Clarity (Zedd album)

Clarity
Studio album by Zedd
Released 5 October 2012 (2012-10-05)
Recorded 2011–June 2012
Genre
Length 44:27
Label Interscope
Producer
Zedd chronology
Clarity
(2012)		 True Colors
(2015)True Colors2015
Singles from Clarity
  1. "Shave It"
    Released: 4 October 2011
  2. "Spectrum"
    Released: 4 June 2012
  3. "Clarity"
    Released: 14 December 2012
  4. "Stay the Night"
    Released: 10 September 2013
  5. "Push Play"
    Released: 2013

Clarity is the debut studio album by Russian-German electronic music producer Zedd, released on 5 October 2012 by Interscope Records. A deluxe edition of the album was released on 24 September 2013, preceded by the release of the single "Stay the Night", which features Hayley Williams of Paramore, on 10 September 2013. Upon its release, the album garnered mixed reviews from critics.

Clarity spawned five officially-released singles ("Shave It", "Spectrum" and "Clarity" for the original release, and "Stay the Night" and "Push Play" for the deluxe edition) and two promotional singles, "Stache" and "Fall Into the Sky". "Shave It", the album's lead single, peaked at number four on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. It was followed by "Spectrum", which topped the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. "Clarity", the record's title track and third single, was issued in 2013, and reached into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at number eight. "Stay the Night" was the lead single of the deluxe edition of the album, and also charted on the Hot 100, reaching the Top 20 with a peak of number eighteen. "Push Play" was the second single from the deluxe version, and the last single from the album overall.

Singles

"Shave It" was released by OWSLA as a single on 4 October 2011 and as an extended play ("The Aftershave"), including remixes by Kaskade, Tommy Trash and 501, on 8 November 2011.[5] The track was shortened and renamed "Shave It Up" for inclusion on the album. The official music video premiered on 1 November 2011.[6] An extended mix of "Shave It Up" (which is around the same length as "Shave It") was released exclusively on Beatport on 22 October 2012.[7]

"Spectrum" (featuring Matthew Koma) was released as the lead single from the album on 4 June 2012 by Interscope Records.[8] The song reached number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs,[9] and the official video premiered on 15 August 2012.[10] The EP, released on 31 July 2012, contains 7 remixes from artists such as A-Trak, Armin van Buuren, Arty, Deniz Koyu and Congorock among others, alongside an acoustic version of the track, an extended version of the track and Zedd's collaboration with Nicky Romero, "Human".[11] A remix contest was hosted on Beatport, receiving over 2000 entries. The winning remix was by Shreddie Mercury, who also received an official release.[12]

"Clarity" (featuring Foxes) was released as the album's third single on 1 February 2013.[13] The song gained publicity after being performed alongside Alvin Risk on the Late Show with David Letterman on 3 January 2013. A music video directed by Jodeb was released on 11 January 2013.[14]

"Stay the Night" (featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore) was released as a single from the deluxe edition of the album and the fourth single overall on 10 September 2013. A preview of the song was uploaded to Zedd's official VEVO channel on 4 September 2013 and the music video on 23 September 2013.

Other songs

"Stache" is a promotional single from the album.[15] The official music video premiered on 2 October 2012.[16] The extended mix was the first to be released as a single exclusively on Beatport on 9 October 2012.[17] The video itself revolves around a foreign scientist hiding in an abandoned building, who's trying to finish creating an antimatter bomb called the "Clandon Particle", while U.S. forces in the country are trying to stop him from finishing it. As soldiers surround the area, the scientist is forced to detonate the entire building, in which (presumably) he ultimately dies. Throughout the entire video, the events are being broadcast on live television; small clips throughout the video show the head of national security addressing the entire country about the events as they happen. Near the end of the video, several people are revealed to have been watching the live events on television, all seemingly proud. MTV Iggy wrote "['Stache''s] climbing synth chords matches the tension and confusion while plentiful bass packs a powerful punch. We hold our breaths down to the very last minute – and ‘til the awesome end-of-song-breakdown."[18] Vocals by Lady Gaga (whom Zedd opened for during the Asian leg of her Born This Way Ball tour and producing tracks on her new album Artpop) were posted by her on SoundCloud on 6 October 2012. She then asked fans to pair the vocal track with "Stache" and selected a winner.[19] The track concludes with "DJ Zedd/ Anton, turn it up/ Let's party, let's get messed up". Jocelyn Vena of MTV said the remix was a "crunchy, at times light-hearted track, which features Gaga over the EDM star's grinding, dirty production."[20]

"Codec" is featured in the 2013 film Now You See Me and included on the accompanying soundtrack album.[21] The song was also used in an advert for the Beats Pill.[22]

"Fall Into the Sky" was released as a free "Song of the Week" on the UK iTunes Store for the week ending 23 February 2014, to promote the UK release of the deluxe edition of Clarity.[23]

Extended mixes

A different extended mix from the album was released exclusively to Beatport each week for eight weeks, starting on 9 October 2012 and ending on 26 November 2012.[24] All tracks were given new extended versions with the exceptions of "Spectrum" (for which an extended mix had already been previously released) and "Hourglass".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
EDM InsiderA+[25]
Gigwise[26]
Spin5/10[3]
Sputnikmusic[4]

Clarity was met with mixed reception from critics. Philip Sherburne of Spin rated the album a five out of ten, stating how the release contains "45 minutes of twists and turns and come-ups and codas get exhausting, and from a production perspective, there's little innovation here", which he has listen to "these sirens, whooshes, and fizzy synths a million times."[3] At Sputnikmusic, Will Robinson rated the album two stars out of five, indicating how "The redeeming qualities of Clarity exist, but they're minor and not enough to keep the album's head above water."[4] Andy Kellman of AllMusic rated the album four stars out of five, writing how "Anyone who appreciates well-crafted dance-pop should probably keep up with him."[1] At Gigwise, Peter Kandunias rated the album four stars out of ten, saying how "all sounding incredibly similar, the songs blur into one and thus 'Clarity' really lacks any clarity whatsoever."[26] Daniel Shaw of EDM Insider gave album an A+, indicating how the project "Not only does Zedd explore a wide magnitude of sounds and feels in his creative work, but he manages to create a cohesive album."[25]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at No. 38 on Billboard 200, and at No. 2 on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart, selling 12,000 copies in its first week.[27] It has sold 208,000 copies in the US as of May 2015.[28]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hourglass" (featuring Liz)
5:13
2."Shave It"Zaslavski3:10
3."Spectrum" (featuring Matthew Koma)
  • Zaslavski
  • Koma
4:03
4."Lost at Sea" (featuring Ryan Tedder)
  • Zaslavski
  • Tedder
3:45
5."Clarity" (featuring Foxes)
4:31
6."Codec"Zaslavski6:01
7."Stache"Zaslavski4:04
8."Fall Into the Sky" (with Lucky Date featuring Ellie Goulding)
  • Zaslavski
  • Goulding
  • Lucky Date
3:37
9."Follow You Down" (featuring Bright Lights)
5:47
10."Epos"Zaslavski5:36

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Clarity.[32]

  • Zedd – mastering, mixing, production (all tracks); additional backing vocals (tracks 1, 5); vocal editing (tracks 4, 5, 8); executive production
  • Bright Lights – vocals (track 9)
  • RJ Colston – additional backing vocals (track 5); additional vocals (track 8)
  • Ruud van Eijk – outside inlay artwork
  • Kevin Feller – additional backing vocals (track 5)
  • Foxes – vocals (track 5)
  • Ghostwriter – vocal engineering (track 5)
  • Ellie Goulding – vocals (track 8)
  • Mitch Kenny – engineering (track 9)
  • Matthew Koma – vocals (track 3)
  • Ashley Krajewski – vocal engineering (track 8)
  • Matt LaMotte – marketing
  • LIZ – vocals (track 1)
  • Lucky Date – production (track 8)
  • Huntley Miller – mastering
  • Malachi Mott – additional backing vocals (track 5)
  • David D. Navarro aka Roboto – artwork
  • Priya Prins – additional backing vocals (track 5)
  • Dave Rene – vocals (track 2); A&R, management
  • Drew Ressler – additional backing vocals (track 5)
  • Porter Robinson – additional backing vocals (track 5)
  • Ryan Shanahan – engineering (tracks 1, 3); additional engineering (tracks 2, 6, 7, 9, 10); vocal editing (tracks 4, 5, 8)
  • Tim Smith AKA Bitvargen – management
  • Jesse Taub – additional engineering (1–7, 9, 10); additional backing vocals (track 5); additional vocals (track 6)
  • Ryan Tedder – vocals, additional engineering (track 4)
  • Smith Carlson - engineer (track 4)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2012–14) Peak
position
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[33] 9
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[34] 77
South Korean International Albums (Gaon)[35] 70
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 30
UK Albums (OCC)[37] 104
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[38] 8
US Billboard 200[39] 38
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[40] 2
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[41] 12

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
US Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[42] 11
Chart (2014) Position
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[43] 90
US Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[44] 10

Release history

Standard edition

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Germany 5 October 2012 Digital download Universal [45]
United Kingdom 8 October 2012
  • CD
  • digital download
 Polydor [46][47]
Canada 9 October 2012 Universal [48][49]
United States Interscope [50][51]
Australia 12 October 2012 Universal [52][53]
Germany 23 November 2012 CD [54]
Japan 27 February 2013
  • CD
  • digital download
 [29][55]

Deluxe edition

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States 24 September 2013
  • CD
  • LP
  • digital download
 Interscope [31][56][57]
Australia 25 October 2013
  • CD
  • digital download
 Universal [58][59]
United Kingdom 17 February 2014 Polydor [60][61]
Germany 7 March 2014 CD Universal [62]
2 May 2014 Digital download [63]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kellman, Andy. "Clarity – Zedd". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Dolan, Jon (8 May 2013). "Zedd, Clarity". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Sherburne, Philip (12 October 2012). "Zedd, 'Clarity' Review". Spin. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Robinson, Will (8 October 2012). "Review: Zedd - Clarity". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Shave It – The Aftershave (Remixes) – EP by Zedd". iTunes Store (US). Apple. 1 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Zedd – Shave It (Official Video)". YouTube. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  7. ↑ "Shave It Up (Extended Mix)". Beatport.
  8. ↑ "Zedd : Releases : Spectrum ft. Matthew Koma". Interscope Records. 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Dance/Club Play Songs – Week of September 01, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 13 October 2012.
  10. ↑ "Zedd – Spectrum (Official Video) ft. Matthew Koma". YouTube. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "Zedd : Releases : Spectrum". Interscope Records. 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "Zedd – Spectrum". Beatport. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Clarity (feat. Foxes) – Single by Zedd". iTunes Store (AU). Apple. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  14. ↑ "Zedd – Clarity (Official Video) ft. Foxes". YouTube. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  15. ↑ Zedd (26 September 2012). "Wall Photos". Facebook. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  16. ↑ "Zedd – Stache". YouTube. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  17. ↑ "Stache (Extended Mix)". Beatport. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "Zedd — "Stache"". MTV Iggy. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "Lady Gaga’s Zedd Remix "Stache (Princess High Stache)": Listen". Idolator. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  20. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (8 October 2012). "Lady Gaga's ARTPOP 'Coming Out Really, Really Great'". MTV. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  21. ↑ "Now You See Me (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [+digital booklet]: Brian Tyler". Amazon MP3.
  22. ↑ "Meet The Beats Pills". YouTube. 25 August 2013.
  23. ↑ "Fall Into the Sky (feat. Ellie Goulding) – Single by Zedd & Lucky Date". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. 17 February 2014.
  24. ↑ Zedd (16 October 2012). "WOOHOO DJS!!!!!!!...". Facebook. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  25. 1 2 Shaw, Daniel (4 October 2012). "Zedd – Clarity (Album Review)". EDM Insider. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  26. 1 2 Kandunias, Peter (14 February 2014). "Zedd - Clarity (Interscope)". Gigwise. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  27. ↑ Kerri Mason (15 October 2012). "Zedd Rises on 'Spectrum,' Lady Gaga Ties". Billboard.
  28. ↑ Gordon Murray (29 May 2015). "Zedd Zooms In at No. 1 on Top Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard.
  29. 1 2 クラリティ [Clarity] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  30. ↑ "Clarity [Deluxe Edition] – Zedd". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  31. 1 2 "Zedd – Clarity – Only at Target". Target. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  32. ↑ Clarity (CD liner notes). Zedd. Interscope Records. 2012. B0017537-02.
  33. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 November 2013" (PDF) (1236). Pandora Archive. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  34. ↑ ゼッドのアルバム売上ランキング [Zedd album sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  35. ↑ "2013년 11주차 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  36. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Zedd – Clarity". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  37. ↑ "CHART: CLUK Update 1.03.2014 (wk8)". Zobbel. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  38. ↑ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  39. ↑ "Zedd – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Zedd. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  40. ↑ "Zedd – Chart history" Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums for Zedd. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  41. ↑ "Zedd – Chart history" Billboard Digital Albums for Zedd. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  42. ↑ "Dance/Electronic Albums: Year End 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  43. ↑ "Årslista Album – År 2014" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  44. ↑ "Dance/Electronic Albums: Year End 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  45. ↑ "Clarity von Zedd" (in German). iTunes Store (DE). Apple. 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012.
  46. ↑ "Clarity". Play.com. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  47. ↑ "Clarity by Zedd". 7digital (UK). Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  48. ↑ "Clarity by Zedd". HMV Canada. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  49. ↑ "Clarity by Zedd". 7digital (CA). Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  50. ↑ "Clarity". Amazon.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  51. ↑ "Clarity [+digital booklet]: Zedd: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  52. ↑ "Zedd Store – Clarity". Getmusic. Universal Music Australia. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  53. ↑ "Clarity by Zedd". zdigital (AU). Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  54. ↑ "Zedd | Clarity" (in German). Universal Music Germany. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  55. ↑ "Clarity by Zedd". iTunes Store (JP). Apple. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  56. ↑ "Clarity [Deluxe Edition] (LP) – Zedd". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  57. ↑ "Clarity (Deluxe Edition) by Zedd". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  58. ↑ "Clarity (Deluxe Edition)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  59. ↑ "Clarity (Deluxe) by Zedd". zdigital (AU). Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  60. ↑ "Clarity (Deluxe Edition) by Zedd". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  61. ↑ "Clarity (Deluxe) by Zedd". 7digital (UK). Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  62. ↑ "Zedd | Clarity (Deluxe)" (in German). Universal Music Germany. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  63. ↑ "Clarity (Deluxe Edition) by Zedd". iTunes Store (DE). Apple. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
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