Shallow Life

Shallow Life
Studio album by Lacuna Coil
Released April 21, 2009 (USA) (See release history)
February 16, 2010 (Special Edition)
Recorded NRG Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre Gothic metal[1][2], Alternative metal, Gothic Rock
Length 44:00
Label Century Media, EMI
Producer Don Gilmore
Professional reviews

The reviews parameter has been deprecated. Please move reviews into the “Reception” section of the article. See Moving reviews into article space.
Lacuna Coil chronology
Visual Karma (Body, Mind and Soul)
(2008)		 Shallow Life
(2009)		 Dark Adrenaline
(2012)
Singles from Shallow Life
  1. "Spellbound"
    Released: February 24, 2009
  2. "I Like It[3]"
    Released: June 29, 2009
  3. "I Won't Tell You"
    Released: October 5, 2009
  4. "Wide Awake"
    Released: November 30, 2009

Shallow Life is the fifth album by Italian band Lacuna Coil. The album was released on April 20, 2009 in Europe and April 21 in North America. As of September, 2009, it has sold over 75,000 copies in the U.S. and 225,000 worldwide.[4]

Contents

Background

The album was recorded in autumn 2008 at a studio in Los Angeles with producer Don Gilmore.[5] According to magazine Rock Sound the album would have some Arabic influences. Scabbia noted that the album "feels more rock" and that it is "the perfect mixture between our old European sound and something more modern...some of its very heavy. The most amazing this is, we've been able to improve everything about Lacuna Coil without taking away anything good or doing something that doesn't belong."[6] Shallow Life is reportedly set to be the band's first concept album, containing references toward superficial lifestyles in the world today. The song "Spellbound" was debuted live at the Soundwave Music Festival in February 2009. The song "Not Enough" was released as a free download on the Italian Music website XL with the backstage of Spellbound video on 1 April 2009.[7] In the beginning of April the song I’m Not Afraid was released as airplay on Russian radios.

On 8 April 2009 Lacuna Coil posted all 12 tracks from their album to listen to on their MySpace profile page for one week only.

On 14 April 2009 the band created a poll on their MySpace profile for fans to choose the second single, involving nine songs from Shallow Life.[8]

Shallow Life was re-released as a double disc deluxe edition with new artwork from January 22–27, 2010 in Europe[9] and February 22, 2010 in North America. The bonus disc contains live and acoustic recordings and previously unreleased studio tracks.

Reception

Initial reviews have been fairly positive. Kerrang! magazine gave it three out of five, stating: "It may not stand along Karmacode in ten years' time...but it is an album for today." 411mania states that the band's dramatic departure from their signature heavy guitar riffs and deep and impactful lyrics in favor of a new simple musical and lyrical approach is a "step back" in comparison to their previous albums.[10] Rocksound gave them eight out of ten saying that the album is "Edgier, racier and more accessible than almost anything they’ve done to date, 'Shallow Life' is the sound of a band that’s reaping the rewards of over a decade in the business".

Track listing

All lyrics written by Lacuna Coil & Don Gilmore, all music composed by Lacuna Coil.

No. Title Length
1. "Survive"   3:34
2. "I Won't Tell You"   3:49
3. "Not Enough"   3:40
4. "I’m Not Afraid"   3:22
5. "I Like It"   3:42
6. "Underdog"   3:40
7. "The Pain"   4:00
8. "Spellbound"   3:21
9. "Wide Awake"   3:51
10. "The Maze"   3:38
11. "Unchained"   3:22
12. "Shallow Life"   4:00

Bonus tracks

Limited Edition Digipack & iTunes edition
No. Title Length
13. "Oblivion"   4:08
Play.com Exclusive CD & DVD Digipack
No. Title Length
1. "Video for lead single "Spellbound"" (Exclusive to UK customers who ordered through Play.com)  
Japanese high-fidelity SHM-CD format edition
No. Title Length
14. "The Last Goodbye"   4:15

Special edition 2 CD[11]

Disc 2 – CD (Disc 1 is the same of the standard release)
No. Title Length
1. "The Last Goodbye"   4:15
2. "Leaving Alone"   4:09
3. "Oblivion"   4:09
4. "Spellbound" (acoustic) 2:52
5. "Closer" (acoustic) 3:36
6. "Within Me" (acoustic) 3:14
7. "Survive" (live) 3:47
8. "I'm Not Afraid" (live) 3:34
9. "I Won't Tell You" (live) 3:53
10. "Tightrope" (live) 4:22
11. "Fragments Of Faith" (live) 4:18
12. "The Game" (live) 3:39

Singles

Credits and personnel

Lacuna Coil
Production
Other personnel

Publishing

  • All music by: Lacuna Coil
  • All keyboards by: Marco Coti Zelati
  • All lyrics by: Lacuna Coil / Don Gilmore
  • All music and lyrics published by Lacuna Coil / High Speed Chase, ASCAP
  • Administered by Kobalt

Other credits

  • Management: Adam (DOOM) Sewell for Riot Rock Management
  • Booking: Paul Ryan (UK), Tim Borror (US) for The Agency Group
  • Legal Representation: Michael Toorock, Toorock and Rosen, LLP
  • Tour Management: Mark "Gus" Guy

Charts and certifications

Chart (2009)[16][17] Provider(s) Peak
position		 Certification Sales/shipments
Austrian Albums Chart IFPI 68
Belgian (Flanders) Albums Chart 74
Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart 60
Canadian Albums Chart Nielsen SoundScan 44
Dutch Albums Chart IFPI 76
European Albums Chart 39
French Albums Chart SNEP 46
German Albums Chart Media Control 52
Greek Albums Chart IFPI 15
Irish Albums Chart IRMA 55
Italian Albums Chart FIMI 25
Spanish Albums Chart PROMUSICAE 95
Swiss Albums Chart Media Control 64
UK Albums Chart BPI/OCC 42
UK Rock Chart 2
U.S. Billboard 200 RIAA 16 75,000[18]
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums 2
Worldwide sales
225.000

Release history

Country Date[19]
Italy April 17, 2009
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Benelux
United Kingdom April 20, 2009
France
Greece
Denmark
Norway
North America April 21, 2009
Spain
Portugal
Sweden April 22, 2009
Finland
Hungary
Japan[20] May 20, 2009

References

  1. ^ http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/lacuna_coil/shallow_life/index.html
  2. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1536306
  3. ^ http://www.emptyspiral.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1025&mode=&order=0&thold=0 | "I Like It" Music Video News
  4. ^ http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=42227&comments=1
  5. ^ LACUNA COIL: "Shallow Life" Due In The Spring Roadrunner Records. Accessed December 13, 2008.
  6. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=112717
  7. ^ http://xl.repubblica.it/dettaglio/76254
  8. ^ LACUNA COIL - (FULL ALBUM STREAM ONLINE) MySpace. Accessed April 14, 2009.
  9. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=132987
  10. ^ http://www.411mania.com/music/album_reviews/102823/Lacuna-Coil---Shallow-Life-Review.htm
  11. ^ http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/13461532/Shallow-Life/Product.html
  12. ^ http://www.emptyspiral.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1025&mode=&order=0&thold=0
  13. ^ http://www.emptyspiral.net/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=69#4
  14. ^ http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16697
  15. ^ http://www.virginradioitaly.it/top/magazine/the_rocket/lacuna_coil_wide_awake
  16. ^ http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lacuna+Coil&titel=Shallow+Life&cat=a
  17. ^ http://acharts.us/album/43233
  18. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=123053
  19. ^ "LACUNA COIL: New Italian-Language Video Interview Available - Mar. 15, 2009". roadrunnerrecords.com. 2009-03-15. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116181. Retrieved 2009-03-17. 
  20. ^ "LACUNA COIL, Shallow Life, New album release from LACUNA COIL.". cdjapan.co.jp. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=MICP-10845. Retrieved 2009-03-04. 
Lacuna Coil
Cristina Scabbia · Andrea Ferro · Cristiano Migliore  · Marco Biazzi  · Marco Coti Zelati  · Cristiano "Criz" Mozzati
Studio albums
Live albums
EPs
Compilations
Singles
"Heaven's a Lie" · "Swamped" · "Our Truth" · "Enjoy the Silence" · "Closer" · "Within Me" · "Spellbound" · "I Like It" · "I Won't Tell You" · "Wide Awake" · "Trip the Darkness"
Tours
Related articles