Soundboy Rock

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Soundboy Rock

| type = Studio

| artist = Groove Armada

| cover = GrooveArmada-SoundboyRockSmall.jpg

| alt =

| released = 4 May 2007

| recorded =

| studio =

| length = 60:34

| label = Columbia

| producer = Groove Armada

| prev_title = The Best of Groove Armada

| prev_year = 2004

| next_title = Black Light

| next_year = 2010

}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/soundboy-rock-mw0000779864|title=Soundboy Rock - Groove Armada | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic|access-date=2 January 2022}}

| rev2 = Entertainment.ie

| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://entertainment.ie/uncategorized/groove-armada-soundboy-rock-177004/|title=Groove Armada - Soundboy Rock|date=16 May 2007|website=Entertainment.ie|access-date=2 January 2022}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/may/04/electronicmusic.shopping1|title=CD: Groove Armada, Soundboy Rock|date=4 May 2007|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2 January 2022}}

| rev4 = NME

| rev4score = 5/10{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-groove-armada-8524-322812|title=Groove Armada|website=Nme.com|date=10 May 2007|access-date=2 January 2022}}

| rev5 = Pitchfork

| rev5score = 5.8/10{{cite web |last=Ewing |first=Tom |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11300-soundboy-rock/ |title=Groove Armada - Soundboy Rock|website=Pitchfork |access-date=19 August 2019}}

| rev6 = The Skinny

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Benyon |first=Luc |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/clubs/reviews/groove-armada-soundboy-rock |title=Groove Armada - Soundboy Rock|work=The Skinny |access-date=19 August 2019}}

| rev7 = Slant Magazine

| rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Dave |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/groove-armada-soundboy-rock/ |title=Review: Groove Armada, Soundboy Rock|website=Slant Magazine |access-date=19 August 2019}}

}}

Soundboy Rock is the fifth studio album by English electronic music duo Groove Armada, released on 4 May 2007 by Columbia Records.

Content

The cover art was created by pixel artists eBoy.{{Cite web|url=https://db.eboy.com/|title=Db.eboy.com|website=Db.eboy.com|accessdate=2 January 2022}}

The song "From the Rooftops" contains an uncredited sample of Jesus Loves You's 1989 single, "After the Love" (written by Boy George and Jon Moss).{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

Release

The album was released on 4 May 2007 on CD, vinyl and also as a limited CD package with two bonus tracks (listed below). The first single from the album, "Get Down", was released prior to the album's release on 23 April 2007. The second single, "Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)", followed in July. The two singles reached, respectively, numbers 8 and 9 on the UK Singles Chart, the duo's highest chart positions ever.{{Cite web |title=Groove Armada {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/2700/groove-armada/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=www.officialcharts.com}}

The third single, "Love Sweet Sound", was released in late 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1109191-Groove-Armada-Love-Sweet-Sound|title=Groove Armada – Love Sweet Sound (2007, Cardboard Sleeve, CDr)|access-date=2 January 2022|website=Discogs.com}}

Critical reception

Although the duo claimed the album was their best, the reviews were not always positive. In a three-star review for Slant Magazine, Dave Hughes criticised Groove Armada's lack of innovation, but praised the level of execution on the record. His observed that the album "manages to be familiar without being boring" concluding that "though it fails to inspire, it also, happily, fails to annoy."{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Dave |date=2008-04-02 |title=Review: Groove Armada, Soundboy Rock |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/groove-armada-soundboy-rock/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}} John Burghess of The Guardian was of a similar opinion calling the album "derivative, but sparky and well-executed."{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=John |date=2007-05-04 |title=CD: Groove Armada, Soundboy Rock |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/may/04/electronicmusic.shopping1 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} Writing for Pitchfork, Tom Ewing agreed with the duo's claim that Soundboy Rock was their best offering, but commented that their creative limitations were also obvious. He noted that every track missed a "killer idea that would make it vital." Two tracks did stand out for him, however: the first single, "Get Down," and the follow-up, "Song 4 Mutya," which he called inspired.{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Tom |date=April 14, 2008 |title=Groove Armada: Soundboy Rock |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11300-soundboy-rock/ |access-date=2 January 2022 |website=Pitchfork.com}}

A very positive review came from Gemma Padley of BBC. She described the album as eclectic and unpredictable, with every track representing a different genre as breakbeat, electropop, trip hop, electro-reggae and grime. Despite this, she commented, the album maintains continuity.{{Cite web |last=Padley |first=Gemma |title=BBC - Music - Review of Groove Armada - Soundboy Rock |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/294h/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}

Track listing

  1. "Hasta Luego Mr. Fab (Interlude)" (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay) – 1:01
  2. "Get Down" (featuring Stush) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Julie McAlpine) – 3:53
  3. "The Things That We Could Share" (featuring Simon Lord) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Simon Lord) – 3:59
  4. "Save My Soul" (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay) – 4:24
  5. "What's Your Version?" (featuring Jeb Loy Nichols) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Tim Hutton) – 3:48
  6. "Paris" (featuring Candi Staton) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Candi Staton) – 5:38
  7. "Love Sweet Sound" (featuring Candi Staton) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Candi Staton) – 4:37
  8. "The Girls Say" (featuring Rhymefest & Jack Splash) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Tim Hutton, Jack Splash) – 4:03
  9. "Lightsonic" (featuring M.A.D) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Mike Daniels) – 6:55
  10. "Soundboy Rock" (featuring M.A.D) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Mike Daniels) – 3:55
  11. "Drop That Thing" (featuring Jack Splash & Stush) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Jack Splash, Julie McAlpine) – 3:06
  12. "Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)" (featuring Mutya Buena) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Tim Hutton, Karen Poole) – 4:11
  13. "From the Rooftops" (featuring Jack McManus) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Jack McManus, Jim Irvin) – 4:50
  14. "See What You Get" (featuring Alan Donohoe) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Alan Donohoe) – 4:35
  15. "What's Your Version?" (Reprise) (featuring Jeb Loy Nichols) (Andy Cato, Tom Findlay, Tim Hutton, Jeb Loy Nichols) – 2:09
  16. "Feel the Same" (featuring Angie Stone) (limited edition bonus track) – 3:56
  17. "Hands Up" (featuring Mistah Fab) (limited edition bonus track) – 4:07
  18. "Breakers" (iTunes bonus track) – 3:56

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2007)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|Australia|30|artist=Groove Armada|album=Soundboy Rock|rowheader=true|access-date=14 July 2016}}
{{album chart|Flanders|63|artist=Groove Armada|album=Soundboy Rock|rowheader=true|access-date=14 July 2016}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|77|artist=Groove Armada|album=Soundboy Rock|rowheader=true|access-date=14 July 2016}}
{{album chart|Ireland2|28|artist=Groove Armada|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2020}}
{{album chart|Italy|45|artist=Groove Armada|album=Soundboy Rock|rowheader=true|access-date=14 July 2016}}
{{album chart|New Zealand|19|artist=Groove Armada|album=Soundboy Rock|rowheader=true|access-date=14 July 2016}}
{{album chart|Switzerland|66|artist=Groove Armada|album=Soundboy Rock|rowheader=true|access-date=14 July 2016}}
{{album chart|UK2|10|date=20070513|rowheader=true|access-date=6 September 2020}}
{{album chart|BillboardDanceElectronic|10|artist=Groove Armada|rowheader=true|access-date=14 July 2016}}

Certifications

{{certification Table Top}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=groove Armada|title=Soundboy rock|award=Silver|certyear=2013|relyear=2007|id=11577-1352-2}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Groove Armada}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2007 albums

Category:Groove Armada albums