Crowns Down
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Crowns Down
| type = studio
| artist = Themselves
| cover = Crowns Down.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2009|10|20}}{{cite web|url=http://www.anticon.com/item/crownsdown|title=CrownsDown|work=Anticon|access-date=April 8, 2018}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Alternative hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=40|s=28}}
| label = Anticon
| prev_title = The Free Houdini
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = Crowns Down & Company
| next_year = 2010
}}
{{Music ratings
| MC = 72/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/crownsdown/themselves|title=Crownsdown by Themselves|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=November 19, 2014}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/crownsdown-mw0001333833|title=Crownsdown - Themselves|work=AllMusic|first=Rick|last=Anderson|access-date=November 19, 2014}}
| rev2 = BBC Music
| rev2score = favorable{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/qzj9|title=Themselves - CrownsDown - Review|work=BBC Music|first=Adam|last=Kennedy|date=2009|access-date=November 19, 2014}}
| rev3 = Christgau's Consumer Guide
| rev3score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm2}}{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Themselves|title=Themselves|work=Christgau's Consumer Guide|first=Robert|last=Christgau|author-link=Robert Christgau|access-date=April 9, 2018}}
| rev4 = Drowned in Sound
| rev4score = 8/10{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14788/reviews/4138115|title=themselves - CrownsDown|work=Drowned in Sound|first=Alexander|last=Tudor|date=October 22, 2009|access-date=November 19, 2014|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129034111/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14788/reviews/4138115|url-status=dead}}
| rev5 = Exclaim!
| rev5score = favorable{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/themselves-crownsdown|title=Themselves - CrownsDown|work=Exclaim!|first=Thomas|last=Quinlan|date=December 2009|access-date=April 9, 2018}}
| rev6 = Pitchfork
| rev6score = 6.7/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13596-crownsdown/|title=Themselves: CrownsDown|work=Pitchfork|first=Brian|last=Howe|date=October 20, 2009|access-date=November 19, 2014}}
| rev7 = The Skinny
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/97640-themselves_crownsdown|title=Themselves - CrownsDown|work=The Skinny|first=Ali|last=Maloney|date=October 29, 2009|access-date=November 19, 2014}}
| rev8 = Spectrum Culture
| rev9 = Tiny Mix Tapes
| rev9score = {{rating|3.5|5|full=TMT full.svg|half=TMT half.svg|empty=TMT empty.svg|rating=mark}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/themselves-crownsdown|title=Themselves - CrownsDown|work=Tiny Mix Tapes|first=Jeffrey Dunn|last=Rovinelli|date=October 29, 2009|access-date=November 19, 2014}}
| rev10 = XLR8R
| rev10score = 8/10{{cite web|url=http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/themselves/crownsdown|title=CrownsDown|work=XLR8R|first=Patric|last=Fallon|date=October 20, 2009|access-date=November 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026184942/http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/themselves/crownsdown|archive-date=October 26, 2013}}
}}
Crowns Down (stylized as CrownsDown) is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Themselves. It was released on Anticon in 2009. A remix version of the album, Crowns Down & Company, was released in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.anticon.com/item/crownsdown-company|title=CrownsDown & Company|work=Anticon|access-date=April 9, 2018}}
Critical reception
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 72% based on 7 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Brian Howe of Pitchfork gave the album a 6.7 out of 10 and described it as "a back-to-basics album from a group who probably needs one, having ventured so far afield." Thomas Quinlan of Exclaim! said, "Themselves may not have snatched the crown but they've certainly thrown down the gauntlet with CrownsDown, their confident and comfortable return to the royal rap court."
BBC Music named it one of the best albums of 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcmusic/2010/01/bbc_musics_best_albums_of_2009.html|title=BBC Music's Best Albums of 2009|work=BBC Music|first=Mike|last=Diver|date=January 6, 2010|access-date=March 19, 2017}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Doseone and Jel, except "Back II Burn" by Doseone, Jel, and Pedestrian
| title1 = Back II Burn
| length1 = 4:06
| title2 = Oversleeping
| length2 = 3:15
| title3 = The Mark
| length3 = 4:54
| title4 = Gangster of Disbelief
| length4 = 3:50
| title5 = Daxstrong
| length5 = 3:37
| title6 = You Ain't It
| length6 = 3:48
| title7 = Roman Is As Roman Does
| length7 = 4:00
| title8 = Skinning the Drum
| length8 = 3:34
| title9 = Deadcatclear II
| length9 = 5:30
| title10 = Gold Teeth Will Roll
| length10 = 4:00
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
Themselves
Additional musicians
- D-Styles – turntables (3)
- Jordan Dalrymple – vocals (5)
- Markus Acher – vocals (5)
- Dax Pierson – vocals (6)
Technical personnel
- Odd Nosdam – mixing
- Yoni Wolf – mixing
- Mike Wells – mastering
- Doseone – photography
- Matthew Scott – photography
- K Photo – photography
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|203398|Crowns Down}}
{{Doseone}}
{{Jel}}
{{Authority control}}