Sweeter (album)
Encyclopedia
Sweeter is the fourth studio album by American
singer-songwriter
Gavin DeGraw
. The album was released in the United States
on September 20, 2011 and features tracks co-written with other artists for the very first time, including Ryan Tedder
and Andrew Frampton
. The lead single "Not Over You
" was released to mainstream radio and to iTunes
in June. The track was co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder, with lyrical arrangements by J. Barrera.
that "For this album in particular what happened was there were things that I did musically that I recorded that I hadn’t recorded before. Continuing he explained, "Some of the types of singing that I’m doing on this album, I’ve done it live but I’ve never actually recorded it this way." Gavin also described the album as "just funkier and more sexy than the albums I’ve made in the past. Not that every song is about bumping and grinding cause that’s not at all the record I’m saying I made. It’s just a sexier more intimate type of album.”
's space in Venice
, CA and the legendary Henson Recording Studios
in Hollywood. The album finds DeGraw experimenting with new sounds, which resulted in a potent, swaggering strut, both musically and lyrically, on sexually charged songs like the R&B-infused "Sweeter" and "Radiation." The racier moments are balanced out by more emotionally transparent songs like the vigorous "Not Over You," and the uplifting "Soldier" and "You Know Where I'm At," which convey vulnerability while still managing to feel distinctly masculine.
He decided to work with co-writers for the first time as a way to broaden his horizons, such as Ryan Tedder
, who also co-wrote and produced "Sweeter," and Andrew Frampton
. He also worked with a host of producers including Butch Walker
, Eric Rosse
and Ron Aniello
.
of Allmusic rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that "Sweeter benefits from greater textures in his surroundings, stronger hooks in the melodies, and, for once, a sensibility that doesn’t sacrifice the present for the sake of paying respect to the past." Jody Rosen
from Rolling Stone
gave the album a positive review, stating that: "The 10 songs on Sweeter, DeGraw's fourth album, are taut, efficient and hook-packed, with guitars bolstering the big choruses. DeGraw is an excellent singer, with a hint of grit in his tenor that tips power ballads like "Soldier" toward soul music." Melissa Maerz wrote a positive review for Entertainment Weekly
, saying that [...] "Well, there's a half-dozen good ones on his fourth full-length Sweeter (check the title track). Too bad the other half's weighed down by painfully mopey, girl-done-left-me blues." Ken Capobianco wrote a more mixed review for Boston Globe, stating that [...] "The results are predictably formulaic, as seen on their co-writing effort, “Not Over You,’." Ian Drew of Us Magazine wrote favorably that "Though these 10 short tracks tend to sound a bit same-y, it's hard not to get into hearing the singer's warm, gruff voice back at work, especially on the lively title track."
at number eight, selling 34,000 copies in its first week. It is DeGraw's second top-ten album, his first being his self-titled album
(2008), which debuted at number seven, with 66,000 copies sold in its first week.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Gavin DeGraw
Gavin DeGraw
Gavin Shane DeGraw is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is known for his songs "Chariot", "Follow Through", "I Don't Want to Be" , "In Love with a Girl", and "Not Over You".-Early life:DeGraw grew up in the Catskills in South Fallsburg,...
. The album was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on September 20, 2011 and features tracks co-written with other artists for the very first time, including Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder
Ryan Benjamin Tedder is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the frontman of the pop rock band, OneRepublic, though he has an independent career as songwriter and producer for various artists such as Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, Far East Movement, Jordin Sparks, Leona...
and Andrew Frampton
Andrew Frampton
Andrew James Ker Frampton is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and who also has the ability to play at full-back. He currently plays for Gillingham.-Early career:...
. The lead single "Not Over You
Not Over You
"Not Over You" is a song by American recording artist Gavin DeGraw, released as the lead-single of his fourth studio album Sweeter, on May 17, 2011. The song was written and produced by DeGraw and Ryan Tedder. The song poignantly evokes the difficulty of getting over someone...
" was released to mainstream radio and to iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in June. The track was co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder, with lyrical arrangements by J. Barrera.
Background
DeGraw defined the album as "more refined yet edgier sound". He revealed to The ExaminerThe Examiner
The Examiner can refer to:* The Examiner , an early 18th century journal with contributions by Jonathan Swift*The Examiner, a weekly paper published between 1808 and 1886*The Examiner , a weekly paper in Beaumont, Texas...
that "For this album in particular what happened was there were things that I did musically that I recorded that I hadn’t recorded before. Continuing he explained, "Some of the types of singing that I’m doing on this album, I’ve done it live but I’ve never actually recorded it this way." Gavin also described the album as "just funkier and more sexy than the albums I’ve made in the past. Not that every song is about bumping and grinding cause that’s not at all the record I’m saying I made. It’s just a sexier more intimate type of album.”
Composition
"Not Over You," which poignantly evokes the difficulty of getting over someone, is one of two songs Gavin co-wrote with Ryan Tedder for Sweeter, which was recorded in several locations, including Ryan's studio in Denver, Blackbird Studio in Nashville, producer Butch WalkerButch Walker
Butch Walker is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.-Career:Walker grew up in Cartersville,...
's space in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, CA and the legendary Henson Recording Studios
Henson Recording Studios
Henson Recording Studios was established in 2000 at the former A&M Studios. The remake of We Are the World was recorded at Henson Recording Studios in February 2010 to benefit the Haiti earthquake victims....
in Hollywood. The album finds DeGraw experimenting with new sounds, which resulted in a potent, swaggering strut, both musically and lyrically, on sexually charged songs like the R&B-infused "Sweeter" and "Radiation." The racier moments are balanced out by more emotionally transparent songs like the vigorous "Not Over You," and the uplifting "Soldier" and "You Know Where I'm At," which convey vulnerability while still managing to feel distinctly masculine.
He decided to work with co-writers for the first time as a way to broaden his horizons, such as Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder
Ryan Benjamin Tedder is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the frontman of the pop rock band, OneRepublic, though he has an independent career as songwriter and producer for various artists such as Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, Far East Movement, Jordin Sparks, Leona...
, who also co-wrote and produced "Sweeter," and Andrew Frampton
Andrew Frampton
Andrew James Ker Frampton is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and who also has the ability to play at full-back. He currently plays for Gillingham.-Early career:...
. He also worked with a host of producers including Butch Walker
Butch Walker
Butch Walker is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.-Career:Walker grew up in Cartersville,...
, Eric Rosse
Eric Rosse
Eric Rosse is a record producer. He is best known for his work with singer Tori Amos, particularly production of her albums Little Earthquakes and Grammy nominated Under the Pink. He also produced Anna Nalick's album Wreck of the Day and Lisa Marie Presley's debut album To Whom It May Concern...
and Ron Aniello
Ron Aniello
Ron Aniello is an American; Grammy Award nominated, multi-award–winning, multi-platinum record producer. Some of the noteworthy artists that he has worked with include; Lifehouse, Barenaked Ladies, Guster, Jars of Clay, Days of the New, Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash, Ashley Tesoro, Patti...
.
"Co-writing with other people changed everything for me," DeGraw said. "Not only did it open my mind to new ideas, but it changed the way I wrote on my own. Playing all these different styles with other musicians led me to think about things differently when I was working by myself. I was able to tap into things I do live, dabbling with some of that late '60s, early '70s R&B stuff; I was able to record all the styles of music that I like and put them on one album. It was great to take my leash off and experiment. Although it doesn't stray too far from what I've done, I think it's the first album I've made that has caught my true sound."
Critical reception
Critical reception has been generally positive. Stephen Thomas ErlewineStephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
of Allmusic rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that "Sweeter benefits from greater textures in his surroundings, stronger hooks in the melodies, and, for once, a sensibility that doesn’t sacrifice the present for the sake of paying respect to the past." Jody Rosen
Jody Rosen
Jody Rosen is an American journalist and author. He is the music critic for the online magazine Slate, and the author of White Christmas: The Story of an American Song....
from Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
gave the album a positive review, stating that: "The 10 songs on Sweeter, DeGraw's fourth album, are taut, efficient and hook-packed, with guitars bolstering the big choruses. DeGraw is an excellent singer, with a hint of grit in his tenor that tips power ballads like "Soldier" toward soul music." Melissa Maerz wrote a positive review for Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, saying that [...] "Well, there's a half-dozen good ones on his fourth full-length Sweeter (check the title track). Too bad the other half's weighed down by painfully mopey, girl-done-left-me blues." Ken Capobianco wrote a more mixed review for Boston Globe, stating that [...] "The results are predictably formulaic, as seen on their co-writing effort, “Not Over You,’." Ian Drew of Us Magazine wrote favorably that "Though these 10 short tracks tend to sound a bit same-y, it's hard not to get into hearing the singer's warm, gruff voice back at work, especially on the lively title track."
Chart perfomance
The album debuted on the Billboard 200Billboard 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...
at number eight, selling 34,000 copies in its first week. It is DeGraw's second top-ten album, his first being his self-titled album
Gavin DeGraw (album)
Gavin DeGraw is singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw's self-titled second album. The album was released on May 6, 2008.The album debuted at number seven on the U.S...
(2008), which debuted at number seven, with 66,000 copies sold in its first week.
Track listing
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US 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... |
8 |