"Like a Pen" is the third single from the album Silent Shout

Silent Shout

Silent Shout is the third studio album by Swedish electronic duo The Knife. It was initially released in Sweden on 15 February 2006 by Rabid Records, and subsequently in the rest of Europe the following month and in the United States on 25 July by Mute Records. Silent Shout is darker than its...

by the Swedish electronic duo The Knife

The Knife

The Knife are a Swedish electronic music duo from Gothenburg, formed in 1999. The group consists of siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer, who together also run their own record company, Rabid Records. They first received international attention after their song "Heartbeats", covered by...

. The song was released in 2006.

Critical reception

Neil Jones of MusicOMH

MusicOMH

musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...

 commented that "when it comes down to it, this single thrills you inside, possibly because of, and never despite, its ultra-artistic veneer." By contrast, Alex Lai of Contactmusic.com

Contactmusic.com

Contactmusic.com is a Leeds UK based entertainment magazine/webzine. The site was launched in April 2000 by a small team and has now expanded to 12 fulltime staff and many freelance contributors from across the globe...

 said, "those who are not fans of the genre are unlikely to find the mid-pace bleeps and samples appealing" and that Karin Dreijer Andersson

Karin Dreijer Andersson

Karin Elisabeth Dreijer Andersson , commonly known by her stage name Fever Ray, is the lead vocalist of the electronic duo The Knife, formed with her brother Olof Dreijer. Andersson was previously the vocalist and guitarist of the alternative rock band Honey Is Cool...

's voice is "not best used here."

Track listings

• Swedish CD, Maxi single

1. "Like A Pen (Radio Edit)" - 3:33
2. "Like A Pen (Album Version)" - 6:15
3. "Like A Pen (Club Mix)" - 8:18
4. "Like A Pen (Demo Version)" - 5:28
5. "Like A Pen (Heartthrob Remix)" -6:29
6. "Like A Pen (Thomas Schumacher Dub)" - 8:15
7. "Like A Pen (Heartthrob Dub)" - 5:19

• UK CD, Maxi single

1. "Like A Pen (Radio Edit)" - 3:24
2. "Like A Pen (Extended Club Mix)" -8:18
3. "Like A Pen (Hearthrob Remix)" - 6:29
4. "Like A Pen (Hearthrob Dub)" - 5:19
5. "Like A Pen (Thomas Schumacher Dub)" - 8:15

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak Position
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	96
U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...	15