Sleeping in the Nothing

Sleeping in the Nothing is the second and most recent studio album by Kelly Osbourne, released in 2005. Unlike the pop punk sound of her first album, Sleeping in the Nothing features Osbourne singing to '80s-inspired electro beats.[4] For the role of producer, Osbourne worked with Linda Perry, widely known for working with artists such as Christina Aguilera, Pink, Courtney Love and Gwen Stefani.[4]

Sleeping in the Nothing
Studio album by Kelly Osbourne
Released	7 June 2005
Recorded	2004–2005
Genre	New wave[1] synth-pop[2] dance-rock[3]
Length	43:09
Label	Sanctuary
Producer	Linda Perry
Kelly Osbourne chronology
Shut Up / Changes (2002 / 2003) Sleeping in the Nothing (2005)
Singles from Sleeping in the Nothing
"One Word" Released: 19 April 2005

The Japanese edition of the album contains a cover of the 1986 Stacey Q song "Two of Hearts" as a bonus track.

Not long after the album's release, Osbourne's record label Sanctuary dropped her due to the album's commercial underperformance.

Promotion

Osbourne promoted the album with several appearances on TV shows and award ceremonies, including CD:UK, and the MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2005. Osbourne also made an appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, during which Ross made comments on Osbourne's weight in regards to the album cover, saying she had been "airbrushed".[5] Osbourne later said of the appearance: "The band that was performing was New Order and they refused to play until he apologised. A lot of it wasn't shown on TV because if they saw what he really said to me, I don't think any parent in the world would ever watch his show again. What he said to me destroyed me for two years."[5] Osbourne also said Ross' comments caused her to "sabotage" her record deal: "I thought, 'What the fuck is the point in me doing this shit when a grown man insults me in this way? I'm not strong enough to do this. I'd rather be the trust-fund kid that everyone thinks I am than work my arse off to get insulted.'"[5] She admitted herself to rehab in June 2005, which stopped any further promotion for the album.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Blender	[7]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[4]
Rolling Stone	[8]
Slant Magazine	[1]
Star-News	favourable[9]
Stylus	A−[10]

The album received mixed to positive reviews from music critics, many of which began with an admonition to forget about her previous work. Billboard said "the singer sounds incredibly at home in such surroundings."[11] Giving the album three out of five stars, Rolling Stone called it an "occasionally invigorating disc of shiny dance rock".[3] In a C+ review, Entertainment Weekly writer Timothy Gunatilaka wrote: "'Redlight' and 'I Can't Wait' make for fine party starters, and there are fairly groovy beats throughout. But with Sleeping's somber subject matter (date rape, rehab) and Osbourne's devitalized delivery, it feels wrong to get down to these ultimately drab songs."[4]

Commercial performance

Sleeping in the Nothing was a commercial failure, debuting and peaking at number fifty-seven on the UK Albums Chart, lasting one week in the chart.[12] In the United States, the album reached number 117 on the US Billboard 200, selling just under 9,000 copies.[13]

The first and only single from the album, "One Word", peaked at number one on three Billboard dance charts, making Osbourne the first artist in the history of the Billboard charts to top all three dance surveys in the same week.[14] The single also reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.[15]

Track listing

All songs written by Linda Perry, except where noted.

1. "One Word" – 4:01
2. "Uh Oh" – 3:12
3. "Redlight" – 3:42
4. "Secret Lover" (Kelly Osbourne, Linda Perry) – 3:24
5. "I Can't Wait" – 4:00
6. "Edge of Your Atmosphere" (Kelly Osbourne, Linda Perry) – 3:45
7. "Suburbia" (Kelly Osbourne, Linda Perry) – 3:34
8. "Don't Touch Me While I'm Sleeping" – 3:19
9. "Save Me" (Kelly Osbourne, Linda Perry) – 3:47
10. "Entropy" – 3:19
11. "One Word" (Chris Cox Remix) – 7:55 (hidden track)

Japanese edition bonus track

11. "Two of Hearts" (John Mitchell, Sue Gatlin, Tim Greene) – 3:56
12. "One Word" (Chris Cox Remix) – 7:55

Charts

Chart (2005)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)[12]	57
US Billboard 200[13]	117
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[16]	2
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[17]	2

References

1. Cinquemani, Sal (21 May 2005). "Kelly Osbourne Sleeping In The Nothing | Album Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
2. AllMusic review
3. No byline (2005-06-16), "Kelly Osbourne: Sleeping in the Nothing". Rolling Stone. (976):98
4. Gunatilaka, Timothy (6 June 2005). "Sleeping in the Nothing | EW.com". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
5. Lewis, Tim (13 September 2009). "Kelly Osbourne | Interview | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
6. "Reznor's Court Victory" (30 June 2005). Rolling Stone. (977/978):28
7. Blender review
8. Rolling Stone review
9. "New CD Releases". Star-News. 9 June 2005. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
10. Stylus review
11. M. P.; Cohen, Jonathan (2005-06-11), "Sleeping in the Nothing". Billboard. 117 (24):50-51
12. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
13. "Kelly Osbourne Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
14. Bronson, Fred (9 June 2005). "Chart Beat: 'Word' Up". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
15. "Kelly Osbourne | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
16. "Kelly Osbourne Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
17. "Kelly Osbourne Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2016.