Fuse is the eighth studio album by New Zealand-born Australian country music singer Keith Urban. It was released on 10 September 2013 via Hit Red and Capitol Records Nashville. The album includes features from Miranda Lambert and Eric Church and has spawned six singles, four of which have topped the newly introduced US "Billboard" Country Airplay chart, making it his first album to produce four chart-topping singles.
Upon its release, the album debuted atop both the US "Billboard" 200 and the "Billboard"'s Top Country Albums charts, becoming Urban's fourth (non-consecutive) number one album on the latter. It received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who complimented the more diverse musical styles explored on the songs.
Background.
Regarding the sound of the new album, Urban said during an interview with "Rolling Stone" that "[he] just wanted to see how far [he] could go before it's not [him]." He also said he was inspired by U2's album "Achtung Baby." "Bono said, ["Achtung Baby"] had to be the sound of [U2] chopping down "The Joshua Tree", which I thought was great," he added. "That's where I found myself at. I can keep making the same record, but I don't want to do that." The album cover was revealed on 1 August 2013.
"Come Back to Me", a track co-written by singer-songwriter Brandy Clark, also appeared on her 2023 self-titled album.
Singles.
The album's lead single "Little Bit of Everything", written by Brad and Brett Warren (both of The Warren Brothers) along with Kevin Rudolf, was released on 14 May 2013. This song reached number one on the US "Billboard" Country Airplay chart in September 2013, as did "We Were Us", which was released as the album's second international single. in September 2013. "Shame" was released as the second single in Australia and New Zealand only in August 2013. The third international single, "Cop Car" was released in January 2014. The fourth international single, "Somewhere in My Car", was released on 23 June 2014. That song also reached number one on the Country Airplay chart late that year. The fifth international single, "Raise 'Em Up" is duet with Eric Church. it was released on 26 January 2015, and became the fourth (of the five North American releases) to top the Country Airplay chart in May 2015.
Critical reception.
"Fuse" garnered generally positive reception from music critics to critique the album. At Metacritic, the album was assigned a weighted average score based upon selected mainstream critics reviews and ratings, which based upon four reviews, the album has a Metascore of a 74. "Country Weekly"'s Bob Paxman said that the release "mesh[ed] Keith's usual blend of pop and country with some R&amp;B touches and even some New Age-y sounds." He praised the variety of sounds and thought that the vocals were more "prominent than on Urban's previous albums." Will Hermes of "Rolling Stone" highlighted "What is surprising, though, is how unforced and fun the record sounds", and this was because "[s]ometimes, leaving your zone is the best way to find yourself." At Allmusic, Thom Jurek wrote that "For all the piecemeal recording, technological obsession and sheer ambition on the Fuse, Urban manages to fashion it all into a [mostly] working whole and maintain his identity as a contemporary country artist, even as he reaches for the mainstream pop fences."
Jerry Shirver of "USA Today" suggested that "Deleting generic material would have made the gems pop more, but that's minor since there are plenty of keepers". At "The Oakland Press", Gary Graff told that ""Fuse" does lean a bit heavy on same-sounding arrangements (gentle verses swelling into bombastic choruses) but the songs are consistently strong, and Urban's performances on both guitar and vocals – including duets with Miranda Lambert ('We Were Us') and Eric Church ('Raise 'Em Up') – certainly help the new sonic approaches go down easy." Glenn Gamboa of "Newsday" said that the album was "filled with plenty of pleasant surprises. The biggest one, though, is how high Urban raised his ambitions and then delivered impressively on them." At "Edmonton Journal", Amanda Ash stated that the release was "a thrill that's for sure, although the sentimental ups and downs may be hard on those with pop-sensitive stomachs."
At "The New York Times", Jon Caramanica wrote a mixed review for the album, and evoked that "[t]he words are working hard here, and the music is, too, but Mr. Urban is gliding through, barely quaking at all." Melinda Newman at HitFix affirmed that even though Urban "plays beyond country's confines on a few tracks, most tunes hew closely to what the faithful have come to love: mid-tempo tunes anchored by banjo or guitar and Urban’s instantly recognizable vocals." Bobby Peacock of "Roughstock" praised the variety of production and songwriting, saying of the latter that some of the songs "ha[d] different details and/or phrasing than his usual songs." He also wrote that "All of the changes [were] just right, fitting into his signature sound while offering something new and creative at every turn." At "The Montreal Gazette", Bernard Perusse wrote that the album "[was] mind-numbingly predictable arena pop-rock" and that "[e]very singsong chorus, every wailing guitar solo and every heartland lyric sounds so written by committee that it’s almost impossible to tell one radio-friendly track from the other."
Commercial performance.
During its first week of release, "Fuse" sold over 98,000 copies in the United States after debuting at number one both on the US "Billboard" 200 and Top Country Albums charts. As of April 2016, the album has sold over 478,000 copies in the US. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA on 14 April 2017 for a million combined units of sales, tracks and streams.
The album also debuted at number one in both Canada and Australia and peaked within the Top 10 in the United Kingdom. It is Urban's second album to chart in his native New Zealand, after 2012's "The Story So Far".
Personnel.
Compiled from liner notes.
"Somewhere in My Car"
"Even the Stars Fall 4 U"
"Cop Car"
"Shame"
"Good Thing"
"We Were Us"
"Love's Poster Child"
"She's My 11"
"Come Back to Me"
"Red Camaro"
"Little Bit of Everything"
"Raise 'Em Up"
"Heart Like Mine"
"Black Leather Jacket"
"Gonna B Good"
"Lucky Charm"
Charts.
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Singles.
Notes
References.
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