CexCells (pronounced "Sex Sells"[10]) is the debut studio album by the American electronic music duo Blaqk Audio. It was initially scheduled to be released on August 7, 2007,[11] however, it was rescheduled and released a week further on August 14, 2007 through Interscope Records. It debuted at number 18 on the Billboard200, selling more than 29,000 copies within its first week.[12] It received mixed reviews from music critics. It spawned one single: "Stiff Kittens".
Havok and Puget entered the studio in January 2007 to begin recording CexCells.[19] Puget began updating fans through their official Myspace page.[20] Dan Under of The Dear & Departed and Nick 13 of Tiger Army, who has previously performed with AFI (see I Heard a Voice), provided background vocals for the album. The album's name and defunct release date was announced via Myspace and AbsolutePunk.[11]
Release and promotion
On August 3, 2007, Hot Topic stores across the United States began having listening parties to preview the entire album.[21]
The album's fourth track, "Bitter For Sweet", was available for streaming via Myspace. A non-album track titled "If Only" was available for streaming on June 14 via Myspace as well. In January 2007, Puget posted lyrics to a song titled "Black-Ink Style" on his official blog, however, it was not included on the album and has not been released to date.
Instrumental segments of "Between Breaths (An XX Perspective)" and "The Love Letter" were used in the trailer for the 2008 remake of The Eye.[22]
References to other bands
The song title "On a Friday" is an old band name belonging to Radiohead, while "Stiff Kittens" is an old band name belonging to Joy Division. Additionally, the duo recorded a cover of Blur's "Girls & Boys", exclusive to Hot Topic. Blaqk Audio also covered the song "No New Tale to Tell" by Love and Rockets.
Vocalist Davey Havok confirmed in an interview with Rhapsody that he and Puget settled on the album title CexCells before realizing that American electronic musician Cex's debut album was titled Cells.[10]