+2005930000&CNT=10+records+per+page |accessdate=2009-04-09 }}</ref>
==Chart performance== ''Let's Get Killed'' spent two weeks in the [[UK Albums Chart]], entering at number 34 in its first week. It dropped to number 75 in its second and final week in the chart.<ref name="www.officialcharts.com albuminfo"/>
==Track listing== All tracks written by David Holmes, unless otherwise stated. # "Listen" – 0:49 # "My Mate Paul" – 5:29 # "Let's Get Killed" – 7:28 # "Gritty Shaker" – 6:40 # "Head Rush on Lafayette" – 1:20 # "Rodney Yates" – 6:24 # "Radio 7" ([[Monty Norman]]) – 5:49 # "The Parcus & Madder Show" – 0:51 # "Slashers Revenge" – 4:46 # "Freaknik" – 6:45 # "Caddell Returns" – 5:42 # "Don't Die Just Yet" ([[Serge Gainsbourg]]) – 6:43 # "For You" – 0:59
==Personnel== David Holmes wrote and produced the majority of the album, apart from "Radio 7", which is a cover of [[Monty Norman]]'s [[James Bond Theme]], and "Don't Die Just Yet", which is based on samples of songs by [[Serge Gainsbourg]]. Other appearances and credits were:<ref>{{cite web | title= David Holmes - Let's Get Killed | work=Discogs.com | url=http://www.discogs.com/David-Holmes-Lets-Get-Killed/release/3297?ev=rr | accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref> *[[Gem Archer]] – guitar on "Radio 7" and "Freaknik". Archer would later join [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]. *[[The London Session Orchestra|London Session Orchestra]] – "Radio 7" and "Don't Die Just Yet". *[[Jagz Kooner]] – production on "My Mate Paul". *[[Keith Tenniswood]] – [[guitar]]/[[vibraphone]] on "Rodney Yates"; additional production on "Gritty Shaker", "Rodney Yates" and "Slasher's Revenge". *[[Tim Goldsworthy]] – remixing on "Radio 7".
==Singles== {|class="wikitable" ! Year ! Single ! Chart ! Position |- | 1997 | "Gritty Shaker" | — | — |- | 1998 | "Don't Die Just Yet" | [[UK Top 40]]<ref>"[https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/My%20Mate%20Paul Official Charts Company]". https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/My%20Mate%20Paul. Retrieved on 10 April 2009.</ref> |align="center"| 33 |- | 1998 | "My Mate Paul" | UK Top 40<ref>"[https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/What%20A%20Fool%20Believes Official Charts Company]". https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/What%20A%20Fool%20Believes. Retrieved on 1 April 2009.</ref> |align="center"| 39 |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{David Holmes}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1997 albums]] [[Category:David Holmes (musician) albums]] [[Category:Go! Discs albums]]