Savages (Breathe Carolina album)

Savages is the fourth studio album by electronic band Breathe Carolina released on April 15, 2014 through Fearless Records in the United States. Upon the album's release, it debuted at No. 22 on the US Billboard 200, No. 4 on the Alternative Albums chart, and topped the Dance/Electronic Albums chart, selling 14,000 copies in its first week.^[1] The album spawned six single; "Savages", "Bang It Out" featuring pop duo Karmin, "Sellouts" featuring Danny Worsnop of the metalcore band Asking Alexandria, "Chasing Hearts" featuring Tyler Carter of metalcore group Issues, "Collide" and "I Don't Know What I'm Doing". The album features a more electronic and dance influence rather than the electronic rock and post-hardcore influences seen on the group's previous albums. This is the first album released without former member Kyle Even.

Savages
Studio album by Breathe Carolina
Released	April 15, 2014
Recorded	2013
Genre	Electronic rock electropop EDM post-hardcore emo-pop
Length	44:51
Label	Fearless
Producer	Ian Kirkpatrick
Breathe Carolina chronology
Hell Is What You Make It (2011) Savages (2014) Dead: The Album (2019)
Singles from Savages
"Savages" Released: November 25, 2013 "Sellouts" Released: February 18, 2014 "Bang It Out" Released: March 18, 2014 "Chasing Hearts" Released: April 15, 2014 "Collide" Released: April 21, 2014 "I Don't Know What I'm Doing" Released: July 1, 2014

Background

In early 2013 the duo announced a free mixtape would be released as soon as early summer. The mixtape, entitled Bangers, was released for free download on July 6, 2013 via Sol Republic.^[2] Although it was intended to contain material that was being written for the upcoming album, the departure of Kyle and addition of Tommy prompted a change in track list. Only one song from the Bangers mixtape, "Mistakes" made it onto the album.^[3] The group announced via Facebook and Twitter that a song recorded by the new lineup, called "Savages", would be released soon. The group embarked on the "We Are Savages Tour" in 2014 with supporting acts from, Mod Sun, Jonny Craig, Ghost Town, Lionfight and Divided By Friday.^[4] The group also performed at the 2014 Warped Tour event.^[5] In October and November 2014, they co-headlined a tour with Candyland called, "The Friend Zone Tour".^[6]

Composition

The album has been described as electropop^[7] and emo-pop.^[8] David Schmitt spoke about the concept of the album:

"Savages isn’t a bad thing, it’s just about how you live your life and chasing your dreams, I want people to get out of this record that they feel like they are a part of the band when they are done listening to it… It’s very futuristic what we are doing for this record. It’s a lot of new sounds that we have never done that we haven’t heard at all."

And about the sound: "It’s super electronic and [filled with] EDM."^[9]

Breathe Carolina has hinted that Savages will be a mixture of their musical roots and a new electronic sound, different from all three of their previous full-length albums.^[10]

Release

The lead single of the album with the same name was streamed via Fearless's official SoundCloud account and made available for digital download on November 25, 2013.^[11][12] A lyric video for the song was released the following week in Fearless's official YouTube account.^[13] On February 18, 2014, the official second single "Sellouts" featuring Danny Worsnop from the band Asking Alexandria was released along with its music video.^[14][15] The third single "Bang It Out", which features Karmin was streamed and released on March 18, 2014.^[16][17] Another featuring track with Tyler Carter from the metalcore band Issues called "Chasing Hearts" was also streamed on April 7^[18] and its music video was premiered by Billboard on April 15, 2014.^[19] A live music video from the song "Collide" was released on April 21, 2014.^[20] "Bang It Out" was sent to US dance radio on July 1, 2014 by Fearless Records.^[21] "I Don't Know What I'm Doing" followed the next week.^[22] A reboot version of the song with Oscar Olivo was released on October 17, 2014 along with its music video.^[23] On October 29, 2014, the group premiered a music video for "Shadows" via PopCrush.^[24]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[8]
Alternative Press	^[25]
USA Today	^[7]

The album generally received positive reviews. At Alternative Press, Dan Leroy rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of four, saying that "if you are looking for largely a guiltless guilty pleasure for the summer of 2014, you're in the right place."^[25] Elysa Gardner of USA Today rated the album two-and-a-half stars out of four, writing that "Breathe Carolina's sound is processed and pumped-up", however "some of the band's strongest grooves to date and canny atmospheric (and acoustic) touches make a number of tracks diverting.".^[7] Tim Sendra from AllMusic rated the album with three stars out of five and noted the genre shift, praising the tracks "Bang It Out", "Collide", "Shadows" and "Bury Me"; describing it as an "emo-pop album that delivers plenty of frothy fun" if you pick the songs that work.^[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bury Me"	David Schmitt Ian Kirkpatrick Eric Armenta Tommy Cooperman Luis Bonet	3:51
2.	"Bang It Out" (featuring Karmin)	Schmitt Kyle Even Luis Bonet Eric Armenta Joshua Aragon Kirkpatrick Lindy Robbins	4:12
3.	"Sellouts" (featuring Danny Worsnop)	Schmitt Even Kirkpatrick Armenta Cooperman Bonet Danny Worsnop	4:48
4.	"Shots Fired"	Schmitt Kirkpatrick Armenta Cooperman Bonet Simon Wilcox	4:19
5.	"Collide"	Schmitt Kirkpatrick Armenta Cooperman Bonet Andrew Goldstein	3:44
6.	"Please Don't Say"	Schmitt Even Kirkpatrick Armenta Cooperman Bone Justin Tranter	3:52
7.	"Shadows"	Schmitt Kirkpatrick Armenta Cooperman Bonet Wilcox	4:16
8.	"Savages"	Schmitt Even Kirkpatrick Armenta Cooperman Bonet	3:21
9.	"Chasing Hearts" (featuring Tyler Carter)	Schmitt Kirkpatrick Armenta Cooperman Bonet Tyler Carter	3:57
10.	"I Don't Know What I'm Doing"	Schmitt Kirkpatrick Armenta Cooperman Bonet Goldstein	4:26
11.	"Mistakes"	Schmitt Kirkpatrick Armenta Cooperman Bonet Tranter	4:05
Total length:			44:51

Personnel

Credits for Savages adapted from AllMusic.^[26]

Breathe Carolina Eric Armenta – drums, percussion Luis Bonet – keyboards Tommy Cooperman – guitar, programming, keyboards, synthesizer, bass David Schmitt – clean vocals, synthesizers, keyboards, programming, guitar, drums, percussions Additional musicians Tyler Carter – featured artist Karmin – featured artist Danny Worsnop – featured artist

Production Brad Blackwood – mastering Mike Farrell – layout Chris Foitle – A&R Ian Kirkpatrick – engineer, mixing, producer Zeb Love – cover editing, photo editing Jenny Reader – product manager Sal Torres – A&R Jonathan Weiner – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Savages Chart (2014) Peak position Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)^[27] 9 US Billboard 200^[28] 22 US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)^[29] 4 US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)^[30] 1 US Independent Albums (Billboard)^[31] 3 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)^[32] 5

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Savages Chart (2014) Position US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)^[33] 22

References

1. Gordon Murray (April 24, 2014). "Breathe Carolina Leads Debut Parade On Dance Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
2. "Breathe Carolina Release Free Bangers Mixtape". Purevolume.com. July 11, 2013. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
3. Cassie Whitt (October 15, 2013). "Kyle Even leaves Breathe Carolina – Alternative Press". Altpress.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
4. Michele Bird (December 3, 2013). "Breathe Carolina announce We Are Savages tour with Jonny Craig, Divided By Friday, and more". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
5. Matt Crane (January 29, 2014). "Falling In Reverse, Breathe Carolina, Terror, more announced for Warped Tour 2014". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
6. "Breathe Carolina Announces "The Friend Zone Tour" With Candyland". September 9, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
7. Gardner, Elysa (April 14, 2014). "Listen Up: Other notable releases". USA Today. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
8. Sendra, Tim (April 14, 2014). "Savages – Breathe Carolina". Allmusic. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
9. Garland, Emma (August 20, 2009). "ATP! Interview: Breathe Carolina". Alter The Press!. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
10. Mamie Silver (January 31, 2014). "Breathe Carolina release studio update for 'Savages' – Alternative Press". Altpress.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
11. "STREAM: Breathe Carolina – "Savages"". Under the Gun Review. November 25, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
12. "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
13. Michele Bird (November 26, 2013). "Breathe Carolina release "Savages" lyric video – Alternative Press". Altpress.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
14. Matt Crane (February 18, 2014). "Breathe Carolina launch 'Savages' pre-orders; release video for "Sellouts" (ft. Danny Worsnop) – Alternative Press". Altpress.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
15. . Amazon. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
16. Matt Crane (March 18, 2014). "Breathe Carolina release new song, "Bang It Out" (ft. Karmin) – Alternative Press". Altpress.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
17. "Breathe Carolina: Bang It Out (feat. Karmin) – Muziek op Google Play". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
18. Matt Crane (April 7, 2014). "Breathe Carolina release new single, "Chasing Hearts" (ft. Tyler Carter of Issues) – Alternative Press". Altpress.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
19. "Breathe Carolina, 'Chasing Hearts': Exclusive Video Premiere". Billboard. April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
20. Brian Kraus (April 20, 2014). "Breathe Carolina release "Collide" music video – Alternative Press". Altpress.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
21. "Dance/EDM Future Releases". All Access Music Group. from the original on July 27, 2014.
22. "Dance/EDM Future Releases". All Access Music Group. from the original on July 27, 2014.
23. Matt Crane (October 17, 2014). "Breathe Carolina release I Don't Know What I'm Doing (Reboot) video". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
24. Matt Crane (October 29, 2014). "Breathe Carolina release Shadows music video". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
25. LeRoy, Dan (2014). "Breathe Carolina – Savages". Alternative Press. May 2014 (310). Alternative Press Magazine: 87. ISSN 1065-1667.
26. "Savages – Breathe Carolina – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
27. "ARIA Hitseekers Albums – Week Commencing 28th April 2014" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. April 28, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 19, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
28. "Breathe Carolina Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
29. "Breathe Carolina Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
30. "Breathe Carolina Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
31. "Breathe Carolina Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
32. "Breathe Carolina Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
33. "Top Dance/Electronic Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2020.

External links

• Savages on iTunes