Oracle (Kittie album)
Second studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie.
Oracle is the second studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on November 12, 2001, by Artemis Records. It was recorded as a three-piece following the departure of co-founding guitarist Fallon Bowman, with touring guitarist Jeff Phillips replacing her. The album has been described as angrier and more extreme than the band's debut, and was Kittie's only album with bassist Talena Atfield.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Kittie
- Released
- 12 November 2001
- Recorded
- July 21 – August 14, 2001
- Studio
- EMAC (London, Ontario)
- Genre
- Death metal
- nu metal
- thrash metal
- Length
- 47:41
- Label
- Artemis
- Producer
- Garth Richardson
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oracle | 2:02 |
| 2 | Mouthful of Poison | 4:38 |
| 3 | In Winter | 5:32 |
| 4 | Severed | 3:20 |
| 5 | Run Like Hell (Pink Floyd cover) | 4:09 |
| 6 | Pain | 3:49 |
| 7 | Wolves | 3:25 |
| 8 | What I Always Wanted | 3:43 |
| 9 | Safe | 4:12 |
| 10 | No Name | 2:14 |
| 11 | Pink Lemonade | 10:37 |
| Total length | 47:41 | |
Track listing from the source article.
Title and artwork
Morgan Lander stated that the title Oracle was meant to represent the album as Kittie's "coming-into-our-own album," adding that an oracle speaks truth and foresees the future. She conceived and designed the artwork concept, which depicts an x-ray of a mason jar in a stomach, after reading an article in Discover magazine about people swallowing unusual objects. The liner notes contain similar x-ray images of self-mutilation.
Release
On August 21, 2001, eight songs from Oracle were previewed at a private listening session at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver. "What I Always Wanted" was made available as a free download on the band's website on September 7, 2001, and was serviced to radio as the lead single on October 9, 2001. Its music video, directed by Thomas Mignone, concerns the self-destructive consequences of greed; the single reached number 36 on the Billboard Active Rock chart, and the video received heavy airplay on MTV, MTV2, MTVX, and MuchMusic. On November 24, 2001, Kittie self-financed the filming of two live music videos for "Pain" and "Run Like Hell" at Harpos Theatre in Detroit. "Run Like Hell" was released as a digital-only single on January 16, 2002, and its video aired on MTV2's Headbangers Ball. Artemis serviced the Live in Hell EP to radio that same month. "In Winter" was released as the third and final single on May 13, 2002. Artemis Records shipped 400,000 copies to stores and promoted the album through independent retailers and magazines including Bust, ROCKRGRL, Metal Edge, Rolling Stone, and Spin. Due to manufacturing delays after the September 11 attacks, Oracle was released in Europe on November 12, 2001, and in the United States the following day. The album debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard 200, selling 33,000 copies in its first week, and also charted in Germany and the UK. By July 2004, it had sold 220,000 copies in the United States. The band felt Artemis had not properly promoted the album, leading them to commit to extended touring from August 2001 to February 2003.
Critical reception
On Metacritic, Oracle received a score of 56 out of 100 from eight critics, signifying mixed or average reviews. AllMusic's Bradley Torreano described it as an average effort from a promising band still searching for a unique sound. PopMatters' Eden Miller commended the musicianship and Morgan Lander's vocals but criticized the album for leaning too heavily on metal conventions. Kerrang!'s Catherine Yates called it "simply not bad," noting it was a polished but unoriginal execution lacking standout moments. Rolling Stone's Tom Moon observed that Kittie seemed torn between playing the doomsayer or the dominatrix, failing to blend melodic hooks with simplistic power-chord catharsis. Now's Ambika Thompson praised the band's mix of growly and melodic elements but felt the album came across as one extended rant. NME's Imran Ahmed remarked that, except for "Safe," the album's harsh blend of melody and brutality made for an uncomfortable listen. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice gave it a one-star honorable mention, writing, "when they are good they are horrid."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who produced Oracle (Kittie album)?
Oracle was produced by Garth Richardson.
What genre is Oracle (Kittie album)?
Oracle is classified as death metal, nu metal and thrash metal.
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