Mediocre (album)
Encyclopedia
Criticism of Mediocre has been mostly positive, and many critics highly acclaim the album. The Rolling Stone
staff rated Mediocre four stars, and Rolling Stone's average viewer rating is four and a half stars. Mark Kemp
, a music journalist
from Rolling Stone, called Mediocre one of the strongest debuts from a female singer-songwriter since Norah Jones
' Come Away With Me
, exclaiming "There's sultry torch songs, folky ballads, smart rock — and not a bum track among them." Ron Bronson, a music journalist from the website SoMinty, awarded Mediocre five stars. He describes Sariñana's voice on Mediocre as being "something along the lines of Nellie McKay
meets countryman Julieta Venegas
meets Sia
. [Her voice is] original, in other words. Very original.... If you have any real desire to listen to music en español, you'll be hard pressed to find a better singer on the indie scene these days. Ximena has got chops, folks." Ernesto Sánchez of People en Español
labeled Mediocre "one of the most promising Latin Music albums of [2008]". Eric Danton of The Hartford Courant
pointed out that "her prospects in the United States are less predictable thanks to a fragmented radio landscape and what for many English-speaking listeners is a language barrier."
for Mejor Nuevo Artista (Best New Artist) and Mejor Canción Alternativa (Best Alternative Song) for her single "Normal". Sariñana won an award at the MTV Latin America Awards 2008
for Artista Revelación (Discovery Artist).
On December 4, 2008 this album received a Grammy Award
nomination for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
.
in 2008 and released as a single. Originally performed by Erik Couts Originally performed by the Uruguayan band, Loop Lascano Performed with Volován
. The second version of "Reforma" is only available through the iTunes Store
.
was released in 2008, and an official music video was released on YouTube
by Warner Music Mexico in . "Normal" was promoted on iTunes to the public in the United States in , when it became the iTunes Latino Free Single of the Week. Los 40 Principales has announced that a music video for the title song will be released in the near future.
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
staff rated Mediocre four stars, and Rolling Stone's average viewer rating is four and a half stars. Mark Kemp
Mark Kemp
Mark Kemp is an American music journalist and author. A graduate of East Carolina University, he has served as music editor of Rolling Stone and vice president of music editorial for MTV Networks...
, a music journalist
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
from Rolling Stone, called Mediocre one of the strongest debuts from a female singer-songwriter since Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
' Come Away With Me
Come Away with Me
Come Away with Me is the debut album of pianist and singer Norah Jones, released February 26, 2002 on Blue Note Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at New York City's Sorcerer Sound Studio and Shokan's Allaire Studios in 2001...
, exclaiming "There's sultry torch songs, folky ballads, smart rock — and not a bum track among them." Ron Bronson, a music journalist from the website SoMinty, awarded Mediocre five stars. He describes Sariñana's voice on Mediocre as being "something along the lines of Nellie McKay
Nellie McKay
Nellie McKay , is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and former stand-up comedienne, noted for her critically acclaimed albums, and for her Broadway debut in The Threepenny Opera , for which she won a Theatre World Award...
meets countryman Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer...
meets Sia
Sia Furler
Sia Kate Isobelle Furler or simply Sia, is an Australian pop, downtempo, and jazz singer and songwriter. In 2000, her single, "Taken for Granted" was a top 10 hit in the United Kingdom. Her 2008 album, Some People Have Real Problems peaked in the top 30 on the Billboard 200...
. [Her voice is] original, in other words. Very original.... If you have any real desire to listen to music en español, you'll be hard pressed to find a better singer on the indie scene these days. Ximena has got chops, folks." Ernesto Sánchez of People en Español
People en Español
People en Español is a Spanish-language American magazine published by Time Inc. that debuted in 1996, originally as the Spanish-language edition of its publication People...
labeled Mediocre "one of the most promising Latin Music albums of [2008]". Eric Danton of The Hartford Courant
The Hartford Courant
The Hartford Courant is the largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Connecticut, and is a morning newspaper for most of the state north of New Haven and east of Waterbury...
pointed out that "her prospects in the United States are less predictable thanks to a fragmented radio landscape and what for many English-speaking listeners is a language barrier."
Awards and nominations
Sariñana was nominated for two awards at the Latin Grammy Awards of 2008Latin Grammy Awards of 2008
The 9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards took place on November 13, 2008 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and were aired on Univision. The Brazilian Field awards were presented on the same day at the Ibirapuera Auditorium in São Paulo. The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year was Gloria...
for Mejor Nuevo Artista (Best New Artist) and Mejor Canción Alternativa (Best Alternative Song) for her single "Normal". Sariñana won an award at the MTV Latin America Awards 2008
Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2008
The seventh annual Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2008 took place on October 16, 2008 in Guadalajara, Mexico at the Auditorio Telmex for the first time.Jose Tillan was the Executive Producer of the event.-Artist of the Year:* Babasónicos* Belanova* Café Tacuba...
for Artista Revelación (Discovery Artist).
On December 4, 2008 this album received a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
The Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album was an honor presented to recording artists for quality albums in the Latin rock and alternative music genres at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
.
Track listing
Direct notes
"La tina" was remixed by MetronomyMetronomy
Metronomy are an electronic music group formed by Joseph Mount in Totnes, Devon, England in 1999. The current band consists of Joseph Mount , Anna Prior , Oscar Cash and Gbenga Adelekan...
in 2008 and released as a single. Originally performed by Erik Couts Originally performed by the Uruguayan band, Loop Lascano Performed with Volován
Volovan
Volován is a pop-rock Mexican Avanzada Regia band from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon that was formed in 1998.-Biography:It is internationally well-known for its collaborations with the American Andy Chase , the English man Joe Robinson and the Mexican Alejandro Rosso...
. The second version of "Reforma" is only available through the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
.
Singles
"Vidas paralelas" ("Parallel Lives"), the first single from Mediocre, was released on . The remix of "La tina" ("The Bathtub") by MetronomyMetronomy
Metronomy are an electronic music group formed by Joseph Mount in Totnes, Devon, England in 1999. The current band consists of Joseph Mount , Anna Prior , Oscar Cash and Gbenga Adelekan...
was released in 2008, and an official music video was released on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
by Warner Music Mexico in . "Normal" was promoted on iTunes to the public in the United States in , when it became the iTunes Latino Free Single of the Week. Los 40 Principales has announced that a music video for the title song will be released in the near future.
| Year | Title | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Vidas paralelas | 3:57 |
|
| 2008 | La tina (Metronomy Remix) | 3:51 |
|
| 2008 | Normal | 3:40 |
ITunes Store The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States... as the descarga gratis de la semana — the free download of the week |
| 2008 | No vuelvo más | 4:13 |
|
| 2009 | Mediocre | 4:16 |
|
Credits
The information below is provided by Allmusic, and the personnel are listed in alphabetical order. Clicking the arrows changes the sort order.| Name | Instrument or Role | Personnel notes |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboards, Tabla Tabla The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres... , Producer |
Bressa, a drummer from Volován Volovan Volován is a pop-rock Mexican Avanzada Regia band from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon that was formed in 1998.-Biography:It is internationally well-known for its collaborations with the American Andy Chase , the English man Joe Robinson and the Mexican Alejandro Rosso... , played drums on their album Monitor (2007). Bressa composed the song "Monitor". |
|
| Guitar | Butrón has also collaborated with Fito Páez Fito Páez Rodolfo "Fito" Páez Ávalos is an Argentine popular rock and roll pianist, lyricist, Spanish language singer and film director.-Early career:... , an Argentine musician. |
|
| Arranger, Producer | An Uruguayan musician, Campodónico was a member of El Peyote Asesino El Peyote Asesino El Peyote Asesino is a Uruguayan hip-hop and hard rock band that was active from 1994 to 1999. The band's members included L. Mental , Daniel Benia , Juan Campodónico , P.P. Canedo , and Carlos Casacuberta... and has produced numerous albums, including the original soundtrack to Shrek 2 Shrek 2 Shrek 2 is a 2004 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film, produced by DreamWorks Animation and directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon. It is the second installment in the Shrek film series and the sequel to 2001's Shrek... . |
|
| Mixing | Castillo has engineered many albums, including John Legend John Legend John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career... 's album Once Again Once Again (John Legend album) Once Again is the second studio album by American singer John Legend, issued by GOOD Music and Sony Music Entertainment on October 24, 2006... (2006), and Björk Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk... 's album Volta Volta (album) Volta is the seventh studio album by Icelandic musician Björk, released in May 2007. It was produced by Björk, Mark Bell, Timbaland and Danja. The music of Volta was a new style for Björk, focusing on similar sounding music combining African beats and other instruments with songs in tribute to Africa... (2007). |
|
| Percussion, Drums, Hand Drums | Cota played percussion on Luis Alberto Spinetta Luis Alberto Spinetta Luis Alberto Spinetta , is an Argentine musician. He is one of the most influential rock musicians of South America, and together with Charly García is considered the father of Argentine rock. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the residential neighbourhood of Belgrano... 's album Los Ojos (2005). |
|
| Engineer, Mixing | Dorfman has engineered many successful albums, including Alexandre Pires Alexandre Pires Alexandre Pires do Nascimento is a Brazilian singer. Pires was previously the singer of group Só Pra Contrariar which he joined in the late 80s.... ' album Alma Brasileira (2004) and Gustavo Cerati Gustavo Cerati Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clark is an Argentine rock musician, singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. He was the frontman, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and lead songwriter of the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, one of the most influential bands of latin rock music. In the early 90s, with... 's album Ahí vamos Ahí vamos Ahí Vamos is a 2006 studio album by Argentine rock musician Gustavo Cerati. The album met with both positive reviews by critics and popularity, especially in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. The first single released from the album was "Crimen", which received airplay starting in April 2006... (2006). |
|
| Piano, Accordion, Sintesi del Suono Med | Franov acted as the librettist Libretto A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a... of Gustavo Cerati Gustavo Cerati Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clark is an Argentine rock musician, singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. He was the frontman, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and lead songwriter of the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, one of the most influential bands of latin rock music. In the early 90s, with... 's album 11 Episodios Sinfónicos 11 Episodios Sinfónicos 11 Episodios Sinfónicos is a live album recorded by Gustavo Cerati at the Teatro Avenida of Buenos Aires on August 2001. Following the footsteps of other important artists, Cerati rearranged eleven tracks from his former band Soda Stereo as well as singles from his solo albums into symphonic... (2002). His first solo album, Khali, was released in 2007. |
|
| Guitar, Keyboards, Producer | Galván sings with Volován Volovan Volován is a pop-rock Mexican Avanzada Regia band from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon that was formed in 1998.-Biography:It is internationally well-known for its collaborations with the American Andy Chase , the English man Joe Robinson and the Mexican Alejandro Rosso... . He composed the song "Monitor" with brother Chalo Galván and drummer Bruno Bressa. |
|
| Trombone | Hernán played the bass for Plastilina Mosh Plastilina Mosh Plastilina Mosh is a Mexican alternative rock group from Monterrey, México, part of the musical movement known as Avanzada Regia. Jonás González is the lead singer and guitar player. Alejandro Rosso is more involved with the creative process, providing most of the instrumentation and occasional... on the albums Aquamosh Aquamosh Aquamosh is the title of the first studio album by the Mexican Avanzada Regia group Plastilina Mosh. It was released on June 30, 1998 in Mexico. The songs "Monster Truck" and "Encendedor" were featured in the skateboarding game Street Sk8er, while "Afroman" was featured in True Crime: Streets of... (1998) and Hola Chicuelos Hola Chicuelos Hola Chicuelos is the third album of Plastilina Mosh, an Avanzada Regia band from Monterrey, Mexico, released in 2003.- Track listing :# Cosmic Lelos# Peligroso Pop# Naranjada# Decatlón# Pekin Jazz# Garret Club# Magic Fever# Houston# Grooveman... (2003). |
|
| Piano, Keyboards, Producer, Engineer, Mixing | González has been on the music scene since 1990. He engineered Shakira Shakira Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s... 's Oral Fixation Vol. 2 Oral Fixation Vol. 2 Oral Fixation Vol. 2 is the fifth studio album by Colombian pop singer-songwriter Shakira, released on November 28, 2005 by Epic Records. According to her biography on her website and Epic Records, the album has sold 8 million copies worldwide.... in 2005. González has worked extensively with Soda Stereo Soda Stereo Soda Stereo were an Argentine rock band who are recognized as one of the most influential and important Latin American and Ibero-American bands of all time... and played various instruments on Gustavo Cerati Gustavo Cerati Gustavo Adrián Cerati Clark is an Argentine rock musician, singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. He was the frontman, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and lead songwriter of the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo, one of the most influential bands of latin rock music. In the early 90s, with... 's album Ahí vamos Ahí vamos Ahí Vamos is a 2006 studio album by Argentine rock musician Gustavo Cerati. The album met with both positive reviews by critics and popularity, especially in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. The first single released from the album was "Crimen", which received airplay starting in April 2006... (2006). |
|
| Engineer | Lopez has engineered and produced Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas was an Argentine funk duo formed in 1991 by Dante Spinetta and Emmanuel Horvilleur. In 2001 Dante and Emmanuel split to continue their solo careers... ' albums Horno para calentar los mares (1993), Chaco (1996), Leche (1999), and Kury Akistan (2003). He has also recorded Soda Stereo Soda Stereo Soda Stereo were an Argentine rock band who are recognized as one of the most influential and important Latin American and Ibero-American bands of all time... and Luis Alberto Spinetta Luis Alberto Spinetta Luis Alberto Spinetta , is an Argentine musician. He is one of the most influential rock musicians of South America, and together with Charly García is considered the father of Argentine rock. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the residential neighbourhood of Belgrano... . |
|
| Fiscornio | Piccone plays trumpet for the band La Vela Puerca La Vela Puerca La Vela Puerca is a Uruguayan rock/ska band formed in Montevideo, Uruguay in December 1995. Its founders and current members are Sebastián Teysera , Nicolás Lieutier and Santiago Butler . The band's first appearance under the name La Vela Puerca was at a street party in Montevideo on December 24,... . |
|
| Piano, Programming, Vocals, Producer, Vocals | Before Mediocre, Sariñana acted in various movies and telenovela Telenovela A telenovela is a limited-run serial dramatic programming popular in Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish television programming. The word combines tele, short for televisión or televisão , and novela, a Spanish or Portuguese word for "novel"... s. Mediocre is officially Sariñana's debut album. |
|
| Piano, Arranger, Casio, Brass | Supervielle, along with Juan Campodónico and six others, is a member of the South American band Bajofondo Bajofondo Bajofondo is a "Río de la Plata" based music band consisting of eight musicians from Argentina and Uruguay. The band, which refers to itself as a "collective of composers, singers and artists", was formerly called "Bajofondo Tango Club", but shortened the name to "Bajofondo" after they felt their... . He has also played keyboard with Uruguayan musician Jorge Drexler Jorge Drexler Jorge Drexler is an Uruguayan musician and actor.In 2004 Drexler won wide acclaim after becoming the first Uruguayan ever to win an Academy Award... . |
|
| Graphic Design, Graphic Conception | Toporek designed the cover of Mediocre. He has also designed covers for other groups, including Café Tacuba's album Re (1994), their compilation Lo essential de Café Tacuba (2001), and Aleks Syntek Aleks Syntek Raúl Alejandro Escajadillo Peña , better known as Aleks Syntek, is a Mexican singer, songwriter and producer. He is married to Karen Coronado, sister of talkshow host Ingrid Coronado.-Biography:... 's Más fuerte de lo que pensaba (1994). |
|
| Bajo sexto Bajo sexto A bajo sexto is a musical instrument with 12 strings in 6 double courses, used in Mexican music. It is used primarily in norteño music of northern Mexico and across the border in the music of south Texas known as "Tex-Mex", "conjunto, or "música mexicana-tejana".A similar instrument with five... |
Vadala is a bassist. He has played with Fito Páez Fito Páez Rodolfo "Fito" Páez Ávalos is an Argentine popular rock and roll pianist, lyricist, Spanish language singer and film director.-Early career:... , Julieta Venegas Julieta Venegas Julieta Venegas Percevault , known professionally as Julieta Venegas, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer, who sings pop-rock in Spanish. She speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently. She has a twin sister, Yvonne, who is a photographer... , and with Thalía Thalía Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda , known simply by the mononym Thalía , is a Mexican singer and actress. She has sold over 40 million albums worldwide... on her album El sexto sentido El Sexto Sentido El Sexto Sentido is the ninth studio album by Mexican latin pop singer Thalía. It was released by EMI Music on July 19, 2005. The most successful singles of the album were Amar sin ser amada, Un alma sentenciada and Seducción. A reloaded version was later released... (2005). |
Chart performance
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| México Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... AMPROFON Albums Chart AMPROFON Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas is a non-profit organization integrated by multinational and national record companies in Mexico. Established on April 3, 1963, it groups phonographic companies that represent more than 70 percent of the market in Mexico... |
2 |
| US Billboard Top Latin Albums Billboard Top Latin Albums Latin Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine and is labeled as the most important music chart for Spanish language, full-length albums in the American music market. Like all Billboard album charts, the chart is based on sales... |
38 |
| US Billboard Latin Pop Albums Latin Pop Albums Latin Pop Albums is a record chart published on Billboard magazine. It features Latin music information of the Pop music genre. Established in June 1985, this chart features only full length albums and like all album charts on Billboard, is based on sales. The information is compiled by Nielsen... |
10 |
Album certifications
External links
- Ximena Sariñana - Official website of the singer (in Spanish)
- Ximena Sariñana - Official MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
profile of the singer (in Spanish) - Mediocre - Official website of the album (in Spanish)