{{Short description|2014 studio album by the Ting Tings}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Super Critical | type = studio | artist = the Ting Tings | cover = TTTSC.png | alt = | released = {{Start date|2014|10|24|df=y}} | recorded = 2012–2014, Ibiza and New York | studio = Avatar, New York City<ref name=dt/> | genre = * Disco * funk * pop | length = 31:38 | label = Finca | producer = Andy Taylor | prev_title = Sounds from Nowheresville | prev_year = 2012 | next_title = The Black Light | next_year = 2018 | misc = {{Singles | name = Super Critical | type = studio | single1 = Wrong Club | single1date = 15 August 2014 | single2 = Do It Again | single2date = 22 September 2014 }} }}
'''''Super Critical''''' is the third studio album by English indie pop duo the Ting Tings, released on 24 October 2014 by Finca Records.
==Background and recording== ''Super Critical'' was written in Ibiza where the band became friends with former Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-ting-tings/78554 |title=The Ting Tings announce new album 'Super Critical' |magazine=NME |date=15 July 2014 |access-date=12 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930050816/http://www.nme.com/news/the-ting-tings/78554 |archive-date=30 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=dt>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/music/interview-the-ting-tings-katie-white-talks-edm-vinyl-super-critical/ |title=Slow down! The Ting Tings Katie White gets Super Critical about modern dance music |publisher=digitaltrends.com |first=Mike|last=Mettler|date=20 January 2015 |access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref> The duo rented a rural estate in the village of Santa Gertrudis, where they started writing and recording, before moving to Sonic Vista Studios with Taylor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sweeney |first=Sabrina |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29711173 |title=The Ting Tings rediscover their disco roots |publisher=BBC News |date=22 October 2014 |access-date=12 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="theibizan">{{cite web |last=B. |first=Claire |url=https://theibizan.com/featuresandinterviews/people/ting-tings-ibiza-interview/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221100355/http://theibizan.com/featuresandinterviews/people/ting-tings-ibiza-interview/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=21 December 2014 |title=Interview: The Ting Tings |work=The Ibizan |date=22 October 2014 |access-date=12 December 2014}}</ref>
The album was recorded and mixed at Avatar Studios in New York City on all-analogue equipment.<ref name="theibizan"/><ref name=dt/>
The album was influenced by Madonna, the Beatles, Diana Ross, Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Talking Heads, Nile Rodgers, Blondie and 10cc.<ref name="saltlake">{{cite news |last=Walden |first=Eric |url=http://www.sltrib.com/home/2284030-155/concert-preview-ting-tings-feeling-a |title=Concert preview: Ting Tings feeling a bit less 'Super Critical' now |newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=27 March 2015 |access-date=24 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502115657/http://www.sltrib.com/home/2284030-155/concert-preview-ting-tings-feeling-a |archive-date=2 May 2015}}</ref><ref name=dt/>
==Release and promotion== "Wrong Club" was released as the lead single from the album on 15 August 2014,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ie.7digital.com/artist/the-ting-tings/release/wrong-club-1 |title=Wrong Club by The Ting Tings |website=7digital |location=Ireland |access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> followed by "Do It Again" on 22 September 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ie.7digital.com/artist/the-ting-tings/release/do-it-again |title=Do It Again by The Ting Tings |website=7digital |location=Ireland |access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> Both songs were accompanied by music videos.
Digital versions of the album were released in late 2014, while physical editions followed in early 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://musicexistence.com/blog/2014/10/21/the-ting-tings-prepare-to-release-new-album-super-critical/|title=THE TING TINGS PREPARE TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM 'SUPER CRITICAL'|first=Stephen|last=Vicino|publisher=musicexistence.com |date=October 21, 2014|access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref> A special version of the album with track by track commentary was released digitally alongside the regular one.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Super-Critical-Track-Commentary-Explicit/dp/B073JWB2RW|title=Super Critical (Track by Track Commentary) |website=Amazon |date=October 24, 2014|access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref>
In 2015 a special 12" vinyl with remixes of "Do It Again" and "Wrong Club" by the Spanish electronic musician BXY was released.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://narcmagazine.com/feature-mono/ |title=FEATURE: MONO - CLAIRE DUPREE FINDS OUT WHAT IS SETTING THE NEWCASTLE LABEL APART FROM ITS PEERS |publisher=narcmagazine.com |access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lovefoodibiza.com/bxy/ |title= The Spanish producer based in Ibiza and smashing it with The Ting Tings opens up his palate for LoveFoodIbiza… |date= 8 October 2015 |publisher=lovefoodibiza.com |access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Album ratings | MC = 59/100<ref name="MC"/> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusic"/> | rev2 = The Arts Desk | rev2score = {{Rating|1|5}}<ref name="theartsdesk"/> | rev3 = ''The Australian'' | rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="theaustralian"/> | rev4 = ''The Observer'' | rev4score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="observer"/> | rev5 = ''Q'' | rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="qmag"/> | rev6 = ''Shields Gazette'' | rev6score = 6/10<ref name="shieldsgazette"/> | rev7 = Sputnikmusic | rev7score = 3/5<ref name="sputnikmusic"/> | rev8 = ''The Times'' | rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="thetimes"/> | rev9 = ''Uncut'' | rev9score = 6/10<ref name="uncut"/> | rev10 = Virgin Media | rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="virginmedia"/> }}
''Super Critical'' received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 59, based on five reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews".<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/super-critical/the-ting-tings |title=Reviews for Super Critical by The Ting Tings |website=Metacritic |access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref> Tim McNamara of ''The Australian'' called album "assured, confident and cohesive" and praised it as a "fantastic, upbeat and dance-inducing fare, signalling the resurgence of an act that has bet everything on doing their third album their way, and are set to reap the rewards."<ref name="theaustralian">{{cite news |last=McNamara |first=Tim |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/reviews-flight-facilities-frank-yamma-ting-tings-peep-tempel-song-fwaa/story-fn9n8gph-1227099799743 |title=Reviews: Flight Facilities; Frank Yamma, Ting Tings; Peep Tempel; Song Fwaa |newspaper=The Australian |date=25 October 2014 |access-date=15 November 2014}}</ref> Fred Thomas of AllMusic wrote, "Though not quite as boisterous and immediate as their debut and nowhere as stylistically restless as ''Sounds from Nowheresville'', the songs here slowly sink in and last a lot longer than anything else the band has done prior", yet concluded that "the maturation on ''Super Critical'' takes them out of the 'overbearing pop flash in the pan' category and suggests they may have even more interesting statements ahead of them."<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Fred |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/super-critical-mw0002703359 |title=Super Critical – The Ting Tings |website=AllMusic |access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref>
Ed Potton of ''The Times'' found ''Super Critical'' to be "breezier and more coherent [than ''Sounds from Nowheresville''], sticking mainly to the kind of insouciant disco-funk-pop that [the Ting Tings] do so well."<ref name="thetimes">{{cite web |last=Potton |first=Ed |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-ting-tings-super-critical-k9zfs6ccv92 |title=The Ting Tings: Super Critical |work=The Times |date=25 October 2014 |access-date=15 November 2014 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025190746/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/music/albumreviews/article4245474.ece |archive-date=25 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sputnikmusic's Raul Stanciu viewed the album as "a short and rather sweet effort that might not launch them to the top of the charts once again, but at least confirms us they're not yet ready to fade into obscurity", while commending The Ting Tings for "creating a consistent record that not only manages to mend the damage done by its faulty predecessor, but also create a coherent, fun atmosphere."<ref name="sputnikmusic">{{cite web |last=Stanciu |first=Raul |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/64845/The-Ting-Tings-Super-Critical/ |title=Review: The Ting Tings – Super Critical |website=Sputnikmusic |date=29 October 2014 |access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> Virgin Media's Matthew Horton felt that "what ''Super Critical'' misses is one really great tune. The closest it comes is 'Green Poison'{{'}}s soulful grind, strangely reminiscent of Stock Aitken & Waterman's 'Roadblock', yet no cigar. Otherwise this is just frothy fun, which is fine—but only fine."<ref name="virginmedia">{{cite web |last=Horton |first=Matthew |url=http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/the-ting-tings-super-critical.php |title=The Ting Tings: Super Critical Album Review |publisher=Virgin Media |access-date=15 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105172609/http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/the-ting-tings-super-critical.php |archive-date=5 November 2014}}</ref> Alex Lai of Contactmusic.com stated that "A return to the popularity that greeted their initial breakthrough isn't likely, but there's more than enough here to repair their reputation and ensure they shouldn't be seen as a flash-in-the-pan act."<ref name="Contactmusic">{{cite web |last=Lai |first=Alex |url=https://www.contactmusic.com/the-ting-tings/music/the-ting-tings-super-critical |title=Review of Super Critical Album by The Ting Tings |date=27 October 2014 |publisher=Contactmusic.com |access-date=15 December 2023}}</ref>
Stephen Dalton of ''Uncut'' wrote, "With echoes of prime-time Chic, Prince and Madonna, the intent is admirable even if too many of the songs feel flimsy and pedestrian", but described the songs "Communication" and "Failure" as "unabashedly gorgeous blasts of sugardipped synth-funk hedonism."<ref name="uncut">{{cite magazine |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |title=New Albums |magazine=Uncut |issue=211 |page=81 |date=December 2014 |issn=1368-0722}}</ref> Despite stating that the album "actually isn't all that bad, and certainly marks an improvement on its disastrous predecessor, ''Songs from Nowheresville''", the ''Shields Gazette'' commented that "there's here nothing which leaves any lasting impression."<ref name="shieldsgazette">{{cite news |url=http://www.shieldsgazette.com/what-s-on/music/album-review-the-ting-tings-super-critical-1-6927195 |title=ALBUM REVIEW: The Ting Tings – Super Critical |newspaper=Shields Gazette |date=31 October 2014 |access-date=15 November 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141115233726/http://www.shieldsgazette.com/what-s-on/music/album-review-the-ting-tings-super-critical-1-6927195 |archive-date=15 November 2014}}</ref> Dorian Lynskey of ''Q'' magazine noted that ''Super Critical'' "sounds less petulant but no more likely to return [the duo] to the Top 10", adding that it "would be a solid album for someone like Annie, For The Ting Tings, though, it suggests there's no way back from Nowheresville."<ref name="qmag">{{cite magazine |last=Lynskey |first=Dorian |title=Q Review: New Albums |magazine=Q |issue=340 |page=118 |date=November 2014 |issn=0955-4955}}</ref> ''The Observer''{{'}}s Killian Fox opined that the duo "can still write a catchy tune [...] but these songs are all surface, with only the odd hook to snag us."<ref name="observer">{{cite news |last=Fox |first=Killian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/26/the-ting-tings-super-critical-review-catchy-but-superficial |title=The Ting Tings: Super Critical review – catchy but superficial |newspaper=The Observer |date=26 October 2014 |access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> Guy Oddy of ''The Arts Desk'' panned the album, dubbing it a "disappointment" and expressing that "it's not wholly clear whether the Ting Tings have become cultural commentators, like Negativland without samplers, and ''Super Critical'' is a prank about the vacuousness of so much chart pop, or whether they've committed commercial suicide."<ref name="theartsdesk">{{cite web |last=Oddy |first=Guy |url=https://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/cd-ting-tings-–-super-critical |title=CD: The Ting Tings – Super Critical |website=The Arts Desk |date=13 October 2014 |access-date=15 November 2014}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = Jules De Martino, Katie White, and Andy Taylor | title1 = Super Critical | length1 = 3:32 | title2 = Daughter | length2 = 3:15 | title3 = Do It Again | length3 = 3:52 | title4 = Wrong Club | length4 = 4:14 | title5 = Wabi Sabi | length5 = 3:31 | title6 = Only Love | length6 = 3:10 | title7 = Communication | length7 = 3:35 | title8 = Green Poison | length8 = 3:49 | title9 = Failure | length9 = 2:37 | total_length = 31:35 }} {{Track listing | headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks<ref name="japan"/> | title10 = Wrong Club | note10 = Club Mix by The Super Criticals | length10 = 7:22 | title11 = Do It Again | note11 = Club Mix by The Super Criticals | length11 = 4:08 }} {{Track listing | headline = 2015 reissue edition bonus tracks<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/8950352-The-Ting-Tings-Super-Critical|title=The Ting Tings – Super Critical|publisher=discogs.com|accessdate=2023-12-12}}</ref> | title10 = Do It Again | note10 = Acoustic | length10 = 5:23 | title11 = Wrong Club | note11 = Acoustic | length11 = 4:54 }}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Super Critical'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2014) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Wallonia|172|artist=The Ting Tings|album=Super Critical|rowheader=true|access-date=31 October 2014}} |- ! scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/454114/rank/album/ |script-title=ja:ザ・ティン・ティンズのアルバム売上ランキング |trans-title=The Ting Tings album sales ranking |language=ja |publisher=Oricon |access-date=3 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225190430/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/454114/products/1096221/1/ |archive-date=25 February 2016}}</ref> | 100 |- {{album chart|UK|111|M|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/141108cluk.txt|title=CHART: CLUK Update 8.11.2014 (wk44)|publisher=Zobbel|rowheader=true|access-date=13 November 2014}} |- {{album chart|UKIndependent|21|date=20141102|rowheader=true|access-date=2 November 2014}} |}
==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Release dates and formats for ''Super Critical'' !scope="col"| Region !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Format(s) !scope="col"| Label !scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row"| Australia | rowspan="3"| 24 October 2014 | rowspan="3"| {{hlist|CD|digital download}} | Liberator |align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/music/Whats-Hot/alternative/super-critical/642508/ |title=Super Critical |publisher=JB Hi-Fi |access-date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226035703/https://www.jbhifi.com.au/music/Whats-Hot/alternative/super-critical/642508/ |archive-date=26 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/super-critical/898700112 |title=Super Critical by The Ting Tings |website=iTunes Store |date=24 October 2014 |location=Australia |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Germany | {{hlist|PIAS|Finca}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00LVTFV2G |title=Super Critical |website=Amazon |language=de |location=Germany |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00LW2OVBO |title=Super Critical [Explicit]: The Ting Tings: MP3-Downloads |website=Amazon |language=de |location=Germany |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Ireland | rowspan="3"| Finca | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.towerrecords.ie/product/Ting_Tings_Super_Critical/625698 |title=Ting Tings – Super Critical |publisher=Tower Records Ireland |access-date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031005216/http://www.towerrecords.ie/product/Ting_Tings_Super_Critical/625698 |archive-date=31 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ie.7digital.com/artist/the-ting-tings/release/super-critical |title=Super Critical (Explicit) by The Ting Tings |website=7digital |location=Ireland |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| France | rowspan="3"| 27 October 2014 | Digital download | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00LVNYH9U |title=Super Critical [Explicit]: The Ting Tings: Téléchargements MP3 |website=Amazon |language=fr |location=France |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United Kingdom | {{hlist|CD|digital download}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LVTFV2G |title=Super Critical |website=Amazon |location=United Kingdom |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LVIBWOS |title=Super Critical [Explicit]: The Ting Tings: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |location=United Kingdom |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United States | Digital download | {{hlist|PIAS|Finca}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OTBZZEM |title=Super Critical: The Ting Tings: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |location=United States |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Japan | 29 October 2014 | {{hlist|CD|digital download}} | Sony | align="center"| <ref name="japan">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/thetingtings/discography/SICP-4326 |script-title=ja:スーパー・クリティカル |trans-title=Super Critical |language=ja |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment Japan |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00OOSZD6U |title=スーパー・クリティカル (Japan Version): The Ting Tings: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |language=ja |location=Japan |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| France | 3 November 2014 | CD | Finca | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00LVTFV2G |title=Super Critical |website=Amazon |language=fr |location=France |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Germany | 21 November 2014 | rowspan="3"| LP | {{hlist|PIAS|Finca}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00NIFCKSO |title=Super Critical [Vinyl LP] |website=Amazon |language=de |location=Germany |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| France | rowspan="2"| 24 November 2014 | rowspan="2"| Finca | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00NIFCKSO |title=Super Critical (Album vinyle) |website=Amazon |language=fr |location=France |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United Kingdom | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NIFCKSO |title=Super Critical [VINYL] |website=Amazon |location=United Kingdom |access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United States | 13 January 2015 | CD | {{hlist|PIAS|Finca}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/the-ting-tings-prepare-to-release-new-album-super-critical-monday-october-27/ |title=The Ting Tings Prepare To Release New Album 'Super Critical' Monday, October 27 |agency=Mitch Schneider Organization |date=21 October 2014 |access-date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031005207/http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/the-ting-tings-prepare-to-release-new-album-super-critical-monday-october-27/ |archive-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{The Ting Tings}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2014 albums Category:The Ting Tings albums