Alas, I Cannot Swim
Alas I Cannot Swim | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 4 February 2008 (Download) 11 February 2008 (Street) | |||
Recorded | 2007 | |||
Genre | Folk, alternative rock | |||
Length | 38:22 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Producer | Charlie Fink | |||
Laura Marling chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Pitchfork Media | (6.8/10)[5] |
The Times | [6] |
Uncut | [7] |
Q | (2008) |
NME |
Alas, I Cannot Swim is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter
Background
The album was produced by the lead vocalist of her previous band, Noah and the Whale, Charlie Fink, and was initially released on 4 February 2008, conventionally released a week later.[9]
Marling had released a number of smaller singles and EPs before releasing her debut album. She told Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph: "I did my first EP just to get rid of songs I didn't like. They were just so awful. I don't think I really found out what I was doing until about six months after I signed a deal."
Recording
The album was recorded in Eastcote Studios, a small independent studio in the west of London regarded as "honest and organic" by Marling.[10]
Promotion and release
The album was first released on 4 February 2008 in a "songbox" format, which comprised the CD album, a redeemable code for free concert tickets, and a "memento" for every song on the album.[12]
Reception
Critical
Media response to Alas, I Cannot Swim was favourable; aggregating website
Due to the timing of the album coinciding with
In addition, "Ghosts" appeared in Australian radio station
Commercial
Alas, I Cannot Swim entered the UK Albums Chart at number 45.[20] It was certified gold in the United Kingdom, selling over 100,000 copies.[21]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Laura Marling.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Ghosts" | 3:01 |
2. | "Old Stone" | 2:59 |
3. | "Tap at My Window" | 2:48 |
4. | "Failure" | 3:21 |
5. | "You're No God" | 2:28 |
6. | "Cross Your Fingers" | 2:24 |
7. | "(Interlude) Crawled Out of the Sea" | 1:16 |
8. | "My Manic and I" | 3:56 |
9. | "Night Terror" | 3:09 |
10. | "The Captain and the Hourglass" | 3:10 |
11. | "Shine" | 2:39 |
12. | "Your Only Doll (Dora)" | 7:19 |
- "Alas I Cannot Swim" is included at the end of "Your Only Doll (Dora)" as a hidden track
Personnel
- Laura Marling – voice, guitar
- Marcus Mumford – drums, percussion, accordion
- Tom "Fiddle" Hobden – string arrangement
- Pete Roe – banjo, keyboards
- Ted Dwane – double bass
- Joe Ichinose – fiddle
- Guy Davie – mastering
- Guy Katsav[22] – recording, mixing
- Charlie Fink – production
Charts
Chart (2008) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] | 98 |
UK Albums (OCC)[24] | 45 |
References
- ^ Stewart Mason (11 February 2008). "Alas I Cannot Swim – Laura Marling | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "Album Review: Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com. 11 February 2008. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ Caroline Sullivan (8 February 2008). "CD: Laura Marling, Alas I Cannot Swim | Music | The Guardian". Music.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "News | UK and Worldwide News | Newspaper". The Independent. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "Alas, I Cannot Swim | Pitchfork". Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
- ^ "The Times & The Sunday Times : Music review". Entertainment.timesonline.co.uk. 11 April 1917. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim – Review – Uncut.co.uk". Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "Nationwide Mercury Prize nominations announced". Bearded magazine. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
- ^ Dan Cairns (30 March 2008). "Laura Marling, 2008's true musical talent". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ a b Andrew Murfett (14 March 2008). "Alas, I Cannot Swim – Music". The Age.
- Bristol Evening Post. 28 February 2008.
- ^ "Laura Marling to release album in 'song box' format". nme.com. NME. 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
The package will contain the CD album, entry to a gig in the form of a redeemable code, plus 'momentos' relating to each song on the album.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for Alas, I Cannot Swim at Metacritic". metacritic.com. 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ Kharas, Kev (2011). "Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim". drownedinsound.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ Matt Connors (19 June 2008). "Dig the new breed". The Courier-Mail.
- The Herald Sun.
- ^ Schiller, Rebecca (6 October 2011). "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "Wild things run fast". The Statesman. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ "Edinburgh has room for Laura". Business7. 26 November 2010.
- ^ "Alas I Cannot Swim – Laura Marling | Credits". AllMusic. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 176.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 August 2022.