Chickaboom!
{{good article}}
{{About|the Tami Neilson album|the Bob Merrill song|Chicka Boom|the picture book by Bill Martin Jr.|Chicka Chicka Boom Boom}}
{{short description|2020 album by Tami Neilson}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Chickaboom!
| type = studio
| artist = Tami Neilson
| cover = Tami Neilson - Chickaboom!.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2020|02|14|df=yes}}
| studio = The Lab (Auckland)
| genre =
| length = 28:13
| label =
- Neilson (independent)
- Outside Music
| producer =
- Delaney Davidson
- Tami Neilson
| prev_title = Sassafrass!
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Kingmaker
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Chickaboom!
| type = studio
| single1 = Hey Bus Driver!
| single1date = 6 September 2019
| single2 = Any Fool with a Heart
| single2date = 18 October 2019
| single3 = Ten Tonne Truck
| single3date = 15 November 2019
| single4 = You Were Mine
| single4date = 15 January 2020
| single5 = Queenie, Queenie
| single5date = 14 February 2020
}}
}}
Chickaboom! is the seventh studio album by Canadian-New Zealand country singer Tami Neilson, released on 14 February 2020, by Neilson Records and Outside Music. A country album inspired by rockabilly, Chickaboom! was nominated for the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Aotearoa Music Award for Album of the Year at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards. The album debuted at number eight on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.
Production
File:Wanda Jackson--1975 (cropped).jpg musicians such as Wanda Jackson on the album.]]
Neilson was inspired by a rockabilly and country sound for the album, reminiscent of Johnny Cash and Wanda Jackson.{{cite web|url=https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/16412/Interview-Tami-Neilson-Talks-Family-Touring--Her-New-Album-CHICKABOOM!.utr|title=Interview: Tami Neilson Talks Family, Touring & Her New Album 'Chickaboom!' |first=Chris |last=Cudby |date=18 September 2019 |website=Under the Radar |access-date=11 January 2023}} Many of the songs in the album are inspired by Neilson's struggles in the music industry and gender inequality.{{cite web|url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/tami-neilson-chickaboom/|title=Tami Neilson on Learning From Kitty Wells, Empowering Women and New Album 'Chickaboom!' |first=Bobbie Jean |last=Sawyer |date=13 February 2020 |website=Wide Open Country|access-date=11 January 2023}} Neilson chose the album's title to express the sound of rockabilly and artists on Sun Records, and to evoke a feeling that the songs would "pop and explode".{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/tami-neilson-chickaboom-folk-alliance/|title=Tami Neilson Makes a Dynamite Impression With 'Chicka Boom!' |first=Lee |last=Zimmerman |date=28 January 2020 |website=American Songwriter |access-date=11 January 2023}}
The album featured a stripped-back instrumentalisation compared to her previous album Sassafrass!, in part to be more easily able to replicate the album's sound in live performances.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/tick-tick-chickaboom-how-tami-neilson-lit-a-fuse-under-america/YM7MQBS6AUGTMAXKDZTHKARIDE/|title=Tick... tick... Chickaboom! How Tami Neilson lit a fuse under America |first=Karl |last=Puschmann|date=5 February 2020 |website=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=13 January 2023}} Neilson produced the album herself and wrote or co-wrote every song on the album excluding the album's closer, "Sleep", which was written by New Zealand country musician Delaney Davidson.{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/tami-neilson-chickaboom-2645092749.html|title=Big Hair, Big Voice, Big Twangy Guitars, Tami Nilson's Back |first=Rich |last=Wilhelm |date=11 February 2020 |website=PopMatters |access-date=13 January 2023}} Neilson's brother Jay Neilson was a major contributor to the project, performing guitars and appearing as a featured artist on the singles "Hey, Bus Driver!" and "Any Fool with a Heart".
The song "Sister Mavis" was written as a tribute to singer Mavis Staples. Neilson's sons provided accompanying vocals for Neilson on the song "Queenie, Queenie".
Release and promotion
"Hey Bus Driver!" featuring Neilson's brother Jay Neilson was released as the lead single from the album in September 2019.{{cite web|url=https://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/tami-neilson-shares-new-single-hey-bus-driver-feat/ |title=Tami Neilson Shares New Single 'Hey Bus Driver!' Featuring Brother Jay Neilson, Ahead of Nationwide New Zealand Tour|publisher=New Zealand Music Commission|date=6 September 2019|access-date=11 January 2023}} Together the pair released Neilson's next single "Any Fool with a Heart" in October,{{cite web|url=https://www.killbeatmusic.com/media-releases/2019/10/17/tami-neilson-unleashes-any-fool-with-a-heart-video |title=Tami Neilson Unleashed "Any Fool with a Heart" Video|website=Killbeat Music|date=17 October 2019|access-date=11 January 2023}} followed by "Ten Tonne Truck" in November,{{cite web|url=https://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/tami-neilson-releases-third-single-ten-tonne-truck/ |title=Tami Neilson, Releases Third Single Ten Tonne Truck Off Her Forthcoming Album Chickaboom!|publisher=New Zealand Music Commission|date=14 November 2019|access-date=11 January 2023}} "You Were Mine" in January 2020{{cite web|url=https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/16826/Listen-To-Tami-Neilsons-Single-You-Were-Mine.utr |title=Listen To Tami Neilson's Single 'You Were Mine' |author=C.C. |website=Under the Radar|date=17 January 2020 |access-date=11 January 2023}} and "Queenie, Queenie" in February.{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/tami-neilson-queenie-queenie-premiere-2645117606.html |title=Tami Neilson Examines Parenthood and Feminism via "Queenie, Queenie" (Premiere + Interview) |website=PopMatters|date=12 February 2020|access-date=11 January 2023}} A music video was produced for "You Were Mine" and was intended to be released in January, however, due to the severity of the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, Neilson and her team shelved the video, due to it containing scenes of a fiery blaze.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/tami-neilson-you-were-mine-8548095/|title=Tami Neilson's Soul Shines On Intoxicating 'You Were Mine': Exclusive|first=Annie|last=Reuter|magazine=Billboard|date=15 January 2020|access-date=13 January 2023}}
Owing to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Neilson was unable to tour in 2020. Instead, she focused on creating a YouTube series, The Tami Show, with her brother Jay.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/my-story-tami-neilson-the-buzz-behind-the-beehive/HZF4ALK56VHZKSORKJAGBIUGME/|title=My Story: Tami Neilson - the buzz behind the beehive |first=Elisabeth |last=Easther|date=19 May 2020 |website=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=13 January 2023}} On 19 February 2021, the album was re-released as a deluxe edition, featuring a five song concert recorded at Roundhead Studios for Radio New Zealand recorded with her band and the Big Boss Orchestra.{{cite web|url=https://tamineilson.bandcamp.com/album/chickaboom-deluxe |title=Chickaboom Deluxe |publisher=Bandcamp |access-date=12 January 2023}}
Reception
On review aggregator Metacritic, Chickaboom! received a score of 84 out of 100 based on four reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/chicka-boom!/tami-neilson/critic-reviews|title=Chicka Boom! by Tami Neilson Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=13 January 2023}} Kyle Mullin of Exclaim! praised the album, feeling that the cut-down band (compared to her large-scale backing in Sassafrass! "lets Neilson's outsized voice take center stage, exactly where it belongs".{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/tami_neilson-chickaboom |title=Tami Neilson Chickaboom! |first=Kyle |last=Mullin |website=Exclaim! |date=11 February 2020 |access-date=13 January 2023}} Jim Hynes called "You Were Mine" the album's stand-out track, describing it as "a cross between Screamin' Jay Hawkins and early Mavis with her explosive vocals".{{cite web|url=https://glidemagazine.com/239816/vocalist-tami-neilson-unleashes-powerhouse-country-rockabilly-and-soul-on-chicka-boom-album-review/ |title=Vocalist Tami Neilson Unleashes Powerhouse Country, Rockabilly and Soul on 'Chicka Boom!' (Album Review) |first=Jim |last=Hynes |website=Glide Magazine |date=13 February 2020 |access-date=13 January 2023}} Rich Wilhelm of Pop Matters described Neilson as "the heiress apparent to legendary rockabilly/country queen Wanda Jackson".
The album was nominated for the Aotearoa Music Award for Album of the Year at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards,{{Cite news |date=15 November 2020 |title=Aotearoa Music Awards 2020: Full list of winners |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2020/11/nz-aotearoa-music-awards-2020-full-list-of-winners.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121112427/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2020/11/nz-aotearoa-music-awards-2020-full-list-of-winners.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 November 2020 |access-date=16 November 2020}} and for the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year in 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/news/here-are-the-2021-juno-award-winners-1.6036001 |title=Here are all the 2021 Juno Award winners |first1=Holly |last1=Gordon |first2=Andrea |last2=Warner |publisher=CBC Music |date=4 June 2021 |access-date=12 January 2023}} The album's lead single "Hey Bus Driver!" won the APRA award for Best Country Song at the 2020 Country Music Awards in New Zealand.{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/2018748383/nz-music-awards-2020-country-music-winners-announced |title=NZ Music Awards 2020: Country music winners announced |website=Radio New Zealand |date=30 May 2020 |access-date=3 March 2023}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Chickaboom! track listing
| title1 = Call Your Mama
| writer1 = {{hlist|D Davidson|T Neilson}}
| length1 = 2:27
| title2 = Hey, Bus Driver!
| note2 = featuring Jay Neilson
| writer2 = {{hlist|J Neilson|T Neilson}}
| length2 = 2:13
| title3 = Ten Tonne Truck
| writer3 = T Neilson
| length3 = 2:22
| title4 = Queenie, Queenie
| writer4 = T Neilson
| length4 = 2:09
| title5 = You Were Mine
| writer5 = {{hlist|J Neilson|T Neilson}}
| length5 = 3:43
| title6 = 16 Miles of Chain
| writer6 = {{hlist|D Davidson|T Neilson}}
| length6 = 3:29
| title7 = Tell Me That You Love Me
| writer7 = {{hlist|D Davidson|T Neilson}}
| length7 = 2:03
| title8 = Any Fool with a Heart
| note8 = featuring Jay Neilson
| writer8 = T Neilson
| length8 = 2:43
| title9 = Sister Mavis
| writer9 = T Neilson
| length9 = 2:44
| title10 = Sleep
| writer10 = D Davidson
| length10 = 2:20
| total_length = 28:13
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Chickaboom! Deluxe track listing
| title11 = Walk (Back to Your Arms) (Live for RNZ @ Roundhead)
| writer11 = {{hlist|T Neilson|J Neilson}}
| length11 = 3:11
| title12 = Roimata (Cry Myself to Sleep) (Live for RNZ @ Roundhead)
| note12 = featuring Troy Kingi
| writer12 = {{hlist|T Neilson|Tīmoti Kāretu|Tama Waipara}}
| length12 = 3:11
| title13 = A Woman's Pain (Live for RNZ @ Roundhead)
| writer13 = T Neilson
| length13 = 3:04
| title14 = Call Your Mama (Live for RNZ @ Roundhead)
| writer14 = {{hlist|D Davidson|T Neilson}}
| length14 = 2:30
| title15 = You Were Mine (Live for RNZ @ Roundhead)
| writer15 = {{hlist|J Neilson|T Neilson}}
| length15 = 3:45
| total_length = 43:59
}}
Credits and personnel
{{Div col}}
- Brett Adams – lead guitar (5)
- Charlie – guest vocals (4)
- Chris Chetland – mastering
- Delaney Davidson – lead guitar, guest vocals (7), production
- Jules Koblun – artwork design
- Sabin Holloway – photography (cover)
- Joe McCallum – drums, percussion
- Jol Mulholland – mixing
- Jay Neilson – bass guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals
- Tami Neilson – rhythm guitar, producer, vocals
- Todd Neilson – photography (stills)
- Graham Reid – liner notes
- Sam – guest vocals (4)
{{Div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Chickaboom! ! scope="col" | Chart (2020) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|8|artist=Tami Neilson|album=Chickaboom!|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2023}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for Chickaboom! ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Edition ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| Various
| 14 February 2020 | Standard | {{hlist|CD|vinyl|digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="2"| {{hlist|Neilson (independent)|Outside Music}} | align="center"| {{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/tick-tick-chickaboom-how-tami-neilson-lit-a-fuse-under-america/YM7MQBS6AUGTMAXKDZTHKARIDE/ |title=Tick... tick... Chickaboom! How Tami Neilson lit a fuse under America |first=Karl |last=Puschmann|website=The New Zealand Herald |date=5 February 2020 |access-date=12 January 2023}} |
|---|
| 19 February 2021
| Deluxe | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chickaboom}}