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{{For|the 1993 Julian Lloyd Webber album|Cradle Song (album)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Cradlesong
| type = Studio
| artist = [[Rob Thomas (musician)|Rob Thomas]]
| cover = Cradlesong (Rob Thomas album) coverart.jpg
| alt =
| released = June 30, 2009
| recorded = 2007–09
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Pop rock]]
| length = 52:34
| label = Emblem, [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]<ref name=allmusicreview>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1567187|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Cradlesong'' - Rob Thomas|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |website=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=January 10, 2012}}</ref>
| producer = [[Matt Serletic]]
| prev_title = [[...Something to Be]]
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title = [[The Great Unknown (Rob Thomas album)|The Great Unknown]]
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Cradlesong
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Her Diamonds]]
| single1date = April 22, 2009
| single2 = [[Give Me the Meltdown]]
| single2date = June 9, 2009
| single3 = [[Someday (Rob Thomas song)|Someday]]
| single3date = December 1, 2009
| single4 = [[Mockingbird (Rob Thomas song)|Mockingbird]]
| single4date = April 20, 2010
| single5 = Real World '09
| single5date = July 30, 2010
}}
}}

'''''Cradlesong''''' is the second solo studio album by [[Matchbox Twenty]] lead-singer [[Rob Thomas (musician)|Rob Thomas]], released on June 30, 2009 by [[Atlantic Records]]. The album's first single "[[Her Diamonds]]" was a success around the world, while reaching number three in [[Australia]] and topping the [[Adult Top 40|''Billboard'' Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks]] chart, meanwhile other singles "[[Someday (Rob Thomas song)|Someday]]" and "[[Mockingbird (Rob Thomas song)|Mockingbird]]" attained success on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] charts.

The album received mostly positive reviews, with the single "Her Diamonds", a song written about his wife and her illness, receiving praise by many reviewers. The album takes a pop rock feel with a variety of sounds mixed by longtime producer [[Matt Serletic]] who is praised for smooth production of the album. It debuted on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] at number #3 selling 122,000 copies, while reaching top-ten positions in [[Canada]] and [[Australia]].

==Background==
On September 15, 2008, Thomas told Billboard.com that he's "probably about 80 percent done" with his second solo record, tentatively titled ''Cradle Songs'' at the time.<ref>{{cite web |title= Rob Thomas Gets Worldly On New Solo Album|work= Ultimate Guitar |date=2008-09-15 |url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/rob_thomas_gets_worldly_on_new_solo_album.html|accessdate=2009-03-01}}</ref> Thomas characterized the album as "the usual mish-mosh of styles, but hopefully just holding true to a bunch of good songs." with the article also mentioning that the record will nonetheless feature several tracks that "take a more global, rhythmic direction after working with South American and African percussionists." Thomas explained one such experiment:

{{cquote|''We started off with the idea of doing a newer version of (Paul Simon's) [[The Rhythm of the Saints]], and that kinda carried us a long way through. It gave us a whole new bed to work with, like 'How do I get my pop sensibility around this and work it into that?' It was a lot of fun. But you go through different phases when you're writing; it took a different turn, and I just followed it, too.''|30px|30px|}}

On February 25, 2009, it was announced via [[Fox News]] that the album's then-supposed title was ''Cradle Song''.<ref>{{cite web |title= Rob Thomas, Out of the Matchbox|work= Fox News |date=2009-02-25 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,499865,00.html#2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226143745/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,499865,00.html#2|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 26, 2009|accessdate=2009-03-01}}</ref> It was mentioned, in addition, that there "are at least four hot singles awaiting radio play including 'Her Diamonds' and 'Someday.'" On the same day, Thomas announced on his official website that he has been "back and forth to [[Los Angeles]] quite a bit, mixing the new record." However, he denied the album will be released in May, mentioning it "looks like it won't be coming until the last week of June or the first week of July."

On March 2, 2009, Clark Collis of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' interviewed Thomas, where he confirmed he has since shelved his initial efforts to evoke ''The Rhythm of the Saints'', and claimed the album is scheduled for a June 30 release.<ref>{{cite web |title= Rob Thomas: Talking with the artist about his new album, 'Cradle Song'|work= Entertainment Weekly |date=2009-03-02 |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/03/rob-thomas-new.html|accessdate=2009-03-02}}</ref> Having played half the forthcoming album to ''Entertainment Weekly'', it was reported that many of the lyrics on ''Cradle Song'' center around troubled relationships, and three more song titles were revealed: "Meltdown" (described as "[[INXS]]-esque [[power pop]]" that stood out as "a possible first single"), "Fire on the Mountain" (an "epic, tribal drum-driven" track inspired by [[Dave Eggers]]' book "[[What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng]]") and the melancholic country-leaning "Getting Late" (suggested as the "set's likely closer" and what Thomas described as "a little ditty about death." in the vein of [[Tom Petty]] and [[Willie Nelson]].) The proper magazine article added that "Someday" is a power ballad with a tinkling piano introduction reminiscent of 1980s band [[Damn Yankees (band)|Damn Yankees]].

On March 4, 2009, Thomas clarified on the message board of his official web-site that the album's title will be one word: "''cradlesong''". He announced that the lead single for this album had been chosen and a director is being sought after for the video. Thomas also announced that, at the time, he had mixed eleven songs so far and had recorded a total of twenty-seven. He confirmed a total of twelve songs will make the final cut, but added "the first pressing will have an extra 3 on it as well" and "later in the year i'm going to try to find a way to release the others, but i'll keep popping them out here and there at shows."

On March 6, 2009, minute-long snippets of the tracks "Meltdown" and "Her Diamonds" were temporarily featured on the front page of his official site. Despite being removed from the website, they are presently being featured in a RateTheMusic survey.

On April 27, 2009 the first single "Her Diamonds" was released on iTunes. The song is about his wife Marisol and her longtime illness. This was followed by "[[Give Me the Meltdown]]" on June 9, "[[Someday (Rob Thomas song)|Someday]]" on June 16, and "Fire on the Mountain" on June 23. All four singles were released before the album's release date on June 30, 2009. "Someday" featured in promo spots for [[NBC]]'s 2009 fall season of ''[[The Biggest Loser (American TV series)|The Biggest Loser]]''.<ref>[http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=16729 Someday Songfacts]</ref>

Rob kicked off his [[Cradlesong Tour]] in Hollywood, Florida starting on September 23, 2009 at the [[Hard Rock Live]].

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| MC = 73/100<ref name=Metacritic>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/cradlesong|title=Cradlesong by Rob Thomas|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=|accessdate=December 9, 2024}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=allmusicreview/>
| rev2 = ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''
| rev2Score = (favourable)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews-album/cradlesong-1003990487.story |title=Music - Review of cradlesong |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=2010-04-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127105856/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews-album/cradlesong-1003990487.story |archivedate=January 27, 2010 }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Boston Globe]]''
| rev3Score = (positive)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2009/06/29/rob_thomas_cradlesong/|title=cradlesong Album Review by Boston Globe|publisher=bostonglobe.com |date=2010-05-31 |accessdate=2010-06-09}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4Score = C+<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/07/01/cradlesong/ |title=cradlesong Review|publisher=EW |date=2009-10-09 |access-date=2010-07-07}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/07/album-review-rob-thomas-cradlesong.html|title=cradlesong Review|newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2010-05-29 |accessdate=2010-06-09}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The New York Times]]''
| rev6Score = (favorable)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/arts/music/06choi.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1|title=cradlesong- Album Reviews |newspaper=New York Times |date=2009-10-09 |accessdate=2010-04-07}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/28523597/review/28811774/cradlesong|title=Cradlesong : Rob Thomas : Review |last=Rosen |first=Jody |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=2009-06-29 |accessdate=2013-07-03 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703063801/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/28523597/review/28811774/cradlesong |archivedate=2009-07-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[USA Today]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-06-29-listen-up-paisley_N.htm?csp=34 |title=Rob Thomas, ''Cradlesong'': Rock This Cradle |last=Gundersen |first=Edna |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=2009-06-29 |accessdate=2013-07-03}}</ref>
}}
''Cradlesong'' received generally positive reviews from [[music journalism|music critics]]. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an [[weighted mean|average]] score of 73, based on 7 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".<ref name=Metacritic/>

''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' review said that "Thomas returns with a soaring collection of infectious pop songs that are destined for heavy rotation in 2009 and beyond". [[AllMusic]] also gave a positive review: "This dogged sense of purpose does result in a tighter, better record than Something to Be and even it's not a lot of fun, it's not meant to be: it's big music about big issues, even inflating personal issues to the universal".

''[[Rolling Stone]]'' stated that "There is plenty of unexpected texture to keep your ears engaged". ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' stated that "Thomas presides over a sleekly produced, constantly undulating mixture of sounds that seems designed to appeal to all of the people all of the time".

''[[The New York Times]]'' review considered ''Cradlesong'' his second persistently polite, numbingly polished solo album". The ''[[Boston Globe]]'' stated, "The [[Matchbox Twenty]] frontman's second solo album showcases all of his admirable middle-of-the-road gifts and offers a glimpse of the possibilities when he explores the more extreme edges".

==Chart performance==
''Cradlesong'' made a positive debut on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] at number #3, selling 122,000 copies while "Her Diamonds" ascended up the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] to a peak of 23. As of July 12, 2015, ''Cradlesong'' has sold 493,000
copies in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases: Hits Daily Double |publisher=Hits Daily Double |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713013427/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archivedate=July 13, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_writing = [[Rob Thomas (musician)|Rob Thomas]], except where noted
| title1 = [[Her Diamonds]]
| length1 = 4:38
| title2 = Gasoline
| length2 = 3:55
| title3 = [[Give Me the Meltdown]]
| writer3 = {{hlist|Thomas|[[Matt Serletic]]}}
| length3 = 3:12
| title4 = [[Someday (Rob Thomas song)|Someday]]
| writer4 = {{hlist|Thomas|Serletic|[[Shy Carter]]}}
| length4 = 4:07
| title5 = [[Mockingbird (Rob Thomas song)|Mockingbird]]
| length5 = 4:00
| title6 = Real World '09
| writer6 = {{hlist|Thomas|Serletic|[[Nellee Hooper]]}}
| length6 = 2:45
| title7 = Fire on the Mountain
| length7 = 5:09
| title8 = Hard on You
| length8 = 2:42
| title9 = Still Ain't Over You
| length9 = 3:09
| title10 = Natural
| writer10 = {{hlist|Thomas|Serletic}}
| length10 = 4:48
| title11 = Snowblind
| length11 = 3:53
| title12 = Wonderful
| length12 = 3:28
| title13 = Cradlesong
| length13 = 4:13
| title14 = Getting Late
| length14 = 3:27
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus track
| title15 = [[Little Wonders]]
| note15 = radio version
| length15 = 3:33
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = [[iTunes Store|iTunes]] bonus tracks
| title16 = Sleep Till the War Is Over
| writer16 = {{hlist|Thomas|Garfield Mayor}}
| length16 = 3:58
| title17 = Believe
| length17 = 3:29
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = [[Germany|German]] bonus tracks
| title18 = Years from Now
| length18 = 3:37
| title19 = Remembered Well
| writer19 = {{hlist|Thomas|[[Frank Romano]]}}
| length19 = 3:46
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese bonus track
| title20 = Overrun
| note20 = B-side to "Her Diamonds" single
| length20 = 4:12
}}

===Bonus DVD===
A deluxe edition is available exclusively from Target stores in the US. Included is the original standard studio album, as well as a bonus DVD which includes interviews, plus a behind-the-scenes look at the album photo shoot and video shoot for "Her Diamonds". It can be purchased in said stores or online via Target's website.

==Personnel==
'''Musicians'''
{{div col}}
* [[Rusty Anderson]] – guitars (3, 5, 11), [[electric guitar]] (13)
* [[Kenny Aronoff]] – [[drum kit|drums]] (11)
* Stevie Blacke – [[String instrument|strings]] (5)
* [[Michael Bland]] – drums (7, 9, 12, 14), snaps (14)
* Marcus Brown – [[Rhythm in Sub-Saharan Africa|African drums]] (1, 8)
* Sherree Ford Brown – [[background vocals]] (1-6, 8, 11, 13)
* [[Tom Bukovac]] – guitars (1-7, 9-12), [[acoustic guitar]] (14), [[bass guitar]] (4, 9, 14), [[Beatboxing|beat box]] (4), snaps (14)
* [[Lenny Castro]] – [[percussion]] (1, 8, 11, 13)
* Jack Daley – bass guitar (2, 3, 5, 6, 11)
* Mark Dobson – percussion (12)
* Keith Fiddmont – [[alto saxophone|alto]] and [[tenor saxophone]]s (12)
* Sharlotte Gibson – background vocals (9, 10)
* Soro Gnenemon – African drums (1, 8)
* James Grundler – background vocals (2-7, 9-11, 13)
* Sean Hurley – bass guitar (1, 8, 10)
* Kim Hutchcroft – [[baritone saxophone|baritone]], [[bass saxophone|bass]], and tenor saxophones (12)
* [[Victor Indrizzo]] – drums (1, 8, 10), percussion (10)
* [[Jim Keltner]] – drums (13)
* Reverend Shuichi Tom Kurai – Taiko drums (1)
* [[Abe Laboriel Jr.]] – drums (2-5, 13)
* [[Michael Landau]] – guitars (8, 10)
* Taylor Moyer – [[Taiko|Taiko drums]] (1)
* Alfred Ortiz – Taiko drums (1)
* Ben Peeler – guitars (10), [[steel guitar]] (10), [[Bouzouki]] (13), [[oud]] (13), [[Lap steel guitar]] (13), Portuguese guitar (13)
* [[Tim Pierce]] – guitars (1, 3, 5, 7, 9-12, 14), electric guitar (13), acoustic guitar (13, 14), snaps (14)
* [[Matt Serletic]] – [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]] (1-7, 9-11, 13), piano (4, 9, 12), [[hammond organ|Hammond B3 organ]] (1, 8, 10, 13), [[programming (music)|programming]] (1-13), background vocals (3-7), snaps (14), horn arrangements (12)
* [[Leland Sklar|Lee Sklar]] – bass guitar (13)
* [[Jimmie Lee Sloas]] – bass guitar (7, 9, 12)
* Robert Smith – African drums (1, 8)
* Dino Soldo – tenor saxophone (12)
* Magatte Sow – African drums (1, 8)
* Malik Sow – African drums (1, 8)
* Gary St. Germain – Taiko drums (1)
* [[Bryan Sutton]] – acoustic guitars (1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13), [[mandolin]] (1, 5, 6, 8, 13)
* Marisol Thomas – background vocals (13)
* [[Rob Thomas (musician)|Rob Thomas]] – [[lead vocals]], guitars (2, 3), keyboards (1, 8, 10, 12), [[Tom-tom drum|Toms]] (7), background vocals (2-4, 12), snaps (14)
* Lee Thornburg – [[trumpet]] (12)
* [[Robyn Troup]] – background vocals (1-6, 8-11, 13)
* Jose Vergara – African drums (1, 8)
* [[Butch Walker]] – background vocals (4)
* [[Patrick Warren]] – piano (12), keyboards (7), Hammond B3 organ (14), [[chamberlin]] (5, 7), [[pump organ]] (7), snaps (14), string arrangements (5)
{{div col end}}

'''Production and design'''
{{div col}}
* Alex Arias – additional [[Pro Tools]] editing, [[Audio engineer|assistant engineer]]
* Keith Armstrong – assistant mix engineer
* Jason Dale – assistant engineer (1, 4-11, 13, 14)
* Mark Dobson – engineer, Pro Tools editing
* Nik Karpen – assistant mix engineer
* Mike Leisz – additional engineering (9), additional Pro Tools editing, assistant engineer
* Ria Lewerke – [[art direction]], [[design]], arrangement, art conception
* Michael Lippman – [[management]]
* [[Chris Lord-Alge]] – [[Mixing engineer|mixing]]
* [[Bob Ludwig]] – [[Mastering engineer|mastering]]
* Andrew McPherson – photography
* Norman Moore – art direction, design
* Seth Morton – assistant engineer (8, 9)
* Justin Niebank – engineer (7, 9, 12, 14)
* Louise Robinson – [[illustrations]]
* Andrew Schubert – additional Pro Tools mix editing
* Dean Serletic – production coordination
* Matt Serletic – producer, [[arranger]], vocal arrangements (1-13)
* Dejan Stanjevic – additional engineering (3), assistant engineer (3)
* Jordan Stilwell – assistant engineer (13)
* Jess Sutcliffe – engineer (11), additional engineering (1, 13)
* Shari Sutcliffe – musician and singer contractor
* Marisol Thomas – co-arranger (13)
* Rob Thomas – vocal arrangements (1-13), art concept
* Adam Tilzer – assistant engineer (1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 13)
* Brad Townsend – additional Pro Tools mix editing
* Hal Winer – additional engineering (10, 12, 13), assistant engineer (1, 4, 6, 8, 10-13)
* Patrick Woodward – Pro Tools editing (1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13), assistant engineer (11)
{{div col end}}

==Charts and certifications==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2009)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|3|artist=Rob Thomas|album=Cradlesong|accessdate=April 7, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|8|artist=Rob Thomas|accessdate=September 8, 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|40|id=112207|artist=Rob Thomas|album=Cradlesong|accessdate=April 7, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|17|artist=Rob Thomas|album=Cradlesong|accessdate=April 7, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|56|artist=Rob Thomas|album=Cradlesong|accessdate=April 7, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|UK|75|artist=Rob Thomas|accessdate=April 7, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|3|artist=Rob Thomas|accessdate=September 8, 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRock|1|artist=Rob Thomas|accessdate=September 8, 2020|rowheader=true}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2009)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2009/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2009|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|accessdate=September 8, 2020}}</ref>
| 14
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009|work=Billboard|accessdate=September 8, 2020}}</ref>
| 105
|-
! scope="row"| US Top Rock Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-rock-albums|title=Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2009|work=Billboard|accessdate=September 8, 2020}}</ref>
| 30
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2010)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2010/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2010|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|accessdate=September 8, 2020}}</ref>
| 93
|}

===Certifications===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|relyear=2009|certyear=2015|artist=Rob Thomas|title=Cradlesong|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|access-date=April 7, 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2009|certyear=2019|title=Cradlesong|artist=Rob Thomas|type=album|award=Gold|access-date=July 12, 2019|refname=RIAA}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true | streaming=true}}
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.robthomasmusic.com/ RobThomasMusic.com] — Rob Thomas's official website

{{Rob Thomas}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2009 albums]]
[[Category:Rob Thomas (musician) albums]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Matt Serletic]]

Cradlesong (album) - Revision history

imported>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: add {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}