On a Mission | ||||
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Studio album by Katy B | ||||
Released | 1 April 2011 | |||
Recorded | 1 June 2007–10 December 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 56:01 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Katy B chronology | ||||
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Singles from On a Mission | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 76/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
BBC Music | very positive |
The Daily Telegraph | |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10 |
The Guardian | |
The Independent | |
NME | 8/10 |
The Observer | positive |
Pitchfork Media | 8.1/10 |
Slant Magazine |
On a Mission is the debut studio album by British singer Katy B. The album was released on April 1, 2011, by Rinse and Columbia Records and in the United States on September 13. Katy worked with producers and writers DJ Zinc, Benga, and Rinse FM founder Geeneus. Katy had been recording songs for the album since June 2007 and continued recording for three years until December 2010. The album was heavily influenced by the singer’s life experiences and her journey into the music world.
The album received positive reviews from music critics. Many appreciated the album’s sound, deeming it original, sharp, thrilling, solid and brilliant and others. The lyrical content received heavy praise, liking Katy’s projection of emotion in to the work and the messages it sends out. Lyrically, the majority of the album's songs are based on Katy’s life experiences of love, heartbreak, boys, and clubbing. Musically, On a Mission is rooted in the electronic dance genre, while incorporating elements of dubstep, UK garage, UK funky, house and R&B in its production and beats. The album debuted at number 2 in the United Kingdom. The album was nominated for the 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize.
The album had a total of five singles released between 2010 and 2011. The first two singles from the album, "Katy on a Mission" and "Lights On", were released on August 22 and December 10, 2010 and peaked in the United Kingdom in the top five, reaching number five and four respectively on the UK Singles (The Official Charts Company). The third single, "Broken Record", was released to commercial success in the UK, peaking at number eight on the charts. The last two singles from the album, "Easy Please Me" and "Witches' Brew", failed to mimic the success of the first two singles from the album, peaking at number twenty-five and one hundred twenty-eight on the charts. Her Magnetic Man collaboration, "Perfect Stranger", released on October 1, 2010 was also included on the album.