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Cross (Justice album)

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Cross (stylized as †; titled Justice on digital platforms[1]) is the debut studio album by French electronic music duo Justice, first released on 11 June 2007 through Ed Banger Records and Because Music. Recorded during 2005 and 2006 in Paris, Cross was composed as an "opera-disco" album. It features many samples and "microsamples" throughout, with about 400 albums being used as sampled material. These include samples from Prince, Britney Spears and Madonna.[2] The song "D.A.N.C.E." is a tribute to Michael Jackson. French musician Mehdi Pinson appears on "DVNO", and vocalist Uffie appears on "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy". The album was supported by the singles "Waters of Nazareth", "D.A.N.C.E.", "DVNO",[3] "Phantom Pt. II",[4] and "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy". A controversial music video was also released for "Stress".

Cross
A black cross outlined in yellow against a black background
Studio album by
Justice
Released11 June 2007
Recorded2005–2006 in Paris
GenreElectro house
Length48:13
Label
Producer
Justice chronology
Cross
(2007) 		A Cross the Universe
(2008)
Singles from Cross
  1. "Waters of Nazareth"
    Released: 14 September 2005
  2. "D.A.N.C.E."
    Released: 23 April 2007
  3. "Phantom Pt. II"
    Released: 26 November 2007
  4. "DVNO"
    Released: 19 May 2008
  5. "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy"
    Released: 9 February 2009

Cross received critical acclaim and was a commercial success, reaching number 11 on the French albums chart and number one on the UK and US dance album charts. The album was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album and "D.A.N.C.E." was nominated for Best Dance Recording and Best Video at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. Cross was later certified gold in the UK on 9 December 2011, for passing shipments of 100,000 copies.[5] As of 2011, sales in the United States have exceeded 134,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[6] In 2012 it was awarded a diamond certification from the Independent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 200,000 copies throughout Europe.[7]

Background and composition

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Justice in 2007

Cross was recorded in Paris during 2005 and 2006.[8] The concept for the album was for it to be an "opera-disco" album. Xavier de Rosnay stated about the opera disco concept:

We stuck to our original idea to make a 2007 opera-disco album, even if we are conscious that some tracks don't sound like proper disco at first listen. The best example is the song "Waters of Nazareth", which does not sound like disco when you listen to it for the first time. But if you forget that everything is distorted, the bass lines are just really basic disco patterns.[9]

There are three credited samples present on the album: "You Make Me Wanna Wiggle" by The Brothers Johnson was sampled for "Newjack", "Tenebre (main theme)" by Simonetti-Morante-Pignatelli was sampled for "Phantom" and "Phantom Pt. II", and "Night on Disco Mountain" by David Shire was sampled for "Stress".[8] However, it also incorporates unrecognisable "microsamples" from hundreds of albums.[9] De Rosnay stated:

We do sample really small bits of things that nobody can recognize. Say we use the "In Da Club" hand clap – not even 50 Cent would notice but if you listen to "Genesis", the first track [on Cross], there are samples of Slipknot, Queen and 50 Cent, but they are such short samples no one can recognize them. The ones from Slipknot, for example, are tiny pieces of vocals.[10]

Release and promotion

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Cross was first released on 11 June 2007[11] through Ed Banger Records and Because Music globally as well as Downtown and Vice Records in the United States.[12] Two songs were released as singles before the album's release. "Waters of Nazareth" was the first single released by the group in 2005 and featured "Let There Be Light" as its B-side. "D.A.N.C.E." was the second single from the album released on 23 April 2007. The single also featured the song "Phantom", which was also released on the Ed Rec Vol. 2 compilation album prior to the release of this album.[13] "DVNO" and "Phantom Pt. II" released after and before the album's release, respectively. [14][15][16]

The song "D.A.N.C.E." is about and dedicated to Michael Jackson.[13] A music video for the track "Stress", directed by Romain Gavras, was released on 1 May 2008 through the website of rapper Kanye West.[17] It was subject to heavy criticism upon release and received a ban from French television due to its violent content.[17][18]

The cover art of the album is an homage to the packaging of the T. Rex album, Electric Warrior, designed by the English group Hipgnosis in 1971. It was created by So Me, the creative director of the album's publisher, Ed Banger Records, who said they attempted to "emulate the style [of Electric Warrior] ... the idea of an outline that fades into dots."[19]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic81/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [21]
The A.V. ClubA−[22]
Blender     [23]
The Guardian     [24]
The Irish Times     [25]
NME6/10[26]
The Observer     [27]
Pitchfork8.4/10[28]
Rolling Stone     [29]
Uncut     [30]

Cross was released to critical acclaim. On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews and ratings from mainstream critics, the album received a metascore of 81 based on 25 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[20] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone stated that "with loads of melodrama and not a moment of subtlety, Justice define the new-jacques swing."[29] Jess Harvell of Pitchfork called the album a "harsh and mostly instrumental set that nonetheless plays like the ideal crossover electronic-pop record", noting that "Justice knows how to sequence a dance album to avoid drag and boredom."[28] Michaelangelo Matos of The A.V. Club described it as "an engaging study in contrasts and a killer party record."[22] MSN Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a rating indicating a "likable effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well enjoy,"[31] saying: "As dance music, not my idea of a good time, but as electronic pop, so much trickier, sillier and more kinetic than Kraftwerk."[32]

At the 50th Grammy Awards, Cross was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album, while "D.A.N.C.E." was nominated for Best Dance Recording and Best Video. The album was also nominated for the 2007 Shortlist Prize, eventually losing out to The Reminder by Feist. Cross was ranked at second place by Planet Sound in their Best Albums of 2007 list.[33] Pitchfork placed Cross at number 15 on their Top 50 Albums of 2007 list,[34] as well as at number 107 on their list of the top 200 albums of the 2000s.[35] Rolling Stone ranked it at number 24 on their list of the 30 Greatest EDM Albums of All Time.[36] The album has been included in the book compilation 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[37]

Legacy

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In October 2020, EDM artist Zedd stated "if there was ever one album I would recommend combining production and musicality; it would be Justice's Cross. I still feel it sounds better than most electronic made today."[38] In 2022, a 15th anniversary reissue of the album was released along with six bonus and formerly unreleased tracks. The D.A.N.C.E. EP was released alongside it, featuring all remixes of the titular song.[39]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay unless noted.[8]

Cross track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Genesis" 3:54
2."Let There Be Light" 4:55
3."D.A.N.C.E."
  • Gaspard Augé
  • Xavier de Rosnay
  • Jessie Chaton
4:02
4."Newjack" 3:36
5."Phantom" 4:22
6."Phantom Pt. II" 3:20
7."Valentine" 2:56
8."Tthhee Ppaarrttyy" (featuring vocals by Uffie)
  • Augé
  • Rosnay
  • Anna-Catherine Hartley
  • Fabien Pianta
4:03
9."DVNO" (featuring vocals by Mehdi Pinson)
  • Augé
  • Rosnay
  • Mehdi Pinson
3:56
10."Stress" 4:58
11."Waters of Nazareth" 4:25
12."One Minute to Midnight" 3:41
Total length:48:13
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."D.A.N.C.E." (rehearsal version)4:29

Chart performance

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Certifications

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Certifications for Cross
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Justice de Justice sur iTunes". iTunes Store (France). Apple Inc. 11 June 2007. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  2. ^ Wiser, Danny (19 January 2021). "FRANCE: † - Justice". 200worldalbums.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ "This week's releases: 19 May 2008". NME. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  4. ^ Bein, Kat (22 November 2016). "The 15 Best Justice Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  5. ^ "BPI Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Justice Returns: 'Audio, Video, Disco' Fuses Electro with Arena Rock". Billboard. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  7. ^ e.V., VUT Verband unabhängiger Musikunternehmen. "Mitgliederbereich public: VUT – Verband unabhängiger Musikunternehmen e. V." www.vut.de. Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  8. ^ a b c † (Cross) (album liner notes). Justice. Ed Banger Records / Because Music. 2007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ a b cross examinations Archived 22 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Remix Magazine Online. Retrieved on 5 July 2009.
  10. ^ Harrison, Dave (11 November 2008). "French Duo Justice Reveal Songwriting, Sampling Secrets: 50 Cent, Slipknot Take Note!". MTV. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  11. ^ Bain, Katie (10 June 2022). "Justice Drops 'D.A.N.C.E.' Demo to Mark 15-Year Anniversary of Game-Changing Debut Album". Billboard. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  12. ^ Cross (album liner notes). Justice. Ed Banger Records; Because Music; Downtown Records; Vice Records. 2007. 224892-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ a b Stuart Barrie. The DJ Q&A with Justice Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved on 18 June 2007.
  14. ^ Bein, Kat (22 November 2016). "The 15 Best Justice Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  15. ^ "This week's releases: 19 May 2008". NME. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Justice - Phantom". Ed Banger Records. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  17. ^ a b Iverson, Jeffrey T. (18 May 2008). "Uproar Over French Music Video". Time. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  18. ^ "2. Justice "Stress" – The 100 Best Music Videos of the 2000s". Complex. 12 December 2011. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  19. ^ Weedon, Paul (29 January 2024). "Justice: Visions of Hyperdrama". Creative Review. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Reviews for Cross by Justice". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  21. ^ Lymangrover, Jason. "Cross – Justice". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  22. ^ a b Matos, Michaelangelo (10 July 2007). "Justice: †". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
  23. ^ Dombal, Ryan. "Justice: †". Blender. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  24. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (8 June 2007). "Justice, †". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 13 July 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  25. ^ Carroll, Jim (1 June 2007). "Signs of the cross". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  26. ^ Naylor, Tony (1 June 2007). "Justice: †". NME. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  27. ^ Boden, Sarah (20 May 2007). "Justice, †". The Observer. London. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  28. ^ a b Harvell, Jess (12 June 2007). "Justice: †". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  29. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (1 August 2007). "Cross: Justice (electro)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  30. ^ Pattison, Louis (13 June 2007). "Justice – †". Uncut. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  31. ^ Christgau, Robert. CG 90s: Key to Icons. Retrieved on 20 November 2009.
  32. ^ Christgau, Robert (June 2008). Consumer Guide: †. MSN Music. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010.
  33. ^ "Planet Sound Teletext Top 50s of 2007 In Full". Drowned in Sound. 23 December 2007. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  34. ^ Pitchfork Feature: Top 50 Albums of 2007 Archived 19 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ Pitchfork staff (28 September 2009). "The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 200–151". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  36. ^ "The 30 Greatest EDM Albums of All Time" Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  37. ^ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (2014). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  38. ^ Bain, Katie (23 October 2020). "20 Questions With Zedd: 'Any Living Organism Would Be More Fit For the Job Than Trump'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  39. ^ Guttridge-Hewitt, Martin (19 December 2022). "Justice release 15th anniversary deluxe edition of '†'". DJ Mag. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  40. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 2 July 2007" (PDF). Australian Web Archive. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
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  42. ^ a b "Ultratop.be – Justice – †" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  43. ^ "Ultratop.be – Justice – †" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  44. ^ a b "Dutchcharts.nl – Justice – †" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  45. ^ "Lescharts.com – Justice – †". Hung Medien.
  46. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Justice – †" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  47. ^ "Discography Justice". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  48. ^ "+ (Cross)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  49. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Justice – †". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  50. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Justice – †". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  51. ^ "Justice | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  52. ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  53. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  54. ^ "Justice Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  55. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2007" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  56. ^ "Top Dance/Electronic Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  57. ^ "Top Dance/Electronic Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  58. ^ "British album certifications – Justice – Cross". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
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