{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Bloodless Coup | type = studio | artist = Bell X1 | cover = Bell X1 Bloodless Coup album cover.png | alt = | released = {{Start date|2011|4|1|df=y}} | recorded = 2009–2010, Ireland | venue = | studio = | genre = Rock | length = 48:30<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/bloodless-coup-mw0002115119 Bloodless Coup - Bell X1 | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> | language = English | label = BellyUp Records | producer = Rob Kirwan | prev_title = Blue Lights on the Runway | prev_year = 2009 | next_title = Chop Chop | next_year = 2013 | misc = {{Singles | name = Bloodless Coup | type = studio | single1 = Velcro | single1date = 1 March 2011<ref name=velcrorelease>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2011/03/velcro-now-available-europe-amp-asia/ |title='Velcro' Now Available Europe & Asia |publisher=Official Bell X1 web site |date=1 March 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> | single2 = Four Minute Mile | single2date = }} }} '''''Bloodless Coup''''' is the fifth studio album by Irish band Bell X1. It was released on 1 April 2011 in Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2011/03/31/our-new-album-is-out-tomorrow/ |title=Our new album is out tomorrow… |publisher=Official Bell X1 website |date=31 March 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> on 4 April in the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2011/04/04/bloodless-coup-in-the-uk/ |title=Bloodless Coup in the UK |publisher=Official Bell X1 website |date=4 April 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> and on 5 April in North America.
It has received average reviews from critics and reached number 3 of the Top Irish 100 Albums in its debut week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irma.ie/#chartTab2 |title=>> IRMA << Irish Charts - Singles, Albums & Compilations >> |publisher=Irma.ie |date=2012-01-12 |accessdate=2012-01-16}}</ref>
== Production == The album was produced by Rob Kirwan and recorded in Westmeath, Ireland and while touring Europe and North America. Prior to the release of the album Bell X1 performed tracks from ''Bloodless Coup'' on a short acoustic European tour. This tour included live dates in autumn/winter 2010 in Ireland,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2010/07/15/acoustic-tour-ireland-2010-november/ |title=Ireland Acoustic Tour 2010 |publisher=Official Bell X1 web site |date=15 July 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> France, UK, Netherlands and Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2010/08/20/more-acoustic-tour-dates-london-paris-amsterdam-berlin/ |title=More Acoustic Tour Dates – London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin…. |publisher=Official Bell X1 web site |date=20 August 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> In September 2010, the band revealed details about their fifth studio album. On 11 September the band offered fans their first listen to a new track called "Velcro" which was recorded at Oxegen Festival in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2010/09/01/new-song-velcro/ |title=New Song -Velcro |publisher=Official Bell X1 web site |date=1 September 2010 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> The band followed this with further live dates in North America and Europe. On 6 January 2011, Bell X1 revealed the artwork for the album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2011/01/06/here-be-the-bloodless-coup-art-record-sleeve-front-cover/ |title=Here be the Bloodless Coup art…record sleeve…front cover |publisher=Official Bell X1 web site |date=6 January 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> On 18 January the band revealed another track from the album called "Hey Anna Lena",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2011/01/18/new-song-posted-hey-anna-lena/ |title=New Song Posted: "Hey Anna Lena" |publisher=Official Bell X1 web site |date=18 January 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> followed by a video on 26 January of the band recording this song.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2011/01/26/new-video-hey-anna-lena/ |title=New Video: "Hey Anna Lena" |publisher=Official Bell X1 web site |date=26 January 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> The track-listing for the album was revealed on their website on 3 February 2011.
== Singles == The first single from the album, "Velcro", received its first radio airplay on Today FM on 17 February 2011. It was released through iTunes on 1 March 2011.<ref name=velcrorelease/> A physical release of "Velcro" was released in Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands on 4 March with a North American release on 15 March.<ref name=velcrorelease/> The promo video was released on 15 March.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bellx1.com/2011/03/15/velcro-video-premiere/ |title=Velcro Video Premiere |publisher=Official Bell X1 web site |date=15 March 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref>
== Promo == * Promotion for the album began early in summer 2010 with live performances at festivals such as Oxegen and a number of tour dates in Europe and North America. The band performed an acoustic set for Today FM in November 2010 providing fans with some new material. * U.S. National Public Radio recorded a special broadcast of the band performing at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin on 3 April 2011, flying 85 Americans over for what was described by Hot Press as "unprecedented" and "an international first". The album's lead single "Velcro" was playlisted by at least 15 different American radio stations, as well as others in Europe such as Kink FM, Motor FM and Radio Eins. * The album was streamed one week prior to its release on the official Bell X1 website, Myspace page and SoundCloud.
== Tour 2011 == Following touring in 2010, Bell X1 followed this with an announcement that they would headline at Live at The Marquee in Cork City. The official 2011 tour kicks off on 6 April 2011 in Dublin. The tour will see the band perform throughout the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Canada and the United States. The first leg of the tour will finish in Galway, Ireland on 16 July 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bellx1.com/tour/ |title=On Tour « |publisher=Main.bellx1.com |date= |accessdate=2012-01-16}}</ref>
== Critical reception == {{Album ratings |rev1 = Metacritic |rev1score = (58/100) |rev2 = Allmusic |rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/bloodless-coup-r2144502/review |title= Bloodless Coup - Bell X1 Allmusic |website= AllMusic |accessdate=1 August 2011}}</ref> |rev3 = CHARTattack |rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}} |rev4 = NOW |rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/bell-x1-bloodless-coup/ |title=NOW Magazine // Music // Bell X1 - Bloodless Coup |publisher=NOW Magazine |date=7 April 2011 |first=Benjamin |last=Boles |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> |rev5 = Paste |rev5score = (6.9/10)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/04/bell-x-1-bloodless-coup.html |title=Bell X1: Bloodless Coup :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste |publisher=Paste |first=Joel |last=Oliphint |date=13 April 2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> }} The album has received average reviews, though some critics did praise the album and saw it as their best yet. It currently holds a Metacritic score of 58/100. State described the album as "rejuvenated"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.ie/27121-album-reviews/bell-x1-bloodless-coup |title=Bell X1 – Bloodless Coup - Album Review |publisher=State Magazine |date=31 March 2011 |first=Elaine |last=Buckley |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> and Gold Plectrum describing the album as "...a real return to form from Bell X1 and leaves us with future hope of similar releases".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenplec.com/review-bell-x1-bloodless-coup/ |title=Review: Bell X1 – Bloodless Coup |publisher=Goldenplec Irish Music Magazine |date=29 March 2011 |first=Christof |last=Dugarry |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref> RTÉ gave the album 3/5 and claimed that the album "could be their strongest bet yet".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/reviews/music/2011/0405/449764-bellx1/ |title=Bell X1 - Bloodless Coup |publisher=RTÉ |date=5 April 2011 |first=Alan |last=Corr |accessdate=31 July 2011}}</ref>
Andrew Leahey writing for Allmusic gave the album three stars, noting the band's shift towards electronica in a similar fashion to fellow Irish act U2 with ''Pop'', adding that Bell X1 "sidestep" the problems they encountered, "using synthesizers and drum machines to enhance, not dominate, the songs", while noting a decline in quality in the lyricism of Noonan.
== Track listing == {{Track listing | all_writing = David Geraghty, Dominic Phillips and Paul Noonan | title1 = Hey Anna Lena | length1 = 5:37 | title2 = Velcro | length2 = 4:49 | title3 = Nightwatchmen | length3 = 4:21 | title4 = Sugar High | length4 = 5:57 | title5 = Built to Last | length5 = 5:34 | title6 = 4 Minute Mile | length6 = 5:17 | title7 = Safer Than Love | length7 = 4:16 | title8 = The Trailing Skirts of God | length8 = 4:55 | title9 = Haloumi | length9 = 4:14 | title10 = 74 Swans | length10 = 3:30 | title11 = Amsterdam Says | note11 = bonus track on some releases | length11 = 6:32 }}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{Discogs master|341668|type=album}} * {{YouTube|id=jzYIKlcgf1I|title=promo video of "Velcro"}} * {{YouTube|id=EUDZQYwNZVc|title=recording session for "Hey Anna Lena"}}
{{Bell X1}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2011 albums Category:Albums produced by Roger Bechirian Category:Bell X1 (band) albums Category:2010s in Irish music