Born Innocent
Studio album by
The Proclaimers
Released18 November 2003
February 2004 (US)
RecordedApril–May 2003
Genre
Label
ProducerThe Proclaimers, Edwyn Collins
The Proclaimers chronology
The Best of The Proclaimers
(2002)		 Born Innocent
(2003)		 Finest
(2003)

Born Innocent is the fifth studio album by Scottish rock duo The Proclaimers, released in 2003 on their own label, Persevere Records, and produced by Edwyn Collins. Born Innocent reached No. 70 in the UK Albums Chart as well as No. 7 in the duo's native Scotland. The release also made the Top 10 of the UK Indie Chart.

Praised by AllMusic as "fiery" and a "return to form", the album featured a raw sound with elements of post-punk, folk and 1960s rhythmn and blues.[4][2][5]

Background and recording

Recording and production

Recording for Born Innocent betided in April and May 2003, both in Scotland at Castlesound Studios in Pencaitland, and at West Heath Yard in London.[1] Born Innocent was produced by Edwyn Collins, frontman of Scottish post-punk band Orange Juice.[6][1]

Release

Born Innocent was released in the United Kingdom and Canada in 2003 on Persevere Records, and that year in Australia by Persevere and Shock Records jointly.[7] It was issued in the U.S. in February 2004 with two bonus tracks, live versions of "Unguarded Moments" and "Born Innocent" that were recorded on 19 October 2003 at Carling Academy Glasgow.[8]

Content

Musical style

Paste Magazine typified the record's sound as "raw folk punk", blended with a "soulful, retro feel".[2] Born Innocent incorporated a variety of styles, including the hard rock of "Born Innocent", the American 1960s rhythm and blues-style "You Meant It Them" and "Should Have Been Love" and the Cajun-influenced "Dear Deidre".[1] The album's cover version of the Vogues' "Five O'Clock World" was likened by The Washington Post to the styling of English rock band The Animals,[6] while AllMusic compared the politically-charged "Blood on Your Hands" to Midnight Oil's "more potent work".[1]

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics on Born Innocent concerned a variety of themes. "Blood on Your Hands" arraigned both Islamic Jihadists and American unilateralism, while "Role Model" slurred wealthy cocaine users.[6] The lyrics were described as having "snide asides worthy of Elvis Costello", particularly in relation to the line "you're worse than drink; you're worse than crack; for you they should bring hanging back" on "Hate My Love".[5]

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Drowned in Sound[9]
The Ottawa Citizen
Uncut
The Washington PostFavorable[6]

In a 4 out-of 5 star review, Hal Horowitz of AllMusic praised Born Innocent as a "soulful and energetic" effort, opining that the record "will appeal to longtime fans as well as newcomers".[1]

Toby Jarvis from Drowned in Sound proclaimed Born Innocent "a firey winner", grading the record a score of 8 out-of 10.[9]

The Ottawa Citizen was more dismissive of Born Innocent. The title track "Born Innocent" was praised by reviewer Lynn Saxberg as a "terrific tune", but argued that the rest of the record "pales in comparison" and despite acknowledging the "raw charm" of the record's lo-fi aesthetic Saxberg argued that this was "[not] enough to carry the disc".[3]

Geoffrey Himes of The Washington Post adjudged Born Innocent to be "every bit as catchy and caustic as its predecessors".[6]

Accolades

In 2003, Born Innocent was ranked No. 26 for Mojo Magazine's "Albums of the Year".[10]

Allusions

In a biographical account of the band's career, Timothy Monger of AllMusic described the record as "return to form with a fiery, raucous energy".[4]

Track listing

All songs written by Craig Reid and Charlie Reid except as indicated.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Born Innocent" 2:55
2."Should Have Been Loved" 3:16
3."Blood on Your Hands" 2:38
4."Unguarded Moments" 4:03
5."Hate My Love" 2:45
6."Redeemed" 2:57
7."You Meant It Then" 4:10
8."Five O'Clock World"Allen Reynolds2:35
9."He's Just Like Me" 2:43
10."Role Model" 2:47
11."No Witness" 3:04
12."Dear Deidre" 2:20
13."There's No Doubt" 4:14
14."Unguarded Moments" (Live in Glasgow: 10/19/03) 4:06
15."Born Innocent" (Live in Glasgow: 10/19/03) 3:00
Total length:48:20

Chart

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[11] 7
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 70
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[13] 10

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Horowitz, Hal. "Born Innocent - The Proclaimers". AllMusic.
  2. 1 2 3 "Scottish Duo The Proclaimers Back With New Album". Paste. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  3. 1 2 Saxberg, Lynn (24 January 2004). "Born Innocent - The Proclaimers". The Ottawa Citizen.
  4. 1 2 Monger, Timothy. "The Proclaimers - Biography and History". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  5. 1 2 Wener, Ben (11 April 2004). "Proclaimers return with a most enjoyable album". The Monitor (Texas).
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Himes, Geoffrey (12 March 2004). "The Proclaimers - "Born Innocent"". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "The Proclaimers - Born Innocent (All Releases)". Discogs. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  8. ↑ "The Proclaimers - Born Innocent". Discogs. 17 February 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  9. 1 2 Jarvis, Toby (14 August 2003). "The Proclaimers - Born Innocent". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "Mojo End of the Year". Rocklist.net. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  11. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "{{{artist}}} | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
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