Last Judgment

Last Judgment is the second greatest hits album and seventh studio album by British recording artist Alesha, released on 1 March, 2010 by Ensemble Entertainment. The greatest hits portion of Last Judgment compiles twenty-two songs released across eighteen singles between 2007 and 2010, including nine number ones. The album’s second disc consists of seven new songs (eight with its re-release). The title of the album foliows on from Alesha’s religiously-titled studio albums The Second Coming (2008) and Bigger Than God (2009). The release follows her previous greatest hits Chic/Freak (2006).

On the set’s previously unreleased tracks, Alesha lifts themes from mythology and religion. The album contains the final songs Alesha wrote with recurring collaborator Shell Ruin (prior to Ruin’s fake death; they have not collaborated since). She also collaborated with Twisted Disco. Musically, the album was inspired by Alesha’s recent number one single “Delusions of Grandeur” and its “epic,” dense production. Last Judgment blends chamber pop, electronica, industrial and trip hop music.

The greatest hits was appreciated by contemporary music critics, who praised Alesha’s songwriting and her ability to create hits. Some felt that it was an accurate portrayal of Alesha as the defining figure of pop culture, while others deemed it as premature. The new material was mostly praised by critics, who commended the instrumentation, vocals, and the production of the songs. Last Judgment was commercially successful, spending three nonconsecutive weeks at number one. It was certified three-times platinum, having sold over 900,000 copies.

Last Judgment was preceded by the number one single “Heavens Above Me”. In May 2010, the album was re-released with the double-platinum hit “The Last Temptation,” intended to be Alesha’s final single, in deluxe and box set editions. A remix album Ghost Dance: The Greatest Hits Remixed and music video anthology Theology: The Video Collection were also released. Alesha embarked on The Reckoning, a sold-out joint tour with Putanovska that caused a widespread media frenzy.

Development
After enjoying international success with a trilogy of studio albums — Alesha Is the Queen (2007), The Second Coming (2008) and Bigger Than God (2009) — Alesha felt it appropriate to close a chapter of her career with a greatest hits compilation. In spring 2010, Alesha announced that she was pregnant and intended to retire. The album's first disc chronicled the last three years of Alesha's career, while the second disc served as her final studio album. The final song written for Last Judgment was completed just two weeks before the album’s release.

“Fight for You,” “Crawl,” and “Raise This Flag” were Alesha’s final compositions to be written and produced with Shell Ruin, with whom she had worked extensively since 2007. Ruin had tragically died in a car accident following the 17th Urapopstar Awards, affecting Alesha greatly; a year later, it was revealed that Ruin’s death was faked, but Alesha and Ruin have not collaborated since. “Kukla” was written and produced by Alesha with a verse and additional production by Twisted Disco.

In April 2010, Alesha penned her final single “The Last Temptation,” included on the album’s re-released formats.

Previously released material
The greatest hits portion of Last Judgment collects singles from Alesha’s previous three studio albums, as well as “Diamonds & Dollars,” a number one duet with Putanovska from the rarities album The Good That Won’t Come Out (2008). Although primarily a pop artist, Alesha became heavily influenced by alternative and electronic music at this point in her career.

“Good Mourning” was released as a single in January 2010. It is an electronic ballad written and released as a tribute to Shell Ruin after her faked death. The lyrics detail the grief felt after a failed relationship but as the song progresses it becomes more evident that the song is about the loss of Ruin.

New material
The new material on Last Judgment is largely influenced by chamber pop, electronica, industrial and trip hop music. The song was described as “a continuation of the electronic and industrial sounds present on ‘Delusions of Grandeur.’” Thematically, Alesha drew inspiration from mythology, particularly Greek and Roman, and religion.

Album opener “The Creation” blends the creation myth of Greek mythology with the story of Genesis found in the Bible. Musically, the song is down-tempo and foreboding. “Artemis” is an “urgent, pounding” electro–industrial song that depicts Alesha as the titular Greek goddess of the hunt. “Fight for You,” started with Shell Ruin and completed after her faked death, expresses Alesha’s rage over the loss of Ruin. The song is about "the state of looking for something and almost knowing you're never going to find it.”

“Crawl” is “a bittersweet tale of sisterhood” and features trip hop influences. “Heavens Above Me,” a number one single, is a “rousing” baroque pop anthem with “gothic melodrama.” It references the tale of Atlas. “Kukla,” co-written and additionally produced by Twisted Disco, is an “unflinching tour-de-force” with “subtle electro-touches.” “Raise This Flag,” originally intended to serve as Alesha’s swansong, echoes the ornate chamber pop of earlier tracks.

Added to Last Judgment in its re-released editions, “The Last Temptation” is a “euphoric” dance-pop song with influences of electronica and house music. The song references the temptation (and crucifixion) of Christ.

Critical reception
Contemporary music critics unanimously praised the greatest hits collection. ‘’Rolling Stone’’ declared Alesha “the finest single artist this decade has produced.” Janna Stetson of ‘’The New York Times’’ explained, "Last Judgment is a portrait of the time when Alesha was the defining figure of pop culture.” Jim Farber from ‘’Entertainment Weekly’’ gave the album an A rating, saying: "More than a mere greatest-hits set, it's hands down the catchiest collection of modern singles." Christy Lemire of the Associated Press stated that it was premature for Spears to release a greatest hits album compilation, but highlighted “Fashion Kills,” “Disciplinary,” and “Delusions of Grandeur.”

Discussing the album’s new material, Ryan Dombal wrote for Pitchfork Media that Alesha "bursts mouth wide wide over garage rock, epic soul, pint-tipping Britbeat, and—best of all—a mystic brand of pop that's part Annie Lennox, Grace Slick, and Joanna Newsom." In a review for ‘’The Guardian’’, Dave Simpson viewed that Welch "has created a sonic labyrinth of xylophones, percussion, Gregorian chants and werewolves.” Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club felt that "[a]t times, [the new material on] Last Judgment borders on exhausting, careening as it does from one over-the-top track to the next.”

At the 18th Urapopstar Awards, Alesha was named Artist of the Decade, also winning Best Collaboration (“Delusions of Grandeur”), Best Overall Artist and Best Songwriter. Alesha also earned seven other nominations. At the 19th Urapopstar Awards, Alesha won Best Alternative/Rock, Best Female, Best Songwriter, and Best Single and Best Single/Album Art for “The Last Temptation,” as well as five other nominations.

Commercial response
Last Judgment became Alesha's seventh number one album. It spent three nonconsecutive weeks at the top of the charts, two upon its initial release and a third in June following the release of its deluxe and box set editions. It was eventually certified triple platinum, indicating 900,000 copies sold.

Singles
“Heavens Above Me” was released alongside the album in March 2010. The single premiered on 1 February. She performed the song at the 2010 BRIT Awards on 15 February. The music video, inspired by Greek mythology, was directed by Jonas Akerlund. During promotion, Alesha became the face of Roberto Cavalli’s Just Cavalli line. She also announced a worldwide stadium tour, a documentary and a fashion collection.

“The Last Temptation” was released as the album’s second single on 31 May. The music video, directed by Baz Luhrmann, was described as “larger than life” and included parallels with the lives and deaths of Marie Antoinette and Christ. Alesha attended the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of her documentary film Ragnarök, which premiered around the world in June. Alesha appeared on ‘’The Ellen Show’’, GMTV, The Graham Norton Show, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, The Oprah Winfrey Show and the Saturday Night Live season finale. Alesha also graced the cover of Interview and Rolling Stone magazines. Líf, a tell-all autobiography, was also released. Alesha performed a “final” concert, dubbed Judgment Day, at Wembley Stadium on 12 June.

Tour
The Reckoning, a joint tour with Putanovska, was announced in February 2010. It kicked off in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 3 April and concluded with a series of concerts in Manchester and London. Ticket sales sold out in record time. Each tour date was met with a great deal of attention in its respective city or country, causing a media frenzy and being billed a "worldwide phenomenon." The record-shattering tour was met with widespread acclaim from contemporary music critics. The Reckoning garnered a total of US$251 million after just 45 shows.

CD1

 * 1) ”Disciplinary” (featuring Jon Farley)
 * 2) ”Power Power” (with Buffi, Shell Ruin & Taylor Brookes)
 * 3) ”The OH in Ohio”
 * 4) ”Diamonds & Dollars” (with Putanovska)
 * 5) ”Fashion Kills”
 * 6) ”Original Sin” (with Ryan Dawson)
 * 7) ”Just for the Thrills” (with Josie Matthews)
 * 8) ”Filthy Preacher” (with Indigo Peak)
 * 9) ”London Brat”
 * 10) ”Brooklyn to Brixton”
 * 11) ”Bear Dance”
 * 12) ”Candy Cigarettes”
 * 13) ”Good Mourning”
 * 14) ”Crucify”
 * 15) ”Jesus Christ Supermodel”
 * 16) ”Guerilla”
 * 17) ”Shoot to Kill” (with Indigo Peak)
 * 18) ”The Pretty Ones” (featuring Romo, China & Emily Henning)
 * 19) ”Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train” (with Neyssa)
 * 20) ”Apocalypse City”
 * 21) ”Tsunami of the Soul”
 * 22) ”Delusions of Grandeur” (with Shell Ruin)

CD2

 * 1) ”The Creation”
 * 2) ”Artemis”
 * 3) ”Fight for You” (Kurdadze, Ruin)
 * 4) ”Crawl” (Kurdadze, Ruin)
 * 5) ”Heavens Above Me”
 * 6) ”Kukla” (Kurdadze, Twisted Disco)
 * 7) ”Raise This Flag” (Kurdadze, Ruin)
 * 8) ”The Last Temptation”

Boxset
The box set contains:
 * Debut studio album Look Out Below (2003)
 * Second studio album Hungry for More (2004)
 * Third studio album Buried Underneath (2005),
 * Disc two of Alesha's first greatest hits album Chic/Freak (+ "Go Fuck Yourself") (2006)
 * Fourth studio album Alesha Is the Queen (2007)
 * Rarities album The Good That Won't Come Out (2008)
 * Fifth studio album The Second Coming (2008)
 * Sixth studio album Bigger Than God (2009)
 * Covers album Wanderlust (2009)
 * Disc two of Last Judgment standard/deluxe editions (+ "Good Mourning")
 * Disc 11: B-Sides
 * Disc 12: B-Sides II
 * Disc 13: Collaborations
 * Disc 14: Demos
 * Disc 15: Ghost Dance: The Greatest Hits Remixed