View source for BatBox

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = BatBox
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Miss Kittin]]
| cover      = MissKittin-Batbox.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 4 February 2008
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| genre      =
* [[Electronica]]
* [[electroclash]]
* [[Dance music|dance]]
| length     = 51:40
| label      = [[Nobody's Bizzness]]
| producer   =
* Miss Kittin
* [[Pascal Gabriel]]
| prev_title = [[A Bugged Out Mix (Miss Kittin album)|A Bugged Out Mix]]
| prev_year  = 2006
| next_title = [[Two (Miss Kittin & The Hacker album)|Two]]
| next_year  = 2009
| misc       = {{Singles
| name        = BatBox
| type        = studio
| single1     = [[Kittin Is High]]
| single1date = 30 November 2007
| single2     = [[Grace (Miss Kittin song)|Grace]]
| single2date = 20 June 2008
}}
}}
'''''BatBox''''' is the second solo studio album by French singer and DJ [[Miss Kittin]], released on 4 February 2008 on her own label, [[Nobody's Bizzness]]. It was co-written and produced with [[Pascal Gabriel]]. The music combines elements of [[techno]] and [[Electro (music)|electro]] and, as Miss Kittin describes it, "a flirtation with [[Goth subculture|Goth culture]]."<ref name="sideline">{{cite web |url=http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=27783_0_2_0_C |title=Miss Kittin set to release 2nd album 'BatBox' in February 2008 |work=Side-Line |date=12 December 2007 |access-date=10 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111002408/http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=27783_0_2_0_C |archive-date=11 January 2009}}</ref>
==Background and development==
For ''Batbox'', Miss Kittin teamed up with producer [[Pascal Gabriel]], who had previously worked with [[Kylie Minogue]], [[Boy George]] and [[Sophie Ellis-Bextor]]. The album was recorded in Pascal's studio in London over several months in 2007.<ref name="electronicbeats">{{cite web | last = Greig | first = Jasper | url = http://www.electronicbeats.net/Music/Features/In-the-Batbox-with-Miss-Kittin | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130221135935/http://www.electronicbeats.net/Music/Features/In-the-Batbox-with-Miss-Kittin | archive-date = 2013-02-21 | title = In the Batbox with Miss Kittin | work = [[Electronic Beats]] | date = 17 March 2008 | access-date = 7 November 2010}}</ref> Of the title, Miss Kittin stated, "''BatBox'' is a redemption. Let the bats in my head fly out. I was saying goodbye to old ghosts."<ref name="inthemix">{{cite web| last= | first=  |url = http://www.inthemix.com.au/features/36533/Miss_Kittin_Stretching_out_her_claws| title = Miss Kittin: Stretching out her claws | work = In the Mix | date = 21 February 2008 | access-date = 7 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226134508/http://www.inthemix.com.au/features/36533/Miss_Kittin_Stretching_out_her_claws |archive-date=26 February 2008}}</ref>
==Composition==
Musically, the album draws influences from [[electropop]] and [[Detroit techno]],<ref name="allmusic"/> and fellow [[electroclash]] artists such as [[Chicks on Speed]] and [[Ellen Allien]].<ref name="residentadvisor"/>
==Release and artwork==
The CD booklet and cover art were designed by Rob Reger, the creator of [[Emily the Strange]].<ref name="sideline"/> Miss Kittin met Reger after performing a [[Disc jockey|DJ]] gig in San Francisco.<ref name="electronicbeats"/>
==Promotion==
In 2008, "Barefoot Tonight" was used in the American [[comedy-drama]] television series ''[[Entourage (American TV series)|Entourage]]'', in the episode "First Class Jerk".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2901974/|title=Miss Kittin|website=[[IMDb]]|access-date=2011-03-05}}</ref>
==Singles==
"[[Kittin Is High]]" was released as the album's lead single commercially worldwide on 30 November 2007. Rob Reger designed limited-edition artwork for the vinyl single cover.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kittinbatbox.com/kittin_is_high/index.html |title=Kittin Is High – The first single off Miss Kittin's album 'BatBox', released on 30th November 2007.  |website=KittinBatBox.com |access-date=5 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414212204/http://www.kittinbatbox.com/kittin_is_high/index.html |archive-date=14 April 2009}}</ref>
"[[Grace (Miss Kittin song)|Grace]]" was released as the album's second and final single on 20 June 2008; it included remixes by Martinez and Sleeparchive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kittinbatbox.com/grace/index.html |title=Out now, MissKittin's new BatBox release: "Grace" EP with remixes by Martinez and Sleeparchive. |website=KittinBatBox.com |access-date=8 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415114809/http://www.kittinbatbox.com/grace/index.html |archive-date=15 April 2009}}</ref>
==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="allmusic"/>
| rev2 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="theguardian"/>
| rev3 = ''[[PopMatters]]''
| rev3score = 7/10<ref name="popmatters"/>
| rev4 = ''[[Resident Advisor]]''
| rev4score = 2/5<ref name="residentadvisor"/>
| rev5 = ''[[URB (magazine)|URB]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="URB"/>
| rev6 = ''[[XLR8R]]''
| rev6score = 6/10<ref name="XLR8R"/>
}}
Jason Lymangrover, writing for [[AllMusic]], commented, "As she emerges from the broken cocoon of [[Detroit techno|Detroit]] and [[Techno#German techno|German techno]] influences into a unique artist of her own – one who is slightly experimental but never lacking a head-bobbing hook – it's hard to argue when she quips, 'Frenchies do it better.'"<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web| last=Lymangrover | first= Jason |url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/batbox-mw0000751834| title = Batbox – Miss Kittin | website = [[AllMusic]] | year = 2008 | access-date = 4 July 2021}}</ref> John Burgess from ''[[The Guardian]]'' stated, "Her charismatic approach made her a major [[electroclash]] figure, and she has sustained her [[Cult following|cult status]]. This is unlikely to change, despite a more pop approach for ''Batbox'' [...] The music remains [[Niche market|niche]], [[Industrial music|industrial]] and Teutonic, over which Hervé delivers idiosyncratic observations on her life and [[Goth subculture|gothic pursuits]]."<ref name="theguardian">{{cite web| last=Burgess | first= John |url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/feb/08/electronicmusic.shopping| title = CD: Miss Kittin, Batbox | work = [[The Guardian]] | date = 8 February 2008 | access-date = 7 November 2010}}</ref> Rob Woo of ''[[Exclaim!]]'' wrote, "The production work is exceptional, with a greater depth of sounds and textures put into the beats and synths, the influences seemingly drawn from the best electro, tech and progressive of the last few years."<ref>{{cite web|last=Woo|first=Rob|title=Miss Kittin: Batbox|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/miss_kittin-batbox|work=[[Exclaim!]]|date=19 February 2008|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> Quentin B. Huff of ''[[PopMatters]]'' noted that the album "could have been bigger, brasher, and bolder. But, all things considered, it still amounts to a full load of goodies and a heck of a ride."<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web| last=Huff | first= Quentin B. |url = http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/miss-kittin-batbox| title = Miss Kittin: BatBox | work = [[PopMatters]] | date = 5 March 2008 | access-date = 5 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417072556/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/miss-kittin-batbox |archive-date=17 April 2012}}</ref>
Conversely, ''[[Resident Advisor]]''{{'s}} Stéphane Girard said that Miss Kittin "occupies an ungraceful and uncomfortable middle ground between [[Chicks on Speed]] and [[Ellen Allien]], and ''BatBox'', unfortunately, won't really do anything to change that nor rally anyone to her solo career's cause.<ref name="residentadvisor">{{cite web| last=Girard | first= Stéphane |url = http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=5008| title = RA Reviews: Miss Kittin – Batbox (Album) | work = [[Resident Advisor]] | date = 2008-01-30 | access-date = 7 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023201500/http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=5008 |archive-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> ''[[URB (magazine)|URB]]'' felt that "[a]s a concept the album fails miserably, but taken as individual tracks there are some that transcend, the brooding 'Lightmaker' or the nicely melodic DJ friendly track 'Playmate of the Century.'"<ref name="URB">{{cite web|url=http://www.urb.com/2008/03/05/miss-kittin-batbox/ |title=Miss Kittin – BatBox (Review) |work=[[URB (magazine)|URB]] |date=5 March 2008 |access-date=8 November 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205092205/http://www.urb.com/2008/03/05/miss-kittin-batbox/ |archive-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> In addition, Luciana Lopez of ''[[XLR8R]]'' opined, "Even the glossy, high-quality production can't give this album the energy to rise above the middling bar it sets for itself."<ref name="XLR8R">{{cite web | last = Lopez | first = Luciana | url = http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/miss-kittin/batbox | title = Miss Kittin: Batbox | work = [[XLR8R]] | date = 8 April 2008 | access-date = 7 November 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110524034201/http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/miss-kittin/batbox | archive-date = 24 May 2011}}</ref>
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_lyrics = [[Miss Kittin|Caroline Hervé]] and [[Pascal Gabriel]]
| title1 = Kittin Is High
| length1 = 3:51
| title2 = BatBox
| length2 = 3:20
| title3 = [[Grace (Miss Kittin song)|Grace]]
| length3 = 3:19
| title4 = Solidasarockstar
| length4 = 3:56
| title5 = Barefoot Tonight
| length5 = 3:03
| title6 = Play Me a Tape
| length6 = 4:08
| title7 = Pollution of the Mind
| length7 = 5:16
| title8 = Wash N Dry
| length8 = 4:15
| title9 = Metalhead
| length9 = 5:23
| title10 = Machine Joy
| length10 = 3:32
| title11 = Sunset Strip
| length11 = 3:02
| title12 = Playmate of the Century
| length12 = 4:04
| title13 = Lightmaker
| length13 = 4:31
| total_length = 51:40
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = [[iTunes Store]] bonus track<ref>{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/batbox/271404561 |title=BatBox by Miss Kittin |website=[[Apple Music]] |location=United States |access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref>
| title14 = Mother Star
| length14 = 3:37
| total_length = 55:17
}}
==Personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''BatBox''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=BatBox |type=liner notes |others=[[Miss Kittin]] |publisher=[[Nobody's Bizzness]] |year=2008 |id=BIZZ2CD}}</ref>
* [[Miss Kittin]] – production
* [[Pascal Gabriel]] – production
* Mike Marsh – mastering at The Exchange (London)
* Rob Reger – artwork, design
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for ''BatBox''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2008)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|91|artist=Miss Kittin|album=Batbox|rowheader=true|access-date=4 July 2021}}
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Alternative Albums ([[Ultratop]] Flanders)<ref name="ultratop">{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/140b2/Miss-Kittin-Batbox |title=Miss Kittin – Batbox |publisher=[[Ultratop]] |access-date=2010-04-21 |language=nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025195222/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Miss+Kittin&titel=Batbox&cat=a |archive-date=2012-10-25}}</ref>
| 48
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|84|artist=Miss Kittin|album=Batbox|rowheader=true|access-date=4 July 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|France|75|artist=Miss Kittin|album=Batbox|rowheader=true|access-date=4 July 2021}}
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090211144838/http://kittinbatbox.com/ Official ''BatBox'' website]
{{Miss Kittin}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Batbox}}
[[Category:2008 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Pascal Gabriel]]
[[Category:2000s concept albums]]
[[Category:Miss Kittin albums]]