Carry On (Chris Cornell album)

Carry On
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 28, 2007
Recorded2006–2007
Genre
Length55:20
Label
ProducerSteve Lillywhite
Chris Cornell chronology
Euphoria Mourning
(1999)
Carry On
(2007)
Scream
(2009)
Singles from Carry On
  1. "You Know My Name"
    Released: November 13, 2006
  2. "No Such Thing"
    Released: May 1, 2007
  3. "Arms Around Your Love"
    Released: May 21, 2007
  4. "She'll Never Be Your Man"
    Released: May 22, 2007
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic56/100[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The A.V. ClubB[2]
Entertainment WeeklyB[3]
IGN7.2/10[4]
Los Angeles Times[5]
PopMatters6/10[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Spin[8]
The Skinny[9]
Uncut[10]

Carry On is the second solo studio album by American musician Chris Cornell. It was released on May 28, 2007, in the United Kingdom and June 5, 2007, in the United States. This album is Cornell's second after Euphoria Mourning in 1999, and his first since leaving his former band Audioslave. The album has sold 121,000 copies in the US.[12]

Production

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Recording history

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Carry On was produced by Steve Lillywhite. Among the artists who accompanied Cornell on his second solo release was friend Gary Lucas, who contributed acoustic guitar to some of the tracks. Cornell has stated that he is always writing, and that there are some songs that he was not able to put onto an Audioslave album.[13] While recording his second solo album, Cornell was involved in a motorcycle accident.[14] He was apparently "rear-ended by a truck in L.A.'s Studio City while riding his motorcycle" and "catapulted 20 feet into the air." He was able to walk away from the accident, but had severe cuts and bruises. He returned to the studio later that day.[14]

Musical style

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The album's style has been described as "a mash-up of alt-rock and adult contemporary."[15] AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine considered the album as "a hard rock maturation."[1] Cornell stated that he took influences from a variety of genres including heavy rock on the recording of Carry On.[16]

Reception

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The album debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200, selling 37,000 copies in the United States.[17] Carry On received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The BBC described it as "possibly the most confused album you’ll come across all year ... a collection that is both catchy and dreary at the same time."[18] Cornell announced that "No Such Thing" would be the album's first single during interviews with various radio stations around the United States.[19]

Track listing

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The album features fourteen tracks, including the first album appearance of "You Know My Name", the theme song for Casino Royale, the 2006 installment in the James Bond franchise. The album also features a cover of Michael Jackson's hit song from Thriller, "Billie Jean".[20]

All songs written by Chris Cornell, except where noted.

No.TitleLength
1."No Such Thing"3:44
2."Poison Eye"3:57
3."Arms Around Your Love"3:34
4."Safe and Sound"4:16
5."She'll Never Be Your Man"3:24
6."Ghosts"3:51
7."Killing Birds"3:38
8."Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson)4:41
9."Scar on the Sky"3:40
10."Your Soul Today"3:27
11."Finally Forever"3:37
12."Silence the Voices"4:27
13."Disappearing Act"4:33
14."You Know My Name" (Cornell/David Arnold)4:00
Bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
15."Today" (Target digital download, UK & Japanese bonus track)3:03
16."Roads We Choose" (UK & Japanese bonus track)3:51
17."Thank You (Live from Stockholm)" (Japanese bonus track) 
18."Call Me a Dog" (Live from Stockholm)" (Target digital download bonus track) 

Personnel

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Personnel adapted from Carry On liner notes.[21]

Musicians
  • Chris Cornell - lead vocals (all tracks), guitar (all tracks), keyboard (track 12)
  • Gary Lucas - guitar (tracks 3–14)
  • Jamie Muhoberac - keyboards (tracks 2, and 5–9)
  • Miles Mosley - bass guitar (tracks 1–7, 9–12, and 14), upright bass (tracks 8 and 13)
  • Nir Zidkyahu - drums (all tracks)
  • Cameron Greider - guitar (tracks 3–6, and 8–13)
  • Brian Ray - guitar (tracks 1, 2, 7, 9, and 10)
  • Dimitri Coats - guitar (tracks 2, 7, and 10)
  • Steve Lillywhite - piano (track 10)
  • Joe Sublett - tenor saxophone (track 4)
  • Darrell Leonard - trumpet (track 4)
  • Dave Cobb - horn arrangements (track 4)
Production
  • Steve Lillywhite - production, mixing
  • Todd Parker - recording, mixing
  • David Colving - additional engineering
  • Stephen Marcusson - mastering
  • Cindi Peters - production coordination
  • D. Sardy - mixing (track 14)
  • Ryan Castle - engineering (track 14)
  • Cameron Barton - additional engineering (track 14)

Charts

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Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[22] 17
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[23] 6

Release history

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Region Date
United Kingdom May 28, 2007
United States June 5, 2007

References

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  1. ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine (June 5, 2007). "Carry On - Chris Cornell | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  2. ^ Kelley, Trevor (June 5, 2007). "Chris Cornell: Carry On". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Leah Greenblatt (June 1, 2007). "Carry On Review". EW.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  4. ^ D, Spence (June 6, 2007). "Chris Cornell - Carry On". IGN. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  5. ^ Appleford, Steve (June 5, 2007). "Chris Cornell - Pop Album Review". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2007. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  6. ^ McGuire, Colin (October 3, 2007). "Chris Cornell: Carry On". PopMatters. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  7. ^ "Rolling Stone Music | Album Reviews". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  8. ^ Anderson, Kyle (June 2007). "Reviews". Spin. Vol. 23, no. 6. SPIN Media, LLC. p. 92.
  9. ^ Langlands, Johnny (June 10, 2007). "Chris Cornell - Carry On". The Skinny. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Mueller, Andrew (May 23, 2007). "Chris Cornell - Carry On". Uncut. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "Carry On by Chris Cornell". Metacritic. n.d. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (September 4, 2008). "Cornell, Timbaland Prepare To 'Scream'". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  13. ^ "Chris Cornell solo album". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
  14. ^ a b "Quick Hits: Chris Cornell". fmqb.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
  15. ^ Leas, Ryan (August 22, 2013). "The 10 Best Soundgarden Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  16. ^ "Chris Cornell to 'Carry On' Without Audioslave - Spinner.com". February 18, 2007. Archived from the original on February 18, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  17. ^ "T-Pain Soars To No. 1 Ahead Of Rihanna, McCartney". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  18. ^ "Music - Review of Chris Cornell - Carry On". BBC. June 29, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  19. ^ "Chris Cornell Quits Audioslave, Prepares To Release New Solo Album". Blabbermouth.net. February 15, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  20. ^ "Top 10 Best Music Covers". Upvenue.com. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  21. ^ "Carry On". Albumlinernotes.com. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  22. ^ "Chris Cornell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  23. ^ "Chris Cornell Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.