The Albums: 2003-2014

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The Albums: 2003-2014
Box set by Alesha
Released 7 December, 2015
Recorded 2003 – 2014
Genre Pop
Label Fusion · Holy Trinity
Producer Alesha (exec.)
Alesha chronology
afterhours
(2015) 		The Albums: 2003-2014
(2015) 		Exile in Nashville: Music from the Motion Picture
(2016)

The Albums: 2003–2014 is a box set by British recording artist Alesha. It was released by Fusion Records and Holy Trinity Music Group on December 7, 2015, to commemorate Alesha's decade-plus career. The nine-disc box set includes Alesha's first eight studio albums – Look Out Below (2003), Hungry for More (2004), Buried Underneath (2005), Alesha Is the Queen (2007), The Second Coming (2008), Bigger Than God (2009), The Martyr (2011), and Alesha (2014). It also includes the second disc of Alesha's greatest hits album Last Judgment (2010), which featured eight new songs. The Albums: 2003–2014 marks Alesha's second box set release, following the expanded box set edition of Last Judgment. The Albums holds a tenth space to be filled by Alesha's ninth studio album afterhours, released earlier in the year.

Upon its release, The Albums: 2003–2014 received positive reception from most of its reviewers, who complimented the overall packaging of the box set and Alesha's discography. Some of the critics were unimpressed with the inclusion of Alesha's first two studio albums, while others were unimpressed with the exclusion of her rarities album The Good That Won't Come Out (2008) and covers collection Wanderlust (2009). The box set was commercially successful upon its release, charting at number three. Thanks to a competitive Christmas market, The Albums: 2003–2014 continued to sell well. It remained in the top 40 for a number of weeks, eventually selling over one million copies. The Albums: 2003–2014 is the best selling box set of all time.

Background and packaging[edit | edit source]

It was first announced on Alesha's official website in November 2015 that Fusion would be releasing a nine-disc box set. The set includes every studio album Alesha had released from 2003 up until 2014; the original versions of Look Out Below (2003) and Hungry for More (2004) appear, while revised versions of Buried Underneath (2005) and Alesha Is the Queen (2007) are featured in place of either the standard or deluxe editions. The Second Coming (2008) also appears in its original form, while the deluxe edition of Bigger Than God (2009) is included. In addition to Alesha's seventh and eighth studio albums, The Martyr (2011) and Alesha (2014), the second-disc of new material from her greatest hits compilation Last Judgment (2010) is included. Each disc is housed in a cardboard sleeve.

The box set also carries the logos for Alesha's former record companies; breathemusic (2003-04), Ensemble Entertainment (2005-10), and Holy Trinity Music Group (2011-14). Technically, none of the albums included in the box set were released by Fusion Records, but Alesha had purchased the rights to her back catalog in 2010. The Albums: 2003-14 includes an empty space for Alesha's ninth studio album, afterhours (2015). For a limited time, afterhours retailed at £6.99 to capitalize on the box set and the competitive Christmas market. To complement the release of the box set, iTunes sold every featured Alesha album digitally for £3.95 for a limited time in the UK. It is Alesha's second box set to be released, following the box set edition of her greatest hits album Last Judgment (2010).

Critical reception[edit | edit source]

Mike Diver from the BBC News gave the box set a positive review, commenting that "this is pop history, a document of the most powerful female force in the music industry as she began her ascent, achieved superstar status, overcame a couple of hiccups, and ultimately landed here and now as every fledgling pop idol's ultimate mother figure." He also mentioned the absence of tracks "Gone" (from 2006's Chic/Freak), "Diamonds & Dollars" (only available on the Diamonds & Dollar Bills EP and rarities album The Good That Won't Come Out), and "Who Do You Think You Are" (from 2011's Prime Cut soundtrack) may disappoint some fans. Robin Murray from Clash noted that while it traced "the evolution of a pop phenomenon", he felt it needed bonus materials. Andy Kellman from AllMusic was more ambivalent in his reception of the box set, stating that the release is more suitable for "voracious newcomers than longtime followers".

Describing the packaging, Kellman noted that it "was sharp but not elaborate — a clamshell box with each disc packaged in a paper LP-replica sleeve. While the box is a convenient and reasonably priced way to obtain most of Alesha's releases, an investment of that scope should entail all the stray hits from the same era. This really could have used a tenth disc", for adding all the other songs released by Alesha. The BBC described the packaging as a "no-frills affair—CDs are housed in cardboard sleeves that won't stand up to house-party punishment". Clash commented on the packaging more favorably, describing it as "fairly lavish".

Commercial performance[edit | edit source]

The Albums: 2003-2014 debuted at number three on the official albums chart, Alesha's 15th top-five album.

Track listing[edit | edit source]

Charts[edit | edit source]

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Urapopstar Top 40 Albums Chart 3


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