Icon for Hire (album)

The album was officially announced with a lyric video for first single "Cynics & Critics", released on August 15, 2013.{{Cite web|url = http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/icon_for_hire_release_new_song_cynics_critics|title = Icon For Hire release new song, "Cynics & Critics"|author = Bird, Michele|access-date = August 17, 2013|date = Aug 16, 2013|publisher = Alternative Press}} Preorders for the album were made available the following month.{{cite web | url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/icon_for_hire_to_launch_pre_orders_for_new_album_next_week | title=Icon For Hire to launch pre-orders for new album next week | publisher=Alternative Press | date=September 7, 2013 | access-date=October 25, 2013 | author=Bird, Michele}} A short clip of the song "Sugar & Spice" was released on October 3, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/icon_for_hire_tease_new_song_sugar_spice |title=Icon For Hire tease new song, "Sugar & Spice" |publisher=Alternative Press|author=Bird, Michele |date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=October 16, 2013}} Tooth & Nail announced they would be releasing another single, "Counting on Hearts".{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} The final single was announced on September 8, 2014. The song was revealed to be "Sorry About Your Parents".

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/icon-for-hire-mw0002514913 | title=Icon for Hire - Icon for Hire | access-date=November 3, 2013 | author=Collar, Matt| website=AllMusic }}

| rev2 = CCM Magazine

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=http://ht.salemweb.net/ccm/ccmmagazine/pdf/2013/nov/azp3f/CCM_November_2013.pdf |title=Icon For Hire: Icon for Hire (Tooth & Nail) |last=Conner |first=Matt |date=November 1, 2013 |work=CCM Magazine |publisher=Salem Publishing |page=70 |access-date=November 1, 2013 |issn=1524-7848 }}

| rev3 = Christian Music Zine

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=http://christianmusiczine.com/icon-for-hire-icon-for-hire-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014041249/http://christianmusiczine.com/icon-for-hire-icon-for-hire-review/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 14, 2013 |title=Icon For Hire – Icon For Hire (Review) |last=Garnett |first=Micah |date=October 13, 2013 |publisher=Christian Music Zine |access-date=October 15, 2013 }}

| rev4 = CM Addict

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cmaddict.com/reviews_page.php?review_id=101 |title=Review of Icon For Hire by Icon For Hire |last=Wixtrom |first=Kelcey |date=October 21, 2013 |publisher=CM Addict |access-date=October 21, 2013 |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022001754/http://www.cmaddict.com/reviews_page.php?review_id=101 |url-status=dead }}

| rev5 = HM

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://hmmagazine.com/blog/album-reviews/icon-hire-icon-hire/ |title=Icon for Hire - Icon for Hire |last=Brehm |first=Sarah|publisher=HM Publications LLC |date=November 6, 2013 |journal=HM |access-date=May 9, 2014 |issn=1066-6923 }}

| rev6 = Jesus Freak Hideout

| rev6score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/IconForHire.asp |title=Icon For Hire, "Icon For Hire" Review |last=Weaver|first=Michael|date=October 13, 2013 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date=October 15, 2013 }}
{{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/IconForHire.asp |title=Icon For Hire, "Icon For Hire" Review: Second Staff Opinion |last=Warner |first=Cortney |date=October 13, 2013 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date=October 15, 2013 }}

| rev7 = Mind Equals Blown

| rev7score = {{Rating|8.5|10}}{{cite web |url=http://mindequalsblown.net/2013/10/11/icon-for-hire-icon-for-hire/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016090001/http://mindequalsblown.net/2013/10/11/icon-for-hire-icon-for-hire/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |title=Icon For Hire – Icon For Hire (Review) |last=Vane-Tempest |first=Jeremy |date=October 11, 2013 |publisher=Mind Equals Blown |access-date=October 15, 2013 }}

| rev8 = New Release Tuesday

| rev8score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/userprofile_reviewssinglepost.php?review_id=21847&user_id=36708= |title=Songs for the Soul-sick |last=Nikkel |first=Mary |date=October 18, 2013 |publisher=New Release Tuesday |access-date=October 19, 2013 }}

| rev9 = Outburn

| rev9Score = 8/10{{cite journal |last=James |first=William |year=2014 |title=Icon For Hire (Tooth & Nail) |journal=Outburn |volume=Jan/Feb 2014 |issue=72 |page=59 |publisher=Octavia Laird and Rodney Kusano |issn=1542-1309 |url=http://www.outburn.com/OUTBURN_72_Lamb_of_God_p/outburn72.htm |access-date=December 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227055900/http://www.outburn.com/OUTBURN_72_Lamb_of_God_p/outburn72.htm |archive-date=December 27, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

}}

Icon for Hire received mostly positive critical reception. William James of Outburn said that the band "courageously bucks the standard female fronted act comparisons" with the release, and noted how the group "wisely self-titled this record, confidently assuring listeners that this is their definitive work." At CCM Magazine, Matt Conner felt that the band was "clearly up to the challenge" with the album that proves "the best is yet to come from Tooth & Nail's young anchors." Mary Nikkel of New Release Tuesday described the album as an "edgy masterpiece in the tradition of Nine Inch Nails or Linkin Park," praising the lyrics for their "delicate balance between honesty...and hope," and declaring the album "a milestone moment, both for the band and for their genre as a whole." AllMusic's Matt Collar praised the band's "passionate, high-energy music" and Ariel's "resonant vocal chops". Micah Garnett of Christian Music Zine stated "this album takes the best features from Scripted and improves upon them substantially." He concludes his review by saying "this is one of the best rock albums of the year." Kelcey Wixtrom of CM Addict called it "an impressive album." From Mind Equals Blown's Jeremy Vane-Tempest: "If you want a tonne of fun ... listen to Icon for Hire."

By contrast, Jesus Freak Hideout's Michael Weaver declared that the album "finds the band trying too hard: Trying too hard to be different, trying too hard to be hip, and trying too hard to be cute and interesting lyrically," and labeled it "the very definition of sophomore slump." Second Opinion reviewer Cortney Warner further noted that the lyrics "can come across as snarky and defensive, which can sometimes make it difficult to appreciate and empathize with their music," and felt it to be a "step backwards from their debut", despite praising the "diverse" music as a highlight of the album.

For the Billboard charting week of November 2, 2013, Icon for Hire was the No. 66 most sold album in the entirety of the United States by the Billboard 200,{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-11-02/billboard-200?page=3 |title=Billboard 200: Nov 02, 2013 |author= |website=billboard.com |access-date=October 25, 2013}} and it was the No. 4 Top Christian Album sold the same week.{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-11-02/christian-albums |title=Christian Albums: Nov 02, 2013 |author= |website=billboard.com |access-date=October 25, 2013}} On the other charts, it was the No. 20 most sold album on Top Rock Albums chart,{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-11-02/rock-albums?page=1 |title=Top Rock Albums: Nov 02, 2013 |author= |website=billboard.com |access-date=October 25, 2013}} the No. 16 Top Alternative Albums, the No. 8 Top Hard Rock Albums,{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-11-02/hard-rock-albums |title=Hard Rock Albums: Nov 02, 2013 |author= |website=billboard.com |access-date=October 25, 2013}} and it came in at No. 11 on the Independent Albums chart.{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-11-02/independent-albums?page=1 |title=Independent Albums: Nov 02, 2013 |author= |website=billboard.com |access-date=October 25, 2013}}

{{Track listing

| total_length = 42:44

| all_writing = Icon For Hire

| title1 = Cynics & Critics

| length1 = 3:22

| title2 = Nerves

| length2 = 3:15

| title3 = Sugar & Spice

| length3 = 4:02

| title4 = Hope of Morning

| length4 = 3:49

| title5 = Sorry About Your Parents

| length5 = 3:17

| title6 = Pop Culture

| length6 = 3:23

| title7 = Watch Me

| length7 = 3:34

| title8 = Slow Down

| length8 = 3:46

| title9 = Rock and Roll Thugs

| length9 = 3:36

| title10 = Think I'm Sick

| length10 = 2:54

| title11 = Fix Me

| length11 = 3:47

| title12 = Counting on Hearts

| length12 = 3:59

}}

Icon for Hire

• Ariel – lead vocals, keys
• Shawn Jump – guitar, bass, background vocals, programming, sampling, synthesizer
• Josh Kincheloe – bass
• Adam Kronshagen – drums

Additional personnel

• Mike Green – producer, engineering, mixing, programming, synthesizer
• Jeff Sontag – assistant engineer
• Kyle Black – assistant engineer
• Troy Glessner – mastering engineer
• Piper Ferguson – photography
• Patrice Murciano – artwork, portraits
• Seth Lunsford – art design, package layout

{{Reflist}}

{{Icon for Hire}}

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Category:2013 albums

Category:Tooth & Nail Records albums

Category:Icon for Hire albums