| Cradlesong | ||||
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| Studio album by Rob Thomas | ||||
| Released | June 30, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2007—2009 | |||
| Genre | Pop
rock Alternative rock |
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| Length | 52:34 | |||
| Label | Emblem / Atlantic [1] | |||
| Producer | Matt Serletic | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
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| Rob Thomas chronology | ||||
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| Singles from cradlesong | ||||
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Cradlesong is the sophomore solo album from Rob Thomas: lead singer of Matchbox Twenty. The first single "Her Diamonds" is already a big hit in Australia, peaking at #3.[2] Cradlesong made its debut on the US charts at number 3 selling 122,000 copies.
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On September 15, 2008, Thomas told Billboard.com that he's "probably about 80 percent done" with his second solo record, tentatively titled "Cradle Songs" at the time.[3] Thomas characterized the album as "the usual mish-mosh of styles, but hopefully just holding true to a bunch of good songs." with the article also mentioning that the record will nonetheless feature several tracks that "take a more global, rhythmic direction after working with South American and African percussionists." Thomas explained one such experiment:
| “ | We started off with the idea of doing a newer version of (Paul Simon's) The Rhythm of the Saints, and that kinda carried us a long way through. It gave us a whole new bed to work with, like 'How do I get my pop sensibility around this and work it into that?' It was a lot of fun. But you go through different phases when you're writing; it took a different turn, and I just followed it, too. | ” |
On February 25, 2009, it was announced via Fox News that the album's supposed title is now "Cradle Song".[4] It was mentioned, in addition, that there "are at least four hot singles awaiting radio play including 'Her Diamonds' and 'Someday.'"
On the same day, Thomas announced on his official web-site that he has been "back and forth to Los Angeles quite a bit, mixing the new record." However, he denied the album will be released in May, mentioning it "looks like it won't be coming until the last week of June or the first week of July."
On March 2, 2009, Clark Collis of Entertainment Weekly interviewed Thomas, where he confirmed he has since shelved his initial efforts to evoke "The Rhythm of the Saints", and claimed the album is scheduled for a June 30 release.[5] Having played half the forthcoming album to Entertainment Weekly, it was reported that many of the lyrics on "Cradle Song" center around troubled relationships, and three more song titles were revealed: "Meltdown" (described as "INXS-esque power pop" that stood out as "a possible first single"), "Fire on the Mountain" (an "epic, tribal drum-driven" track inspired by Dave Eggers' book "What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng") and the melancholic country-leaning "Getting Late" (suggested as the "set's likely closer" and what Thomas described as "a little ditty about death." in the vein of Tom Petty and Willie Nelson.) The proper magazine article added that "Someday" is a power ballad with a tinkling piano introduction reminiscent of 80's band Damn Yankees.
On March 4, 2009, Thomas clarified on the message board of his official web-site that the album's title will be one word: "cradlesong". He announced that the lead single for this album has been chosen and a director is presently being sought after for the video. Thomas also announced that, at the time, he had mixed eleven songs so far and had recorded a total of twenty-seven. He confirmed a total of twelve songs will make the final cut, but added "the first pressing will have an extra 3 on it as well" and "later in the year i'm going to try to find a way to release the others, but i'll keep popping them out here and there at shows."
Her Diamonds is about his wife, Marisol and her long time illness.
On March 6, 2009, minute-long snippets of the tracks "Meltdown" and "Her Diamonds" were temporarily featured on the front page of his official site. Despite being removed from the web-site, they are presently being featured in a RateTheMusic survey.
On April 27, 2009 the first single "Her Diamonds" was released on iTunes, followed by "Give me the Meltdown" on June 9. The other two tracks are "Someday" (June 16) and "Fire on the Mountain" (June 23). All four singles are to be released before the albums release date (June 30) over iTunes.
The next single will be Someday. Rob said he will start shooting the video in July. The song featured in promo spots for NBC's 2009 fall season of The Biggest Loser. [6]
Rob will kick off his Cradlesong US tour in Hollywood, Florida starting on September 23, 2009 at the Hard Rock and end the tour in New York, New York at the Beacon on FRI Nov 13, 2009.
Critical reception for the album has generally been positive with the single "Her Diamonds", a song written about his wife and her illness, receiving praise by many reviewers. The album takes a pop rock feel with a variety of sounds mixed by long time producer Matt Serletic who is praised for smooth production of the album. Cradlesong made a positive debut on the Billboard 200 selling 122,000 copies while "Her Diamonds" ascended up the Billboard Hot 100 to a peak of 23. According to Soundscan, as of January 3, 2010, Cradlesong has sold 362,458 copies in the US.
All songs were written or co-written by Rob Thomas.
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Her Diamonds" | 4:39 |
| 2. | "Gasoline" | 3:56 |
| 3. | "Give Me the Meltdown" (Rob Thomas, Matt Serletic) | 3:13 |
| 4. | "Someday" (Rob Thomas, Matt Serletic, Shy Carter) | 4:08 |
| 5. | "Mockingbird" | 4:00 |
| 6. | "Real World '09" (Rob Thomas, Matt Serletic, Nellee Hooper) | 2:46 |
| 7. | "Fire On the Mountain" | 5:09 |
| 8. | "Hard On You" | 2:43 |
| 9. | "Still Ain't Over You" | 3:09 |
| 10. | "Natural" (Rob Thomas, Matt Serletic) | 4:48 |
| 11. | "Snowblind" | 3:54 |
| 12. | "Wonderful" | 3:28 |
| 13. | "Cradlesong" | 4:13 |
| 14. | "Getting Late" | 3:28 |
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Little Wonders" (Radio Version) | 3:33 |
| 16. | "Sleep Till the War Is Over" (iTunes Bonus Version of Cradlesong) (Rob Thomas, Garfield Mayor) | 3:58 |
| 17. | "Believe" (iTunes Bonus Track Version) | 3:29 |
| 18. | "Years From Now" (German bonus track) | 3:37 |
| 19. | "Remembered Well" (German bonus track) (Rob Thomas, Frank Romano) | 3:46 |
| 20. | "Overrun" (B side to Her Diamonds Single & Japan editions of Cradlesong) | 4:12 |
A deluxe edition is available exclusively from Target Stores in the US. Included is the original standard studio album, as well as a Bonus DVD which includes interviews, plus a behind-the-scenes look at the album photo shoot and video shoot for "Her Diamonds." It can be purchased in said stores or online via Target's web site.
| Chart (2009) | Peak | Sales/ shipments |
|---|---|---|
| German Album Chart | 40 | - |
| New Zealand Album Chart | 17 [7] | - |
| Swiss Album Chart | 53 [8] | - |
| US Billboard 200 | 3 [9] | 362,458 |
| ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart | 3 [10] | 70,000 |
| UK Albums Chart | 75 |
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  | Rob Thomas Gets Worldly On New Solo Album - Rob Thomas Gets Worldly On New Solo Album | News @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com |
| | Rob Thomas, Out of the Matchbox - FOXNews.com - Lindsay Lohan and ... Warren Beatty - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment |
| | Rob Thomas: Talking with the artist about his new album, 'Cradle Song' - Rob Thomas: Talking with the artist about his new album, 'Cradle Song' | PopWatch Blog | EW.com |
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