Shallow Life
{{Infobox album
| name = Shallow Life
| type = studio
| artist = Lacuna Coil
| cover = Shallow Life.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = 1 April 2009
| recorded = 2008
| venue =
| studio = NRG, Los Angeles, California
| genre = Gothic metal,{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/awards/archive.php?year=2009|title=Metal Storm Awards 2009 - Metal Storm|website=www.metalstorm.net}} electronic rock, hard rock
| length = 43:59
| label = Century Media, EMI
| producer = Don Gilmore[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/don-gilmore-mn0000798368 Don Gilmore credits at Allmusic]
| prev_title = Visual Karma (Body, Mind and Soul)
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = Dark Adrenaline
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Shallow Life
| type = Studio
| single1 = Spellbound
| single1date = 24 February 2009
| single2date = 29 June 2009
| single3 = I Won't Tell You
| single3date = 5 October 2009
| single4 = Wide Awake
| single4date = 30 November 2009
}}
}}
Shallow Life is the fifth studio album by Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil. The album was released on 1 April 2009 in Europe, and North America through Century Media Records, and EMI. As of September 2009, it has sold over 75,000 copies in the U.S. and 225,000 worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=42227&comments=1|title=Lacuna Coil Reveals 'Shallow Life' Release Dates}}
Background
The album was recorded in Autumn 2008 at NRG Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with producer Don Gilmore.[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=11078 LACUNA COIL: "Shallow Life" Due In The Spring] Roadrunner Records. Accessed December 13, 2008. 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 it's 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."{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=112717 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - LACUNA COIL Singer CRISTINA SCABBIA Says New Album 'Feels More Rock' |access-date=2009-01-19 |archive-date=2009-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123005122/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=112717 |url-status=dead }} Shallow Life was 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.{{cite web|url=http://xl.repubblica.it/dettaglio/76254|title=XL Repubblica - Dettaglio articolo}} 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.[https://www.myspace.com/lacunacoil LACUNA COIL - (FULL ALBUM STREAM ONLINE)] MySpace. Accessed 14 April 2009.
Shallow Life was re-released as a double disc deluxe edition with new artwork from 22–27 January 2010 in Europe,{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=132987 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - LACUNA COIL: 'Shallow Life' Deluxe Edition Due This Month |website=www.roadrunnerrecords.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119060745/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=132987 |archive-date=2010-01-19}} and 22 February 2010 in North America.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} The bonus disc contains live and acoustic recordings and previously unreleased studio tracks.
Reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 68/100{{cite web| title = Shallow Life Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More| work = Metacritic| publisher = CBS Interactive| url = http://www.metacritic.com/music/shallow-life| accessdate = 27 February 2012}}
|rev1 =Allmusic
|rev1score ={{Rating|2.5|5}} [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1536306|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]
|rev2 =Kerrang!
|rev2score ={{Rating|3|5}}
|rev3 =Popmatters
|rev3score =6/10[https://www.popmatters.com/73676-lacuna-coil-shallow-life-2496020368.html Popmatter Review]
|rev4 =Sputnik Music
|rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}} [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review_30225 Sputnik Music Review]
|rev5 =Metal Hammer
|rev5score = {{Rating|6|10}}
|rev6 = Alternative Press
|rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}
|rev7 = Rock Sound
|rev7score = {{Rating|8|10}} [http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/lacuna-coil-shallow-life Rock Sound Review]
}}
The Album received mixed reviews from music critics. Allmusic writer, gave a mixed review to the album and rated it as two-and-a-half stars out of five and wrote: "In all fairness, Shallow Life, does come on very much as expected based on Lacuna Coil{{'}}s preceding career arc, and many observers would argue that backtracking isn't the solution either if a band is to prosper in the long run -- but it may have to be here, given the underwhelming sales and vociferous critical backlash bestowed upon the album." 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." Rock Sound 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". Despite the mixed reaction, the track "Wide Awake" received near universal praise.
Track listing
{{track listing
| all_lyrics = Lacuna Coil & Don Gilmore
| all_music = Lacuna Coil
| total_length = 43:59
| title1 = Survive
| length1 = 3:34
| title2 = I Won't Tell You
| length2 = 3:49
| title3 = Not Enough
| length3 = 3:40
| title4 = I’m Not Afraid
| length4 = 3:22
| title5 = I Like It
| length5 = 3:42
| title6 = Underdog
| length6 = 3:40
| title7 = The Pain
| length7 = 4:00
| title8 = Spellbound
| length8 = 3:21
| title9 = Wide Awake
| length9 = 3:51
| title10 = The Maze
| length10 = 3:38
| title11 = Unchained
| length11 = 3:22
| title12 = Shallow Life
| length12 = 4:00
}}
;Bonus tracks
{{track listing
| headline = Limited Edition Digipack & iTunes edition
| total_length = 48:07
| title13 = Oblivion
| length13 = 4:08
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Japanese edition
| total_length = 49:03
| title14 = The Last Goodbye
| note14 = from Saw VI
| length14 = 4:15
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Play.com Exclusive CD & DVD Digipack
| title1 = Video for lead single "Spellbound"
| note1 = Exclusive to UK customers who ordered through [http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/9368467/Shallow-Life/Product.html Play.com]
}}
;Special Edition (Double disc)
{{track listing
| headline = Special edition: Disc 2 (Disc 1 is the same of the standard release)
| total_length = 45:47
| title1 = The Last Goodbye
| length1 = 4:15
| title2 = Leaving Alone
| length2 = 4:09
| title3 = Oblivion
| length3 = 4:08
| title4 = Spellbound
| note4 = acoustic
| length4 = 2:52
| title5 = Closer
| note5 = acoustic
| length5 = 3:36
| title6 = Within Me
| note6 = acoustic
| length6 = 3:14
| title7 = Survive
| note7 = live
| length7 = 3:47
| title8 = I'm Not Afraid
| note8 = live
| length8 = 3:34
| title9 = I Won't Tell You
| note9 = live
| length9 = 3:53
| title10 = Tight Rope
| note10 = live
| length10 = 4:22
| title11 = Fragments of Faith
| note11 = live
| length11 = 4:18
| title12 = The Game
| note12 = live
| length12 = 3:39
}}
Singles
- "Spellbound": "Spellbound" was released on 20 March 2009, via digital download. No physical release is scheduled. "Spellbound" was released on the "Liquid Metal" and "Octane" stations of Sirius XM satellite radio on 14 February and was released officially on their MySpace on 24 February.
- "I Like It": The single was chosen after a poll on their MySpace profile, involving nine other songs from Shallow Life. The video for "I Like It" was filmed in May. The music video was shot in Kansas City by the American director Kevin James Custer{{cite web|url=http://www.emptyspiral.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1025&mode=&order=0&thold=0|title = News | Emptyspiral| date=15 November 2023 }} and it was released 29 June 2009. Despite being released as a single, however, it has never been performed live.{{cite web |url=http://www.emptyspiral.net/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=69#4 |title= Emptyspiral.net - the Lacuna Coil Community - Content|website=www.emptyspiral.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121171417/http://www.emptyspiral.net/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=69 |archive-date=2011-11-21}}
- "I Won't Tell You": The single was released on 5 October 2009 on American mainstream rock radio stations.{{cite web |url=http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16697 |title=FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more! |accessdate=2007-04-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101233136/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16697 |archivedate=2013-01-01 }} The video for "I Won't Tell You" was filmed on December 5 in Milan by the Italian director SaKu, who also directed the video for "Spellbound." The music video was released on the band's official MySpace page on 12 January 2010.
- "Wide Awake": The single was released on 30 November 2009 for Italian radio stations as a special single for the holidays.http://www.virginradioitaly.it/top/magazine/the_rocket/lacuna_coil_wide_awake {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}
Credits and personnel
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Lacuna Coil
- Andrea Ferro - male vocals
- Cristina Scabbia - female vocals
- Marco "Maus" Biazzi - lead guitar
- Cristiano "Pizza" Migliore - rhythm guitar
- Marco Coti Zelati - bass, keyboards
- Cristiano "CriZ" Mozzati - drums
;Production
- Don Gilmore - production and engineering
- Mark Kiczula- assistant recording engineering
- Josh Newell- studio assistance
- Recorded at NRG studios, North Hollywood, CA
- Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound
;Other personnel
- Chris Denner - band photography
- Art direction, design & production by Stefan Wibbeke, Media Logistics GmbH, medialogistics.com
{{col-2}}
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
{{col-end}}
Charts
Release history
class="wikitable" | |
Country | |
---|---|
| Italy
| rowspan="5" | 1 April 2009 | |
| Germany | |
| Austria | |
| Switzerland | |
| Benelux | |
| United Kingdom
| rowspan="5" | 20 April 2009 | |
| France | |
| Greece | |
| Denmark | |
| Norway | |
| North America
| rowspan="3" | 21 April 2009 | |
| Spain | |
| Portugal | |
| Sweden
| rowspan="3" | 22 April 2009 | |
| Finland | |
| Hungary | |
| Japan{{cite web | title=LACUNA COIL, Shallow Life, New album release from LACUNA COIL. | website= cdjapan.co.jp| url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=MICP-10845 | accessdate=2009-03-04}} | 20 May 2009 |