Keys to the World | |
Type: | studio |
Artist: | Richard Ashcroft |
Cover: | Keys to the World.jpg |
Released: | 23 January 2006 |
Recorded: | State of the Ark, 2005 |
Genre: | |
Length: | 44:18 |
Label: | Parlophone |
Producer: |
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Prev Title: | Human Conditions |
Prev Year: | 2002 |
Next Title: | United Nations of Sound |
Next Year: | 2010 |
Keys to the World is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft. It was released 23 January 2006, reaching number 2 in the UK Albums Chart (see 2006 in British music). Ashcroft worked on the album at State of the Ark Studios and Julian Kershaw wrote string arrangements for some of the songs later recorded by London Metropolitan Orchestra. Strings are featured on eight songs on the album which also features electric viola on some tracks – played by Bruce White. The engineer/producer of this album was Chris Potter, and being his final solo album for a decade, until These People (2016).
Keys to the World was met with "mixed or average" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 52 based on 19 reviews.
In a review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek wrote: "Three and a half years later, the Verve's former frontman is back with a record not terribly different, though certainly more pastoral and perhaps more middle of the road. The rest of the disc simply follows a formula, though it's a pleasant one. Ashcroft introduces everything else here with skeletally placed guitars, pours on the strings, and keeps the tempo on slow, slower, and slowest until the final track." At Drowned in Sound, critic Dom Gourlay wrote: "Keys to the World then is a deeply personal, occasionally lifeless but equally insightful passage into the latest chapter of Richard Ashcroft's life story. Doing what he does best but just be prepared for some very uneasy listening." Scott Shetler of Slant Magazine wrote: "Keys to the World, is his best solo effort to date, adding punchy melodies to the insightful lyrics and strong vocals that are characteristic of his music. Keys to the World is a definite step forward and demonstrates that Ashcroft is finally hitting his stride as a solo artist."
The album was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, selling more than 300.000 copies.
Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | 12 January 2006 | Toshiba-EMI | CD | TOCP-66502 / 4988006838161 | |
United Kingdom | 23 January 2006 | Parlophone | CD | 3483732 / 0946 3 48373 2 3 | |
CD/DVD (CD) | 3545202 / 0946 3 54520 2 0 | ||||
CD/DVD (DVD) | 3503812 / 0946 3 50381 9 4 | ||||
Australia | 6 February 2006 | Capitol Records | Copy Controlled CD | 3531382 / 0946 3 53138 2 6 | |
Canada | 7 February 2006 | Parlophone | CD | 0946 3 48373 2 3 | |
Argentina | 7 March 2006 | Copy controlled CD | 0946 3 53138 2 6 | ||
United States | 21 March 2006 | Virgin Records | CD/DVD | 0946 3 54523 2 7 |
Chart (2006) | Position | |
---|---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[1] | 87 | |
UK Albums (OCC)[2] | 71 |