Overpowered

In 2006, while promoting her band Moloko's greatest hits album, Catalogue, Murphy announced that she was recording a new solo album to be released in 2007. After signing to EMI in May 2006, Murphy set out to produce a pop album with a heavy disco influence. With a bigger budget behind her than with her last record company, the independent Echo Records, Murphy recorded around 30 songs for the album with various producers and writers in Miami, London and Barcelona, commenting that each of the producers aided the pop influence of the album, as they all wanted to write "the single". She later noted, "It's the first time I've worked with multiple writers. I needed to keep in mind a clear idea what kind of record I wanted to make. There was no experiment about it".{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Tim |date=March 2009 |title=Murphy's Law |magazine=Record Collector |issue=360 |page=13 |issn=0261-250X}}

Murphy collaborated with Scottish electronic musician Calvin Harris on the songs "Off & On" and "Don't Let It Go to Your Head Boy", which did not make the cut for Overpowered. During an interview with Popjustice, Harris called Murphy "a bit mental" for not including the songs on the album, while accusing her of "cost[ing] me all sorts of money" during recording.{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Robinson (journalist) |url=https://www.popjustice.com/articles/calvin-harris-interview/49821/ |title=Calvin Harris Interview |publisher=Popjustice |date=18 May 2007 |access-date=22 August 2017 |archive-date=22 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822040137/https://www.popjustice.com/articles/calvin-harris-interview/49821/ |url-status=live }} Murphy and Harris have since resolved their differences, and the song "Off & On" was ultimately recorded by English pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor for her 2011 album Make a Scene.{{cite web |last=Ramaswamy |first=Chitra |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/rock-ness-artist-roisin-murphy-1-1435740 |title=Rock Ness artist: Roisin Murphy |work=Scotland on Sunday |date=25 May 2008 |access-date=22 January 2014 |archive-date=22 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822094721/http://www.scotsman.com/news/rock-ness-artist-roisin-murphy-1-1435740 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Jon |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/make-a-scene-mw0002143557 |title=Make a Scene – Sophie Ellis-Bextor |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=22 January 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201120729/http://www.allmusic.com/album/make-a-scene-mw0002143557 |url-status=live }}

The artwork for Overpowered and its accompanying single releases was conceptualised by Scott King (who also directed the music videos for "Overpowered" and "Let Me Know"), and the cover images were photographed by Jonathan de Villiers. The artwork places Murphy wearing extraordinary outfits in everyday surroundings, presenting her as a "street diva"{{cite web |url=http://roisinmurphy.blogspot.com/2007/09/roisin-official-biography.html |title=Roisin – the official biography |website=roisinmurphy.blogspot.com |date=28 September 2007 |access-date=15 December 2008 |archive-date=8 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108041006/http://roisinmurphy.blogspot.com/2007/09/roisin-official-biography.html |url-status=live }} and a constant performer. Murphy wears outfits by Gareth Pugh, Givenchy and Viktor & Rolf in the artwork.{{cite web |author=Louis |url=http://sleevage.com/roisin-murphy-overpowered/ |title=Roisin Murphy: Overpowered |publisher=Sleevage |date=7 April 2008 |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319074438/http://sleevage.com/roisin-murphy-overpowered |archive-date=19 March 2009}}

The design inside the booklet for Overpowered features a cryptic assemblage (resembling a flowchart but lacking directional indications found in such) made up of boxes containing statements and quotes, as well as apparent excerpts from the written treatment for the "Let Me Know" music video and assorted photographs. Among the known quotations are: "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture" (Laurie Anderson) and "I got signed to EMI because I reminded them of Robbie Williams" (Murphy). According to Murphy, the photography for the album and single sleeves cost £125,000.{{cite web |last=Sweeny |first=Eamon |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/roisin-murphy-im-no-rnr-cliche-26496576.html |title=Roisin Murphy: I'm no R'N'R cliche... |work=Irish Independent |date=28 November 2008 |access-date=22 January 2014 |archive-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202100513/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/roisin-murphy-im-no-rnr-cliche-26496576.html |url-status=live }}

The album was preceded by the title track "Overpowered", released as its lead single on 9 July 2007. As the single was ineligible to chart, it failed to enter the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart, instead reaching number 149.{{cite web |last=Zywietz |first=Tobias |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_M.HTM |title=Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol |website=Zobbel.de |access-date=24 May 2015 |archive-date=19 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219104855/http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_M.HTM |url-status=live }} "Let Me Know" was released as the second single from the album on 8 October 2007, reaching number 28 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3353/roisin-murphy/ |title=Róisín Murphy |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=24 May 2015 |archive-date=25 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525213234/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3353/ROISIN-MURPHY/ |url-status=live }} "You Know Me Better" was released as the album's third single on 31 March 2008, peaking at number 47 on the UK Singles Chart. The album's fourth and final single, "Movie Star", was released digitally in the United States on 14 October 2008.{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/movie-star-ep/id292236873 |title=Movie Star – EP by Róisín Murphy |website=iTunes Store (US) |access-date=24 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831115937/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/movie-star-ep/id292236873 |archive-date=31 August 2010}}

In support of the album, Murphy embarked on an extensive tour across Europe. During the tour, she also performed in Australia and a one-night show in New York City. On 27 October 2007, Murphy sustained an eye injury during a concert in a Moscow club and had to cancel several subsequent shows.{{cite web |last=MacInnes |first=Paul |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/29/1 |title=Roisin Murphy recovering after eye-socket injury |work=The Guardian |date=29 October 2007 |access-date=22 January 2014 |archive-date=16 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916091635/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/29/1 |url-status=live }} In total, Murphy performed 94 shows in 29 countries from 17 November 2007 to 2 November 2008.{{cite web |url=http://mommasplace.wix.com/site#!__gigography/overpowered-tour |title=Overpowered Tour |website=The Momma's Place |access-date=11 August 2012 |archive-date=31 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231204136/http://mommasplace.wix.com/site#!__gigography/overpowered-tour |url-status=live }}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 82/100

| rev1 = About.com

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

| rev2 = AllMusic

| rev2score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

| rev3 = Drowned in Sound

| rev3score = 6/10

| rev4 = musicOMH

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = 6/10

| rev6 = The Observer

| rev6score = {{Rating|5|5}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.0/10

| rev8 = Stylus Magazine

| rev8score = B+

| rev9 = The Sunday Times

| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev10 = Yahoo! Music

| rev10score = {{Rating|8|10}}

}}

Overpowered received widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 82, based on 12 reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/overpowered/roisin-murphy |title=Overpowered by Roisin Murphy Reviews and Tracks |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=27 April 2019 |archive-date=29 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429061945/https://www.metacritic.com/music/overpowered/roisin-murphy |url-status=live }} The Observer{{'}}s Garry Mulholland lauded the album as "a sumptuous 11-track, all-killer-no-filler, electro-disco gem", adding that its "bubbling, sensual, and soulful glitterball gems effortlessly tap into the perennial glory of feeling lost and lonely at the disco at the end of the world."{{cite web |last=Mulholland |first=Garry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/14/popandrock.shopping1 |title=Roisin Murphy, Overpowered |work=The Observer |date=14 October 2007 |access-date=22 January 2014 |archive-date=3 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203155024/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/14/popandrock.shopping1 |url-status=live }} Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote that it was fitting "for such a pop-focused album" that "nearly every song on Overpowered sounds like a potential smash hit. Even if this album is a bid for the big time, it's done with such flair that it just underscores what a confident and unique artist Murphy really is."{{cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/overpowered-mw0001156438 |title=Overpowered – Róisín Murphy |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=22 January 2014 |archive-date=22 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122231206/http://www.allmusic.com/album/overpowered-mw0001156438 |url-status=live }} Ben Urdang of musicOMH praised Overpowered as Murphy's "most coherent album yet", noting that her songwriting "appears to be stronger than ever with a consistent style and sound emerging throughout."{{cite web |last=Urdang |first=Ben |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/risn-murphy-overpowered |title=Róisín Murphy – Overpowered (EMI) |work=musicOMH |access-date=24 May 2015 |archive-date=19 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519021753/http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/risn-murphy-overpowered |url-status=live }} Emily Mackay of Yahoo! Music expressed that on Overpowered, Murphy "melded the two sides of her history much more seamlessly; four-to-the-floor pop belters mix with touches of electronic and lyrical darkness to make one of the pop albums of the year."{{cite web |last=Mackay |first=Emily |url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/071018/33/21ncd.html |title=Róisín Murphy – Overpowered |publisher=Yahoo! Music |date=18 October 2007 |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021132321/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/071018/33/21ncd.html |archive-date=21 October 2007}}

Stephen Trouss of Pitchfork commented, "In a year of low-stakes disappointment for European pop, Overpowered is a triumph."{{cite web |last=Trouss |first=Stephen |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10794-overpowered/ |title=Róisín Murphy: Overpowered |work=Pitchfork |date=18 October 2007 |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-date=30 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130070115/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10794-overpowered/ |url-status=live }} Stylus Magazine{{'}}s Dan MacRae found that "Overpowered knows how to squeech and squelch in the proper places, while touches of cowbell, beatboxery, and the occasional Prince styled riff all get sprinkled in accordingly."{{cite web |last=MacRae |first=Dan |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/roisin-murphy/overpowered.htm |title=Roisin Murphy – Overpowered |work=Stylus Magazine |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202065805/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/roisin-murphy/overpowered.htm |archive-date=2 February 2010}} Jax Spike of About.com described the album as "pretty overpowering itself, containing solid electropop music with plenty of funky flavor and some really wild beats, with her smooth voice exuding confidence despite any moments of breathiness."{{cite web |last=Spike |first=Jax |url=http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/Roisin_Murphy_-_Overpowered.htm |title=Roisin Murphy – 'Overpowered' |website=About.com |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404103737/http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/Roisin_Murphy_-_Overpowered.htm |archive-date=4 April 2011}} The Sunday Times critic Mark Edwards opined, "The music on Overpowered plays down her quirky (all right, difficult) side in favour of a melange of disco/house styles from 1975 to 1989. It lacks the glam wit of Goldfrapp or the cheekiness of Kylie, but it's brisk and efficient."{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Mark |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article2638930.ece |title=Roisin Murphy: Overpowered |work=The Sunday Times |date=14 October 2007 |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615120643/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article2638930.ece |archive-date=15 June 2011}} NME viewed Overpowered as "a thoroughly modern pop album that will best appeal to ageing clubbers."{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/roisin-murphy/9096 |title=Roisin Murphy: 'Overpowered' |work=NME|date=12 October 2007 |access-date=24 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804224303/http://www.nme.com/reviews/roisin-murphy/9096 |archive-date=4 August 2011}} In a mixed review, Cpt H.M. 'Howling Mad' Murdock of Drowned in Sound concluded, "Not once does Overpowered really drag its feet, but it never truly impacts with the might one could possibly expect from an artist with such a fine pedigree. It's a solid pop album, one wonderfully in tune with today's stylistic shifts and trends."{{cite web |last=Murdock |first=Cpt H.M. 'Howling Mad' |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/11492/reviews/2525491-roisin-murphy-overpowered |title=Roisin Murphy – Overpowered |work=Drowned in Sound |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-date=3 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003181947/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/11492/reviews/2525491-roisin-murphy-overpowered |url-status=dead }} Lauren Murphy of entertainment.ie felt that the album "sticks rigidly to a tried-and-tested formula, rarely colouring outside the lines or deviating from the disco/house vibe", but noted that "there are some fantastically uplifting dance-pop tunes here, all launched forth with the effortless vigour that Murphy does so well."{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Lauren |url=http://entertainment.ie/album-review/Roisin-Murphy---Overpowered/5260.htm |title=Roisin Murphy – Overpowered |website=entertainment.ie |date=1 November 2007 |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103071137/http://entertainment.ie/album-review/Roisin-Murphy---Overpowered/5260.htm |archive-date=3 November 2011}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Overpowered track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Overpowered

| writer1 = {{hlist|Róisín Murphy|Paul Dolby|Mike Patto}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Murphy|Seiji}}

| length1 = 5:08

| title2 = You Know Me Better

| writer2 = {{hlist|Murphy|Andy Cato}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Murphy|Cato||Ill Factor{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length2 = 4:18

| title3 = Checkin' on Me

| writer3 = {{hlist|Murphy|Ivan Corraliza|Jimmy Douglass|Cheri London}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Murphy|Douglass|Ill Factor}}

| length3 = 4:39

| title4 = Let Me Know

| writer4 = {{hlist|Murphy|Cato}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Murphy|Cato|Ill Factor{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length4 = 5:10

| title5 = Movie Star

| writer5 = {{hlist|Murphy|Dolby|Patto}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Murphy|Parrot & Dean}}

| length5 = 4:02

| title6 = Primitive

| writer6 = {{hlist|Murphy|Corraliza}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Murphy|Douglass|Ill Factor}}

| length6 = 4:50

| title7 = Footprints

| writer7 = {{hlist|Murphy|Dolby|Mark de Clive-Lowe}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Murphy|Seiji}}

| length7 = 3:37

| title8 = Dear Miami

| writer8 = {{hlist|Murphy|Dolby|Patto}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Murphy|Seiji}}

| length8 = 3:41

| title9 = Cry Baby

| writer9 = {{hlist|Murphy|Richard Barratt|Dean Honer|Mike Ward}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Murphy|Parrot & Dean|Seiji{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length9 = 5:55

| title10 = Tell Everybody

| writer10 = {{hlist|Murphy|Corraliza|Douglass|London}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Murphy|Douglass|Ill Factor}}

| length10 = 3:51

| title11 = Scarlet Ribbons

| writer11 = {{hlist|Murphy|Barratt|Honer|Ward}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Murphy|Dan Carey}}

| length11 = 5:36

| title12 = Body Language

| note12 = bonus track

| writer12 = {{hlist|Murphy|Cato}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Murphy|Cato}}

| length12 = 4:40

| title13 = Parallel Lives

| note13 = bonus track

| writer13 = {{hlist|Murphy|Richard X}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Murphy|Richard X}}

| length13 = 4:22

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = European iTunes Store bonus track

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title14 = Pandora

| writer14 = {{hlist|Murphy|Richard X}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Richard X|Murphy}}

| length14 = 3:56

}}

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|a}}}} signifies an additional producer

{{Div col}}

• Róisín Murphy – vocals
• Mike Patto – keyboards {{small|(tracks 1, 8)}}; guitar {{small|(tracks 5, 8)}}
• Seiji – keyboards {{small|(tracks 1, 7)}}; drums {{small|(tracks 1, 7, 8)}}
• Dave Okumu – guitar {{small|(tracks 1, 7, 8)}}
• Andy Cato – instruments {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 12)}}
• Jimmy Douglass – guitar {{small|(track 3)}}
• Ill Factor – instruments {{small|(tracks 3, 10)}}
• Ivan Corraliza – brass arrangements {{small|(track 3)}}
• Stephen Tirpak – brass arrangement, trombone {{small|(track 3)}}
• Matt Cappy – trumpet {{small|(track 3)}}
• Carl Cox – tenor saxophone {{small|(track 3)}}
• Stephan Murphy – bass {{small|(track 3)}}
• Larry Gold – string arrangements {{small|(tracks 3, 6, 10)}}
• Kevin Rudolf – guitar {{small|(track 4)}}
• Parrot & Dean – synths, programming {{small|(tracks 5, 9)}}
• Ross Orton – drums {{small|(track 5)}}
• Mark de Clive-Lowe – keyboards {{small|(track 7)}}
• Philly Smith – backing vocals {{small|(track 9)}}
• Cheri London – backing vocals {{small|(track 10)}}
• Davide de Rose – drums {{small|(track 11)}}
• Eddie Stevens – keyboards {{small|(track 11)}}
• Robin Mullarkey – bass {{small|(track 11)}}
• Jan Ozveren – guitar {{small|(track 11)}}
• Richard X – keyboards {{small|(track 13)}}

{{Div col end}}

{{Div col}}

• Seiji – production {{small|(tracks 1, 7, 8)}}; recording engineering {{small|(tracks 5, 7, 8)}}; additional production {{small|(track 9)}}
• Tom Elmhirst – mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13)}}
• Andy Cato – production {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 12)}}; engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 12)}}; recording engineering {{small|(track 4)}}
• Ill Factor – additional production {{small|(tracks 2, 4)}}; production {{small|(tracks 3, 6, 10)}}
• Eric Kupper – mixing {{small|(track 2)}}
• Jimmy Douglass – production {{small|(tracks 3, 6, 10)}}; mixing {{small|(track 7, 8, 10, 12)}}
• Joshua Maiden – recording engineering {{small|(tracks 3, 6, 10)}}
• Dan Carey – mixing {{small|(track 4, 11)}}; production, recording engineering {{small|(track 11)}}
• Alexis Smith – mix assistance {{small|(track 4)}}; engineering assistance {{small|(track 11)}}
• Parrot & Dean – production {{small|(tracks 5, 9)}}
• Dean Honer – additional recording engineering {{small|(track 5)}}; recording engineering {{small|(track 9)}}
• Richard X – production {{small|(track 13)}}
• Tom Coyne – mastering engineering {{small|(track 13)}}
• Róisín Murphy – production

{{Div col end}}

• Scott King – art direction, design
• Jonathan de Villiers – photography

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Overpowered}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|artist=Róisín Murphy|title=Overpowered|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2007|relmonth=10|certyear=2008|date=5 July 2008|access-date=8 July 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Róisín Murphy|title=Overpowered|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2009|certyear=2009|id=10390-3165-2|date=22 July 2013|access-date=4 September 2013|salesamount=65,532|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=yes}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Róisín Murphy}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2007 albums

Category:Albums produced by Dan Carey (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by Richard X

Category:EMI Records albums

Category:Róisín Murphy albums

Category:2000s in Irish music