Smoke & Mirrors (Lifehouse album)

Smoke & Mirrors
Studio album by Lifehouse
Released March 2, 2010 (2010-03-02)
Recorded 2008–2009
Genre alternative rock, pop rock
Length 45:00
Label Geffen
Producer Lifehouse, Jude Cole
Lifehouse chronology
Who We Are
(2007)		 Smoke & Mirrors
(2010)
Singles from Smoke & Mirrors
  1. "Halfway Gone"
    Released: October 27, 2009
  2. "All In"
    Released: May 18, 2010
  3. "Falling In"
    Released: February 28, 2011

Smoke & Mirrors is the fifth studio album by American alternative band Lifehouse. It was released on March 2, 2010 by Geffen Records. Lifehouse began to work on the album with record producer Jude Cole in the fall of 2008 at Cole's Ironworks Studio. The band collaborated with American singer-songwriter Kevin Rudolf and former American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry while working on the album.

The album received positive reviews from critics, and peaked at number six on the Billboard 200, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. It became the fourth highest debut album on the chart for the week of March 20, 2010. It also debuted at number fifteen on the Canadian Albums Chart, which became its peak on the chart.

The album's lead single, "Halfway Gone", was released October 26, 2009, charting on several Billboard charts including Billboard's Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, Digital Songs, Hot Dance Club Songs, Pop Songs, and Radio Songs charts.

Contents

Background

Lifehouse began working on the album with record producer Jude Cole in the fall of 2008, after the band had come off of the tour that supported their fourth studio album, Who We Are. The band worked on Smoke & Mirrors for over a year, recording thirty-five tracks, before settling on the twelve tracks that appear on the album.[1] During this time, the band collaborated with American singer-songwriter Kevin Rudolf on the album's lead single, "Halfway Gone" and with former American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry on the song "Had Enough".[2] In an interview with Billboard, Rudolf said, "I chose [to do] 'Halfway Gone' because Jason Wade is such a great writer, great singer, and great artist."[3]

In an interview with They Will Rock You, when asked about recording the song "Smoke & Mirrors", lead Lifehouse percussionist Rick Woolstenhulme, Jr. said:

"The very first track that we recorded for the album is the track called Smoke & Mirrors which ended up being the name of the album. That song is very Americana and almost Petty-esque in a way. For that song we literally came from the road and headed right into the studio and that was the first song that was brought to the table. It was cut in two or three takes."[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [5]
Alternative Addiction [6]
Jesus Freak Hideout [7]
Sputnikmusic [8]
The Tune [9]

Smoke & Mirrors received mixed reviews from critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic had a mixed review of the album, calling it ingratiating, but also commented on how the album would "never [form] anything amounting to any identity."[10]

Chart performance

In the United States, the album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, which became its peak on the chart.[11] It sold 54,000 copies in its first week, and became Lifehouse's fourth studio album to chart in the top ten.[12] The album remained on the chart for twenty consecutive weeks.[13] The album has sold 483,377 in the United States and one million worldwide.

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "All In"   Jason Wade, Jude Cole 3:54
2. "Nerve Damage"   Wade, Cole 4:27
3. "Had Enough" (feat. Chris Daughtry) Wade, Daughtry, Richard Marx 3:45
4. "Halfway Gone"   Wade, Cole, Kevin Rudolf, Jacob Kasher 3:14
5. "It Is What It Is"   Wade, Cole 3:20
6. "From Where You Are"   Wade 3:06
7. "Smoke & Mirrors"   Wade, Cole 4:25
8. "Falling In"   Wade, Cole, Rudolf, Kasher 3:44
9. "Wrecking Ball"   Wade, Cole, Bryce Soderberg, Ricky Woolstenhulme Jr. 4:24
10. "Here Tomorrow Gone Today"   Wade, Cole 3:09
11. "By Your Side"   Wade, Cole 4:08
12. "In Your Skin"   Wade, Cole 3:24
Deluxe Edition[14][15]
No. Title Writer(s) Length
13. "All That I’m Asking For"   Wade, Cole 3:55
14. "Crash and Burn"   Wade 4:15
15. "Everything" (live in-studio version) Wade 6:26
16. "Near Life Experience"   Wade 4:11
17. "Don't Wake Me When It's Over" (iTunes exclusive)   3:26
18. "Best of Me (What's Left of Me)"     3:05
19. "Halfway Gone" (Demolition Crew remix)   3:35

Personnel

Lifehouse
Additional musicians
Production

Chart performance

Chart Peak Position
US Billboard 200 6[16]
Canadian Albums Chart 15
German Albums Chart [17] 38

References

  1. ^ "Lifehouse : Biography". Lifehousemusic.com. Geffen Records. http://www.lifehousemusic.com/bio/. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  2. ^ "Lifehouse Interview with Bryce Soderberg". About.com. The New York Times Company. http://top40.about.com/od/lifehouse/a/lifehouseinterview.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  3. ^ "Kevin Rudolf Mellows Out Lifehouse". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/column/mashupmondays/kevin-rudolf-mellows-out-lifehouse-1004084064.story#/column/mashupmondays/kevin-rudolf-mellows-out-lifehouse-1004084064.story. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  4. ^ "Interview with Ricky Woolstenhulme Jr. of Lifehouse". They Will Rock You. TheyWillRockYou.com. http://theywillrockyou.com/2010/01/ricky-woolstenhulme-jr-lifehouse/. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: Smoke & Mirrors". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1683001. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  6. ^ Review of "Smoke & Mirrors" by Lifehouse, Alternative Addiction, http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/newmusic/exec/albumreviews.asp?id=928, retrieved 2010-08-08 
  7. ^ Schexnayder, Nathaniel. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Lifehouse, "Smoke & Mirrors: Deluxe Edition" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/SmokeandMirrorsDeluxeEdition.asp. Retrieved 2010-08-08. 
  8. ^ Ponton, Jared. "Review: Smoke & Mirrors". Sputnikmusic. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=43970. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  9. ^ Kasko, Jordan. "Lifehouse - Smoke And Mirrors (2010)". The Tune. http://www.thetunemusic.com/2011/03/lifehouse-smoke-mirrors-2010.html. Retrieved 8 April 2011. 
  10. ^ "Allmusic review of Smoke & Mirrors". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1683001. Retrieved 2011-06-09. 
  11. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/billboard-200?chartDate=2010-03-20. Retrieved 2010-08-08. 
  12. ^ "Lady Antebellum Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/news/lady-antebellum-returns-to-no-1-on-billboard-1004073987.story?tag=hpfeed. Retrieved 2010-08-08. 
  13. ^ "Lifehouse Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/artist/lifehouse/32520#/artist/lifehouse/chart-history/32520?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved 2010-08-08. 
  14. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/preorder/smoke-mirrors-deluxe-version/id355389175
  15. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003A3XLL4
  16. ^ Caulfield, Keith. "Lady Antebellum Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200". billboard.com. March 10, 2010.
  17. ^ http://www.mtv.de/charts/album50
Lifehouse
Jason Wade • Rick Woolstenhulme Jr. • Bryce Soderberg • Ben Carey
Sean Woolstenhulme • Sergio Andrade • Jon Palmer • Collin Hayden • Aaron Lord
Studio albums
No Name Face (2000) • Stanley Climbfall (2002) • Lifehouse (2005) • Who We Are (2007) • Smoke & Mirrors (2010)
Singles
Other releases
DVDs
Other Songs
Related articles