Matthew Morrison (album)

Matthew Morrison
Studio album by Matthew Morrison
Released	May 10, 2011
Recorded	2010-2011
Genre	Pop, adult contemporary
Length	41:30
Label	Mercury
Producer	Rob Mathes, Matt Squire, Marc Shaiman, Kristian Lundin, Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton
Singles from Matthew Morrison
"Summer Rain" Released: March 8, 2011 "Still Got Tonight" Released: April 26, 2011 (Countdown)

Matthew Morrison is the debut album of Glee star Matthew Morrison released on May 10, 2011.^[1] The song "Still Got Tonight", co-written by Kris Allen, was first released as a promo single for digital stores as a countdown to the album release along with the tracks "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (with Gwyneth Paltrow) and "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters / Rocket Man" (with Elton John), and a month later performed at a Broadway stage by Matthew himself on the season finale of the hit show Glee (co-starred by Matthew as Will Schuester), 'New York' (Season 2, Episode 22).^[2] "Arms of a Woman" is a cover of the Amos Lee song.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Summer Rain"	Matthew Morrison, Espen Lind, Amund Bjørklund, Claude Kelly	Espionage	3:32
2.	"Still Got Tonight"	Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner, Kris Allen	Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner	4:29
3.	"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (with Sting)	Sting	Rob Mathes	5:30
4.	"My Name"	Morrison, Eg White	Rob Mathes	3:22
5.	"Hey"	Morrison, Kristian Lundin, Carl Falk, JC Chasez, Dylan Patrick	Kristian Lundin, Carl Falk	3:19
6.	"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (with Gwyneth Paltrow)	Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg	Rob Mathes	4:43
7.	"Don't Stop Dancing"	Chasez, Matt Squire, Lindy Robbins	Matt Squire	2:53
8.	"It Don't Matter to the Sun"	Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims, Wayne Kirkpatrick	Rob Mathes	4:32
9.	"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters / Rocket Man" (with Elton John)	John, Bernie Taupin	Rob Mathes	6:51
10.	"It's Over"	Morrison, Marc Shaiman	Marc Shaiman	2:23

iTunes Store bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
11.	"A Boy Can Dream"	Zac Maloy		3:28

Amazon MP3 bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
11.	"Arms of a Woman"	Ryan Anthony Massaro		4:12

Barnes & Noble bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
11.	"Still Got Tonight" (Acoustic Version)	Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner, Kris Allen		4:30

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	(B-)[4]
Rolling Stone	[5]
Toronto Star	[6]
Slant Magazine	[7]

Reviews for the album were mixed. Allmusic editor Heather Phares gave it three out of five stars, praising some of the songs like his duet with Gwyneth Paltrow on "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for its melody for giving "his voice more to do than most of the by-the-numbers contemporary pop here" and "It's Over" for being "one of the truest expressions of his talent". But felt that the best moments - his duets with Sting and Elton John - feels like "it gives the impression that he can't carry a song without someone else". She concluded saying: "Ultimately, Matthew Morrison is more scattered and less fresh-feeling than the fare he sings week in and week out on Glee. Though it has plenty of appealing moments, it just doesn't capitalize on Morrison's star and vocal power".^[3] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone gave it two-and-a-half out of five stars saying, "Verdict: a mildly charming, sometimes gawky LP that will please Gleeks and befuddle everyone else. Prediction: It'll be a huge hit."^[5]

Slant Magazine writer Jonathan Keefe gave it two out of five stars, giving criticism to the producer-driven songs which are in "the most middlebrow and indistinct brand of pop that is never less than competent, but is never even the slightest bit innovative or noteworthy" and the original songs for being "just as unmemorable", but gave positive insight on his singing voice saying: "It isn't that Morrison's a poor singer: He actually has a pure, pleasant tenor that's as limber and expressive as that of any seasoned stage performer."^[7]

Chart performance

Album

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart[8]	61
UK Albums Chart[9]	63
US Billboard 200[10]	24

Singles

Year	Single	Peak positions
		US AC [11]
2011	"Summer Rain"	16

Personnel

• Vocals: Matthew Morrison, Elton John, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sting
• Producer: Rob Mathes, Matt Squire, Marc Shaiman, Kristian Lundin, Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton

References

1. ^ Matthew Morrison: Exclusive Version. Amazon.com
2. ^ Nelson, Liz Kelly (May 9, 2011). "'Glee': Matthew Morrison to perform 'Still Got Tonight' on season finale". zap2it. http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/05/glee-matthew-morrison-to-perform-song-on-finale.html. Retrieved June 06, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Phares, Heather. Matthew Morrison Review. Allmusic. Retrieved on May 20, 2011
4. ^ Wood, Mikael (May 4, 2011). "Matthew Morrison review - Matthew Morrison - Glee". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20486955,00.html. Retrieved May 22, 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Rosen, Jody (May 17, 2011). "Matthew Morrison by Matthew Morrison". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/matthew-morrison-20110517. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 
6. ^ Terauds, John (May 17, 2011). "Album reviews: Parachute welcome to drop in". Toronto Star. http://www.toronto.com/article/685436--album-reviews-parachute-welcome-to-drop-in. Retrieved May 21, 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Keefe, Jonathan (May 15, 2011). "Matthew Morrison: Matthew Morrison". Slant Magazine. http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/matthew-morrison-matthew-morrison/2504. Retrieved May 22, 2011. 
8. ^ "Chartifacts - Week Commencing: 16 May 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5yl95eTZY. Retrieved May 19, 2011. 
9. ^ "OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS TOP 100 - 11th June 2011". The Official Charts Company. 11 June 2011. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5zE1edw2Q. Retrieved June 12, 2011. 
10. ^ "Matthew Morrison Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matthew-morrison/chart-history/781251. Retrieved May 19, 2011. 
11. ^ "Matthew Morrison Album & Song Chart History - Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matthew-morrison/chart-history/781251. Retrieved May 17, 2011.