Tigerdrottningen (Swedish for The Tiger Queen) is the eleventh studio album by Swedish alternative rock band Kent. It was released on 30 April 2014 by Sonet Records (Universal Music).[6] The album was preceded by the lead single "La Belle Epoque" on 12 March 2014.[7] "Var är vi nu?" was released as the album's second single on 25 July 2014.[8] The third single "Mirage" was released on 3 September 2014, with an accompanying video released on the same date.[9]
Lyrically, Tigerdrottningen is more politically charged than previous albums.
Promotion
Three promotional singles were released from Tigerdrottningen through Spotify preceding the album's release: "Skogarna" on 25 April, "Godhet" on 26 April and "Din enda vän" on 27 April 2014.[10]
Critical reception
Anders Nunstedt of Expressen wrote: "The songs have a drive that goes in line with the hits Swedish songwriters have delivered to the charts worldwide in recent years. Kent has gone from being a reliable indie band to a pop phenomenon. Tigerdrottningen has more in common with Katy Perry's Roar than their debut. [...] The melodies don't always make it all the way, but Tigerdrottningen is an impressive work."[11]
Sara-Märta Höglund of Svenska Dagbladet wrote: "At Tigerrottningen the best of "old" and "new" Kent meet. Closing 'Den andra sidan' is striking in the same way as 'Beskyddaren' from Hagnesta Hill and with guitar loops that are made to echo out in the summer night. While 'Din enda vän' - which opens with a sample from the film adaptation of Bonjour tristesse - is representative of where they are now. The programmed sound has been included in the new soundscape - where strong melodies are the focus."[12]
Commercial performance
Tigerdrottningen debuted at number one on the Swedish Albums Chart on the chart dated 9 May 2014, becoming Kent's tenth consecutive number-one album.[13] The same week the album was certified gold for 20,000 copies sold.[14] On the chart dated 5 June 2014, the album was certified platinum for 40,000 copies sold.[15]