Departure (Taio Cruz album)

Departure
Studio album by Taio Cruz
Released	17 March 2008
Recorded	2006-2008
Genre	Pop, Dance, R&B
Label	Island, Republic
Producer	Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz chronology
Departure (2008) Rokstarr (2009) Singles from Departure "I Just Wanna Know" Released: 6 November 2006 "Moving On" Released: 10 September 2007 "Come On Girl" Released: 3 March 2008 "I Can Be" Released: 26 May 2008 "She's Like a Star" Released: 11 August 2008

Departure is the debut studio album by English Pop singer-songwriter Taio Cruz. It was released on 17 March 2008. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 17.

Background

In terms of his musical ambitions for the album, in February 2008 Cruz told noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul: "I tried to be diverse in my music while not going too far left. Before I go off and hit people with random stuff that they just wouldn't recognise, I'd rather they get to know me first! Which is why I've given them something they can relate to and won't be too difficult for them to grasp, while at the same time not making it generic. Unlike American R&B - which is often really samey a sometimes a bit obvious - I genuinely don't think my record sounds like anybody else."^[1]

Singles

The first single was "I Just Wanna Know", which was released on November 6, 2006. It hit number 29 on the UK Singles Chart. The second single was "Moving On", which was released on September 10, 2007. The digital download version was released on September 3, 2007. The song did better than the first single by hitting number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.^[2] The third single, "Come On Girl" featuring Luciana, was released on March 3, 2008 and hit number 5 on the UK Singles Chart.^[3] The fourth single, "I Can Be", reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart, dated on the chart May 25,2008, based on downloads sales alone.^[4] Furthermore, is has also reached number 23 on the Irish Singles Chart, again on the back of downloads. The fifth single, "She's Like a Star", was released on August 11, 2008. The song peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
BBC	(favourable)[5]
The Guardian	[6]
Time Out London	[7]

The Guardian said: "This isn't only manifest in the beats and electronic focus; the album is absolutely drenched in wonderfully camp disco strings. Cruz's own swooping vocals are most reminiscent of Seal; "Never Gonna Get Us" seems permanently on the verge of segueing into Crazy. Though somewhat lacking in low end at times (Cruz should learn about the virtues of a heavy bassline), this is a stylish, inventive debut."^[8] BBC noted: "Most of the ballads deploy strings over their R&B rhythms, but "Come On Girl", is all crunchy electro. "Fly Away" starts with a slick electric guitar riff and "I Can Be" recalls '80s British pop soul acts like Joe Jackson or Fine Young Cannibals. Yet Departure is a much more American than British-sounding album, with Cruz's voice blurring into a mid-Atlantic burr."^[9] The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 17 on sales of 11,880.^[10] In September 2008, the album was officially certified gold by BPI be reaching 100,000+ sales.

Track listing

All songs written, arranged and produced by Taio Cruz.

1. "I'll Never Love Again" - 3:51
2. "I Just Wanna Know" - 4:00
3. "I Can Be" - 3:54
4. "I Don't Wanna Fall in Love" - 3:24
5. "So Cold" - 3:29
6. "Fly Away" - 4:05
7. "Driving Me Crazy" - 3:16
8. "Moving On" - 3:27
9. "Come On Girl" (featuring Luciana) - 3:36
10. "Never Gonna Get Us" - 3:54
11. "She's Like a Star" - 3:39
12. "Can't Say Go" - 3:23

Digital Deluxe Edition / HMV Exclusive Deluxe Edition

13. "Your Game" - 3:39

14. "Come On Girl" (Delinquent Mix) - 4:37

15. "Fly Away" (Delinquent Mix) - 3:57

16. "I Can Be" (Delinquent Mix) - 4:19

17. "I Just Wanna Know" (Delinquent Mix) - 3:11

18. "I'll Never Love Again" (Delinquent Mix) - 4:34

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak Position	Total Sales
UK Albums Chart	17	100,000+

References

1. ^ Taio Cruz interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' February 2008
2. ^ "Moving On" chart position as UK Singles Chart
3. ^ "Come On Girl" chart position as UK Singles Chart
4. ^ "I Can Be" chart position as UK Singles Chart
5. ^ "Music - Review of Taio Cruz - Departure". BBC. 2008-03-17. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/wc25/. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
6. ^ Alex Macpherson (March 14, 2008). "CD: Taio Cruz, Departure | Music | The Guardian". London: Music.guardian.co.uk. http://music.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,2264946,00.html. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
7. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
8. ^ MacPherson, Alex (March 14, 2008). "Taio Cruz, Departure". The Guardian (London). http://music.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,2264946,00.html. Retrieved May 1, 2010. 
9. ^ BBC - Urban Review - Taio Cruz, Departure
10. ^ Music Week - Now That's What I Call Music! still has it