Cardboard Castles

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Cardboard Castles
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 12, 2013 (2013-03-12)
Recorded2012
GenreAlternative hip hop
Length62:11
LabelWatsky, Steel Wool Media
ProducerWatsky (co-exec.), Kush Mody (co-exec.), Mikos, Max Miller-Loran, Daniel J. W!shington, Aaron Carmack, Daniel Riera
Watsky chronology
Nothing Like the First Time
(2012)
Cardboard Castles
(2013)
All You Can Do
(2014)
Singles from Cardboard Castles
  1. "Strong as an Oak"
    Released: January 22, 2013
  2. "Moral of the Story"
    Released: February 5, 2013
  3. "Hey, Asshole (feat. Kate Nash)"
    Released: February 18, 2013

Cardboard Castles is the second studio album by American spoken word artist and rapper Watsky.[1] The album was released on March 12, 2013. Unlike his debut album, entitled Watsky, there is a deluxe edition. The deluxe edition includes one extra song, and the CD case folds into a miniature "cardboard castle." Watsky also embarked on an American tour to promote the album (some dates in Canada and the UK were also included). The album is also available on vinyl at request of his fans.

On March 5, one week before Cardboard Castles was released, Watsky leaked the album on Rap Genius. This included the announcement of the deluxe edition bonus track, entitled Dent In The Moon. Along with the leak, Rap Genius held a contest for the 'scholar' who explained the most lyrics on the album. The prize was two tickets to Watsky's concert at Irving Plaza in New York City. The concert took place on March 30.

Throughout the album are various recordings of conversations Watsky has with child actor Norton Leufven.[2]

Singles[edit]

On January 22, 2013, Watsky released the first single from Cardboard Castles, entitled "Strong as an Oak," along with a music video. The video has gained over 7,210,319 view as of September 30, 2020.

On February 5, 2013, Watsky released the second single from Cardboard Castles, entitled "Moral of the Story," along with a music video. The video has gained over 10,706,309 views as of September 30, 2020.

On February 18, 2013, Watsky released the third single from Cardboard Castles, entitled "Hey, Asshole," featuring British singer Kate Nash. As with the first two singles, he released a music video, which has over 6,485,079 views as of September 30, 2020.

On February 24, 2013, Watsky leaked the audio for a song on Cardboard Castles, entitled "Sloppy Seconds" on kiisfm.com. The music video for "Sloppy Seconds" was later released on his YouTube page, April 21, 2013, and has gained over 12,629,324 views as of September 30, 2020.

On March 5, 2013, Watsky released the video for the only poem on the CD, entitled "Tiny Glowing Screens, Part 2" on his YouTube page. The video has gained over 2,709,018 views as of September 30, 2020.

On March 12, 2013, Watsky released the video for the song from which the album gets its name, "Cardboard Castles," on his YouTube page. This is the same day that the album was released. The video has gained over 4,097,513 views as of September 30, 2020.

Reception[edit]

Cardboard Castles has been received well by critics. Marianne Calnan of Sound And Motion Magazine reviewed it very favorably.

Track listing[edit]

"Tiny Glowing Screens, Part 2" is the only poem on Cardboard Castles.

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Fireworks"George WatskyDaniel J. W!shington2:32
2."Strong as an Oak"George WatskyKush Mody4:19
3."Moral of the Story"George WatskyMikos & Max Miller-Loran4:01
4."Ugly Faces"George WatskyMikos & Max Miller-Loran2:55
5."Skit #1"  0:37
6."Kill a Hipster (feat. Chinaka Hodge)"George Watsky, Chinaka Hodge & DJ Treat-U-NiceDaniel Riera4:25
7."Hey, Asshole (feat. Kate Nash)"George WatskyMr. Carmack[3]4:08
8."All I Need Is One"George WatskyMikos3:46
9."Tiny Glowing Screens, Part 1"George WatskyKush Mody4:55
10."Tiny Glowing Screens, Part 2"George WatskyKush Mody2:44
11."Sloppy Seconds"George WatskyKush Mody4:06
12."Dedicated to Christina Li"George WatskyMikos5:35
13."Skit #2"  1:14
14."The Legend of Hardhead Ned (feat. Dylan Saunders)"George WatskyDaniel Riera3:48
15."Cardboard Castles"George WatskyKush Mody4:08
16."Send In the Sun"George WatskyDaniel J. W!shington4:21
Total length:57:38
Deluxe Edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."Dent in the Moon"George WatskyMikos, Pat Dimitri & Kush Mody4:33
Total length:1:02:11

Personnel[edit]

Executive Producers

Engineers

  • Nils Montan (also co-producer)

Producers

  • Daniel J. W!shington (1, 16)
  • Kush Mody (2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17)
  • Mikos (3, 4, 8, 12, 17)
  • Max Miller-Loran (3, 4, 17)
  • Daniel Riera (6, 14)
  • Aaron Carmack (7)

Mixing and Mastering

  • Mike Denten at Infinite Studios
  • Cardboard Castles (song) was mixed by David Boucher
  • Jeff Sanger (Studio Assistant)
  • Migui Maloles (Mix Assistant)
  • Nils Montan (Sound Design on The Legend Of Hardhead Ned)

Additional Vocals

Kate Nash recorded by: Stephen Good at Vatican Studios in London. Kate Nash appears courtesy of Have 10p Records.

  • Dylan Saunders (The Legend of Hardhead Ned)
  • Norton Leufven (Fireworks, Ugly Faces, Skit #1, All I Need Is One, Skit #2 & Dent in the Moon) (Uncredited)
  • Andrew Oedel (Kill a Hipster)

Choir (Cardboard Castles & Send In The Sun):

  • Sylvia St. James
  • Isabel Belloso
  • Sue Massengale
  • Alexandra Taylor
  • Christy Lynch
  • Danisha Johnson
  • Chenelle Solomon
  • Chris Bolton
  • Patrick Bolton
  • Ivan Hicks
  • Marjanae Johnson
  • Charlie Domingo

Musicians

  • Chukwudi Hodge: Drums (1, 8, 9, 15) Buckets (2) Percussion (6)
  • Kush Mody: Synth (1) Organ (1) Bells (3) Tambourine (6) Guitar (8) Organ (16)
  • Max Miller-Loran: Trumpet (2, 6) Synth (9)
  • Brandon Intelligator: Acoustic Guitar (2)
  • George Watsky: Bells (2) Harmonica (2)
  • Dave Skelly: Trombone (3)
  • Crystal Alforque: Viola (3, 9, 10)
  • Robin Ross: Viola (3, 9, 10, 15)
  • Max Mueller: Cello (3, 9, 10, 15)
  • Billy Tobenkin: Cello (3, 9, 10, 15)
  • Andrew Oedel: Guitar (6, 9, 15)
  • Owen Clapp: Bass (6, 8)
  • Nils Montan: Piano (6)
  • Pat Dimitri: Guitar (12)
  • Charlie Domingo: Bass (17)

Art

  • Illustrations by: [dadushin.com Dadu Shin]
  • Art direction & layout by: Carrie Smith
  • Castle photography: Alan Gwizdowski
  • Catapult illustration: Jackson Adams

Recorded at The Mothership Studio, Los Angeles, with additional vocals recorded at Studio Sound City.

Cardboard Castles Tour[edit]

Watsky embarked on a second nationwide tour, starting on March 8, 2013 in Tempe, AZ.[4] Watsky has posted a video on his official youtube page stating how The Fillmore is his "dream, bucket-list venue" [5] and how excited he is for the tour.

March 8 Tempe, AZ * Club Red All Ages
March 12 Austin, TX SXSW Festival
March 13 San Francisco, CA Amoeba Music All Ages
March 16 Hollywood, CA Amoeba Music All Ages
March 18 New Orleans, LA * House Of Blues All Ages
March 20 Gainesville, FL * High Dive 18+
March 21 Orlando, FL Backbooth All Ages
March 22 Jacksonville, FL * Jack Rabbits All Ages
March 23 Atlanta, GA * Masquerade All Ages
March 24 Greensboro, NC * Green Street All Ages
March 26 Washington, DC * Howard Theatre All Ages
March 27 Baltimore, MD * Baltimore Soundstage All Ages
March 28 Philadelphia, PA * TLA All Ages
March 29 Northampton, MA * Pearl Street All Ages
March 30 New York, NY * Irving Plaza All Ages
April 1 Boston, MA * Paradise Rock Club All Ages
April 2 Burlington, VT * Higher Ground All Ages
April 3 Montreal, QC * Cabaret Underworld 18+
April 5 Toronto, ON * Phoenix Concert Theatre All Ages
April 6 Buffalo, NY The Waiting Room 18+
April 7 Cleveland, OH * Grog Shop All Ages
April 8 Ann Arbor, MI * Blind Pig All Ages
April 9 Chicago, IL * Bottom Lounge All Ages
April 11 Madison, WI * High Noon Saloon 18+
April 12 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater All Ages
April 13 Iowa City, IA Blue Moose All Ages
April 14 Lawrence, KS * Granada All Ages
April 17 Denver, CO * Cervantes Otherside All Ages
April 19 Salt Lake City, UT * Kilby Court All Ages
April 20 Boise, ID Knitting Factory All Ages
April 21 Portland, OR * Branx All Ages
April 22 Vancouver, BC * The Rio Theatre All Ages
April 23 Seattle, WA * The Crocodile All Ages
April 25 San Francisco, CA* The Fillmore All Ages
May 4 Los Angeles, CA El Rey All Ages

All dates marked with an * are with rapper Dumbfoundead.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Tierney, Jacob (February 5, 2013). "Rapper George Watsky has reason to rhyme". Watertown Daily Times. Watertown, New York: Watertown Daily Times, Inc. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  2. ^ @gwatsky (December 17, 2017). "Ok, for the official record, norton is not my cousin. You can cite this" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Cardboard Castles by Watsky". iTunes. 12 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Watsky – Cardboard Castles Tour". eventfinda. Eventfinda Inc. Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  5. ^ Watsky, George (2013). Cardboard Castles: New Watsky album & tour announcement!! (Vlog).