Rabbits on the Run
Encyclopedia
Rabbits on the Run is the fourth studio album from Vanessa Carlton
, which was released on July 26, 2011 under the label Razor & Tie
.
's A Brief History of Time
, and Richard Adams
's Watership Down
. In order to achieve that sound, Carlton recorded the album direct to tape and recruited a tight-knit team of collaborators, which included producer Steve Osborne
, The Upwelling
guitarist Ari Ingber, and My Morning Jacket
drummer Patrick Hallahan. She also enlisted the help of a children's choir, namely the Capital Children's Choir, saying that some of her melodies were "just built" for choral arrangements. It was also mentioned in the video that the recording for the album took place in Peter Gabriel
's Real World Studios
in Box, England, which Carlton considered as the secret "fifth element she needed" to complete the album.
On March 1, 2011, it was announced that Carlton had signed with Razor & Tie
. According to Amazon.com the paperback sheet music accompaniment to the album will be published in September 2011.
On November 10, 2011, it was announced that an EP would be released entitled Hear the Bells It contains the songs "Do You Hear What I Hear?", "Happy Xmas(War is Over)," as well as acoustic versions of her 2002 single "A Thousand Miles" and the new song "Hear the Bells." It contains a similar sound and style to Rabbits on the Run.
, and The Today Show
, and was interviewed on Chelsea Lately
. She also performed "I Don't Want to Be a Bride" on Conan
.
Carlton recorded a 'Master Class' for VH1, teaching viewers how to play 'Carousel'.
Carlton also conducted an interview with ABC News in June 2011, discussing the meaning behind the album's title. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcLo1Nh14rY&feature=related)
As part of promoting the album, Vanessa recorded a cover of Mumford and Sons' 'The Cave' for Billboard.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpX80bxWccI&feature=related)
On September 19, A tweet from Vanessa's account made by her management stated that "I Don't Want To Be A Bride" would be one of the songs that would be on sale the following week. It is also implied that it is to be the next single off the record.
, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 72, based on 6 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".
As of August 2011, Amazon.com had voted the album number 51 on their top 100 albums of 2011.
Vanessa Carlton
Vanessa Lee Carlton is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Upon completion of her education at the School of American Ballet, Carlton chose to pursue singing instead, performing in New York bars and clubs while attending university. Three months after recording a demo with producer Peter...
, which was released on July 26, 2011 under the label Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
.
Background
On October 2, 2010, Vanessa Carlton tweeted that she had completed her fourth studio album. In February 2011, a video was posted to Carlton's official website. In the video, she explained the process for producing her album, and stated that she questioned whether or not she would make another record, as she had been experimenting with writing film scores. She further explained that after deciding to produce another record, Carlton felt she needed to create the ideal environment in order to produce what she felt was the perfect album. She said that she wanted to capture a creepy, honest, dreamy, fantastical sound with 'Rabbits on the Run,' a title and concept inspired by books like Stephen HawkingStephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
's A Brief History of Time
A Brief History of Time
A Brief History of Time is a popular science book written by renown physicist Stephen Hawking and first published by the Bantam Dell Publishing Group in 1988. It became a best-seller and has sold more than 10 million copies...
, and Richard Adams
Richard Adams
Richard Adams was a non-conforming English Presbyterian divine, known as author of sermons and other theological writings.-Life:...
's Watership Down
Watership Down
Watership Down is a classic heroic fantasy novel, written by English author Richard Adams, about a small group of rabbits. Although the animals in the story live in their natural environment, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language , proverbs, poetry, and mythology...
. In order to achieve that sound, Carlton recorded the album direct to tape and recruited a tight-knit team of collaborators, which included producer Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne is a multi-platinum selling British record producer. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, such as New Order, Doves, U2 and KT Tunstall. During the 1990s, Osborne was half of the Perfecto Records team, a production and remix collaboration with Paul Oakenfold; the artists...
, The Upwelling
The Upwelling
The Upwelling is a band with roots in the New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston areas that currently resides in Queens. The band was founded and originally consisted of brother Ari and Josh Ingber on guitar and drums respectively...
guitarist Ari Ingber, and My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
drummer Patrick Hallahan. She also enlisted the help of a children's choir, namely the Capital Children's Choir, saying that some of her melodies were "just built" for choral arrangements. It was also mentioned in the video that the recording for the album took place in Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's Real World Studios
Real World Studios
Real World Studios is a residential recording studio in Box, Wiltshire, England associated with the Real World Records Ltd. record label founded by rock musician Peter Gabriel...
in Box, England, which Carlton considered as the secret "fifth element she needed" to complete the album.
On March 1, 2011, it was announced that Carlton had signed with Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
. According to Amazon.com the paperback sheet music accompaniment to the album will be published in September 2011.
On November 10, 2011, it was announced that an EP would be released entitled Hear the Bells It contains the songs "Do You Hear What I Hear?", "Happy Xmas(War is Over)," as well as acoustic versions of her 2002 single "A Thousand Miles" and the new song "Hear the Bells." It contains a similar sound and style to Rabbits on the Run.
Promotion
Carlton performed lead single "Carousel" on The Tonight Show with Jay LenoThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
, and The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
, and was interviewed on Chelsea Lately
Chelsea Lately
Chelsea Lately is an American late night comedy talk show hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler on E!. The show debuted on July 16, 2007, and is produced by Handler's production company, Borderline Amazing Productions...
. She also performed "I Don't Want to Be a Bride" on Conan
Conan
-People:* Conan O'Brien , American talk show host* Saint Conan , bishop of the Isle of Man* Conan I of Rennes , king of Brittany* Conan of Cornwall , medieval bishop...
.
Carlton recorded a 'Master Class' for VH1, teaching viewers how to play 'Carousel'.
Carlton also conducted an interview with ABC News in June 2011, discussing the meaning behind the album's title. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcLo1Nh14rY&feature=related)
As part of promoting the album, Vanessa recorded a cover of Mumford and Sons' 'The Cave' for Billboard.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpX80bxWccI&feature=related)
Singles
The lead single from Rabbits on the Run was "Carousel", released on May 3, 2011 with an accompanying music video released online May 16, 2011.On September 19, A tweet from Vanessa's account made by her management stated that "I Don't Want To Be A Bride" would be one of the songs that would be on sale the following week. It is also implied that it is to be the next single off the record.
Reception
Rabbits on the Run received positive reviews from music critics. At MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 72, based on 6 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".
As of August 2011, Amazon.com had voted the album number 51 on their top 100 albums of 2011.
Track listing
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
62 |