{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox album | name = The A&R EP | type = ep | artist = Annie | cover = Annie - The A&R EP.png | alt = | released = {{Start date|2013|07|29|df=y}} | recorded = 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/jul/24/annie-invisible |title=Annie - Invisible: New music |last=Cragg |first=Michael |date=24 July 2013 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=27 October 2014}}</ref> | venue = | studio = | genre = {{hlist|Synth-pop|house}} | length = {{Duration|m=19|s=58}} | label = Pleasure Masters | producer = Richard X | prev_title = Tuesday Mix | prev_year = 2011 | next_title = Endless Vacation | next_year = 2015 }}
'''''The A&R EP''''' is the second extended play (EP) by Norwegian singer and songwriter Annie. It was produced by Richard X and released 29 July 2013 on his Pleasure Masters label. The EP is influenced by 1990s house music. It received generally positive reviews from music critics.
==Background== After the 2009 release of her second album ''Don't Stop'', she spent time working in Kent, England with production team Xenomania, feeling that "it's important to write stuff for other…to get inspiration so you don't keep on doing the same thing, over and over again."<ref name="huw-diy">{{cite web |url=https://diymag.com/archive/annie-i-need-to-disappear-a-bit-before-coming-back |title=Annie: 'I Need To Disappear A Bit Before Coming Back' |last=Oliver |first=Huw |date=29 July 2013 |work=DIY |accessdate=26 October 2014}}</ref> She discussed the concept for ''The A&R EP'' before meeting up with X, and he began to prepare backing tracks.<ref name="hamilton-idolator">{{cite web |url=http://www.idolator.com/7474230/richard-x-annie-the-ar-ep-interview |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141027064653/http://www.idolator.com/7474230/richard-x-annie-the-ar-ep-interview |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 October 2014 |title=Richard X Discusses Annie's 'A&R EP', Working With MKS, Rachel Stevens & More: Idolator Interview |last=Hamilton |first=John |date=30 July 2013 |publisher=Idolator |accessdate=26 October 2014}}</ref> In March 2013, Annie went to X's studio in London, where they largely wrote and recorded the EP was over the course of a week.<ref name="hamilton-idolator"/><ref name="levine-national">{{cite web |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/the-sun-has-come-out-for-pop-singer-annie-1.301583 |title=The sun has come out for pop singer Annie |last=Levine |first=Nick |date=17 August 2013 |work=The National |access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref> To write songs, Annie began by recording melodies on her phone or iPad and adding lyrics. After finding beats, she would begin to record the song using Ableton Live or Logic Pro.<ref name="cooper-fader">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefader.com/2013/07/22/interview-annie |title=Interview: Annie |last=Cooper |first=Duncan |date=22 July 2013 |work=The Fader |accessdate=26 October 2014}}</ref> X cited Telstar Records' ''Deep Heat'' compilation series of house music as an influence on the tracks.<ref name="hamilton-idolator"/>
Because of the diversity in the songs that she had written, Annie decided that they would not be able to form a coherent album. She instead assembled a "more dancey…more club related" EP, and indicated that other songs would be used to form two additional EPs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/annie-and-bjarne-melgaard-on-their-anti-putin-video-russian-kiss/ |title=Annie and Artist Bjarne Melgaard on Their Anti-Putin Video: 'Russian Kiss' |last=White |first=Caitlin |date=7 February 2014 |work=Vice |access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref> ''The A&R EP''{{'}}s title refers to Annie and Richard X's names.<ref name="st-asaph-pitchfork">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18316-annie-the-ar-ep/ |title=Annie: The A&R EP |last=St. Asaph |first=Katherine |date=5 August 2013 |publisher=Pitchfork |accessdate=26 October 2014}}</ref> Its colourful cover art was inspired by rave culture.<ref name="huw-diy"/>
==Songs== Annie described the opening track "Back Together" as being about "having the best time with the people you enjoy the most and listening to good music."<ref name="muller-vice">{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/annie-is-back-and-promises-she-will-not-disappear-again/ |title=Annie Is Back And Promises She Will Not Disappear Again |last=Muller |first=Marissa G. |date=13 July 2013 |work=Vice |access-date=26 October 2014}}</ref> It was likened to dance-pop music by the Pet Shop Boys.<ref name="unterberger-billboard">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/annie-appreciation-examining-the-influence-of-the-norwegian-pop-5645270/ |title=Annie Appreciation: Examining The Influence of The Norwegian Pop Not-Quite-Star |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |date=8 August 2013 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=26 October 2014}}</ref> The song's music video was directed by Stian Servoss and Hildegunn Waerness.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2304966/annie-back-together-video/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406040244/http://www.mtv.com/news/2304966/annie-back-together-video/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 April 2018 |title=New Video: Annie, 'Back Together' |last=Walker |first=John |date=1 August 2013 |publisher=MTV News |accessdate=28 August 2016}}</ref> It pays tribute to music video shows such as ''Total Request Live'' and ''Pop-Up Video''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2013/07/annie-pop-up-video-back-together/ |title=Watch Annie's 'Pop Up Video'-Style 'Back Together' |last=McGovern |first=Kyle |date=31 July 2013 |work=Spin |accessdate=26 October 2014}}</ref>
On "Hold On", Annie asks a lover not to give up on a relationship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2304837/annie-hold-on/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828225519/http://www.mtv.com/news/2304837/annie-hold-on/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 August 2016 |title=New Song: Annie, 'Hold On' |last=Walker |first=John |date=19 July 2013 |publisher=MTV News |accessdate=28 August 2016}}</ref> "Ralph Macchio" is a 1980s-influenced track about actor Ralph Macchio, of whom Annie was fond of watching as a child.<ref name="muller-vice"/><ref name="unterberger-billboard"/> It came from a discussion between Annie and X "your first love of a pop star or film star."<ref name="cooper-fader"/> Macchio responded via Twitter, comparing the song to Bananarama's 1983 single "Cruel Summer".<ref name="levine-national"/>
"Invisible" is a breakup song in which she duets with her alter ego "Mannie".<ref name="muller-vice"/> The song features clap drums, acid house squiggles, and "a heavy curtain of synths."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/15774-annie-invisible/ |title=Annie: 'Invisible' |last=St. Asaph |first=Katherine |date=26 July 2013 |publisher=Pitchfork |accessdate=27 October 2014}}</ref> Its use of atonality drew comparisons to Glass Candy and Sophie.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/16760/1/music-news |title=The Agony and the Ecstasy: Annie, Born Gold and Clare Maguire |last=Myers |first=Owen |date=29 July 2013 |work=Dazed |accessdate=27 October 2014}}</ref> For closing track "Mixed Emotions", Annie and X attempted to create a verse using an online translator but moved the results to the track's ending.<ref name="hamilton-idolator"/>
==Critical reception== Upon release, ''The A&R EP'' received generally positive reviews from music critics. ''Drowned in Sound'' rated it 7/10, noting that its "blissed out softness and heightened subtlety of these tracks means that the EP lacks a summer-defining chorus" but commending its consistency and maturity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/17773/reviews/4146692 |title=Annie - The A&R EP |last=Warfield |first=Russell |date=2 August 2013 |publisher=Drowned in Sound |accessdate=27 October 2014 |archive-date=27 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027101536/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/17773/reviews/4146692 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Pitchfork gave it 7.6/10 and stated that its aesthetic "could come off overly studied in the wrong hands, but [the EP] fortunately preserves Annie's most compelling aspect of all: her wink."<ref name="st-asaph-pitchfork"/> The ''NME'' gave the EP 6/10, characterising it as "a passion-project" that despite clear 1990s references, is "a love letter to the age rather than trite fetishisation."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/annie/14645 |title=Annie - 'The A&R EP' |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=2 August 2013 |website=NME |accessdate=27 October 2014}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | title1 = Back Together | writer1 = {{hlist|Victoria Hesketh|Richard X}} | length1 = 3:40
| title2 = Hold On | writer2 = {{hlist|Hannah Robinson|Richard X}} | length2 = 4:29
| title3 = Ralph Macchio | writer3 = {{hlist|Anne Lilia Berge Strand|Richard X}} | length3 = 3:07
| title4 = Invisible | writer4 = {{hlist|Strand|Richard X}} | length4 = 4:10
| title5 = Mixed Emotions | writer5 = {{hlist|Strand|Richard X}} | length5 = 4:41 }}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Discogs master|579935|type=album}}
{{Annie (singer)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:AandR EP}} Category:2013 EPs Category:Albums produced by Richard X Category:Annie (Norwegian singer) EPs