Carry On (Chris Cornell album)

Carry On
Studio album by Chris Cornell
Released May 28, 2007 (United Kingdom)
Recorded 2006–2007
Genre Alternative rock
Length 55:20
Label Suretone/Interscope
Producer Steve Lillywhite
Chris Cornell chronology
Euphoria Morning
(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
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
*Entertainment Weekly (B) [2]
KNAC.com [3]
Rolling Stone [4]

Carry On is the second solo studio album released 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 Morning in 1999, and his first since leaving his former band Audioslave. As of September 4, 2007, the album has sold 121,000 copies in the US and 300,000 copies worldwide.

Contents

Production

Recording history

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.[5] While recording his second solo album, Cornell was involved in a motorcycle accident.[6] 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.

Musical style

While primarily considered an alternative rock album, Carry On encompasses a variety of musical genres including blues, psychedelic music, and hard rock.[7]

Reception

It debuted at number 17 on the American Billboard charts. The reaction to the album has been generally mixed from both the public and critics. Entertainment Weekly generally liked the work while Allmusic, Rolling Stone and Twisted Ear were disappointed. From Toronto's Globe and Mail, May 22, 2007, "Essential tracks: Billie Jean -- Billie Jean is not his lover, she's just a cover. The plutonium-lunged grunge god ponderously gives the Michael Jackson hit the Leonard Cohen treatment." 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."[8]

Cornell announced that "No Such Thing" would be the album's first single during interviews with various radio stations around the United States.[9] The track was also played on several radio stations. It can be listened to for free from his website.[10] His website stated that "Arms Around Your Love" would be the first single in the U.K. David Cook performed Cornell's version of "Billie Jean" on American Idol. An acoustic version of "Disappearing Act" is heard during the credits of the movie Bug, a 2007 horror film by William Friedkin. The version of the song on this album is a full-band version. "Arms Around Your Love" was remixed by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder and was made available for free download at bodybymilk.com.

Track listing

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."[11]

All songs composed by Chris Cornell, except where noted:
  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) – 4:01

Bonus Tracks

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
The Billboard 200 17
Dutch Album Chart 33[12]
Italian Album Chart 24
UK Album Chart 25
French Album Chart 131
Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart 6
Norwegian Album Chart 2

Release history

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

References