''Cardboard Castles'' is the second studio album by American

spoken word Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics o ...

artist and

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

Watsky George Virden Watsky (born September 15, 1986), better known mononymously as Watsky, is an American rapper, singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, poet, author, and illustrator. Watsky broke out as a rapper with his viral video "Pale ...

. 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.

Singles

On January 22, 2013, Watsky released the first single from ''Cardboard Castles'', entitled "Strong as an Oak," along with
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
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
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" o

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

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

Track listing

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

Personnel

Executive Producers * George Watsky * Kush Mody 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 * Chinaka Hodge (Kill a Hipster) * Kate Nash (Hey, Asshole) 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: adushin.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

Watsky embarked on a second nationwide tour, starting on March 8, 2013 in Tempe, AZ. Watsky has posted a video on hi
official youtube page
stating how

The Fillmore The Fillmore is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California. Built in 1912 and originally named the Majestic Hall, it became the Fillmore Auditorium in 1954. It is in Western Addition, on the edge of the Fillmore District and Upper F ...

is his "dream, bucket-list venue" and how excited he is for the tour. All dates marked with an * are with rapper Dumbfoundead.

References

{{Authority control 2013 albums George Watsky albums