Panic Station

Panic Station is the seventh studio album by British recording artist Shell Ruin, released on June 26, 2011. The album was released just six months after Ruin's previous album, Original Doll (2010). Following almost two years of decline in popularity and commercial failure, Panic Station was to serve as Ruin's "comeback album". Whilst the album received generally favourable reviews from critics, it was the lowest-selling of Ruin's career and its promotional campaign was marred by a continual media backlash since Ruin faked her own death in 2009.

Following the grunge-rock inspired Original Doll, Ruin wanted to create a more familiar soundscape that echoed "the Shellesha sound" whilst still keeping a more organic sensibility. Having severed ties with close friend and frequent collaborator Alesha the previous year, Ruin wrote and produced the album without her input. Recording sessions took place in the first quarter of 2011. During this time Ruin had become an "easy target" for media scrutiny, which became the theme of many of the album's songs. Panic Station is characterised by a light rock and electronica soundscape. Ruin was heavily influenced by Madonna's American Life (2003). The album contains themes of fame and religion and uses war as a metaphor in several of its songs.

Prior to the album's release, "Revolution" and "Cowboys & Angels" were released as promotional singles on iTunes. The album was preceded by the synth-pop song "Living Proof" which was released as the album's lead single in April 2011. The single was favoured by fans, however it failed to enter the Top 10 on the official singles chart. The second single "Dictator" didn't fair much better, and was also a commercial flop despite a positive reception from her fanbase. Ruin didn't release any further singles from the album, although three months later she embarked on the Cowboys & Angels World Tour which was well-received by fans and critics alike.

Background
Following the grunge-rock inspired Original Doll, Ruin wanted to create a more familiar soundscape that echoed "the Shellesha sound" whilst still keeping a more organic sensibility. Having severed ties with close friend and frequent collaborator Alesha the previous year, Ruin wrote and produced the album without her input. Recording sessions took place in the first quarter of 2011. During this time Ruin had become an "easy target" for media scrutiny, which became the theme of many of the album's songs. Panic Station is characterised by a light rock and electronica soundscape, as well as containing influences of soul and acoustic music. The album contains themes of fame and religion and uses war as a metaphor in several of its songs.

Prior to the album's release, "Revolution" and "Cowboys & Angels" were released as promotional singles on iTunes. The album was preceded by the synth-pop song "Living Proof" which was released as the album's lead single in April 2011. The single was favoured by fans, however it failed to enter the Top 10 on the official singles chart. The second single "Dictator" didn't fair much better, and was also a commercial flop despite a positive reception from her fanbase. Ruin didn't release any further singles from the album, although three months later she embarked on the Cowboys & Angels World Tour which was well-received by fans and critics alike.

Critical reception
Billboard's Michael Paoletta noted the lyrical differences from past albums such as Never Stop positively, saying "Panic Station relies less on a fluffy pop brovado and more on woman-in-the-mirror confrontation." Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker generally responded well, saying that at its best, the album offers blunt, questing and decisive music but the weakest point was Ruin sounding like a girl who's grown disillusioned by the industry that once adored her. Dimitri Ebrlich of Vibe magazine gave a positive review for Panic Station, saying that Ruin "stayed still" in the album, and commenting that "This may be the first time Ruin hasn't pushed herself to explore new ground, but at least she's chosen a good place to rest." Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine gave the album a mixed review, stating that Panic Station is not a "masterpiece" compared to her 2008 album Charm Offensive. "It's frequently self-indulgent, misguided, unpleasant, difficult to listen to, silly and humorless, but it's also consistent, uncompromising and unapologetic," Cinquemani opined, ending with the deduction that Panic Station stood for the last time Ruin made music without the primary objective of making a hit."

Commercial response
Can't remember exactly. It flopped, the end.

Track listing
All songs written and produced by Shell Ruin.


 * 1) "Dictator"
 * 2) "Bear This Cross"
 * 3) "Get Behind Me Satan"
 * 4) "I'm on Fire"
 * 5) "American Way"
 * 6) "Red Flag"
 * 7) "Lone Wolves"
 * 8) "Bad Religion"
 * 9) "Easy Target"
 * 10) "Cowboys & Angels"
 * 11) "Revolution"


 * iTunes bonus track
 * 1) "Living Proof"