When the Morning Comes

by A Great Big World

Overview

Following a monster hit and avoiding the dreaded one-hit wonder bin is a daunting task. After 2014's "Say Something," their unexpected smash with Christina Aguilera, A Great Big World had to do something to avoid a sophomore slump. Instead of recording a collection of treacly "Say Something" retreads, they set out to just make music that they wanted to make. The result is When the Morning Comes (Epic), an album littered with more hip-hop beats and handclaps, more rousing choruses and uplifting melodies. It's a bigger sound than their debut, jam-packed with positivity. Many of the songs sound fit for arenas, OneRepublic style; all of them are ready-made for massive singalongs. The breezy radio-friendly hits are plenty ("Kaleidoscope" and "Come On"); they'd sit nicely alongside the poppiest of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons (especially on "Won't Stop Running"). A few piano tinklers ("All I Want Is Love" and "Hold Each Other") sound a little too familiar, but the overall sunny vibe carries the album forth. Much of the songs here sound like they could be grand Disney animation themes, fit for wannabe heroes and kids with big dreams. Album highlights swerve a little down a less bombastic path. "Oasis" is a boom-clap mega-ballad that sounds plucked from the best of Backstreet Boys' latter-career adult material. Standout track "Where Does the Time Go" similarly shows off their maturity, depth, and vocal abilities with aching prettiness and poignancy. It's an overall earnest and heartfelt affair, which should help them find a life beyond their heretofore biggest hit. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	11/13/2015
Label:	Epic / Rca
UPC:	0888751387829

Tracks

1. All I Want Is Love
2. Kaleidoscope
3. End of the World
4. Hold Each Other
5. Oasis
6. Come On
7. Won't Stop Running
8. One Step Ahead
9. The Future's Right in Front of Me
10. When the Morning Comes
11. Where Does the Time Go
12. Hold Each Other

Album Credits

Performance Credits

A Great Big World   Primary Artist
Dana Wise   Vocals (Background)
Meredith Strang   Vocals (Background)
Beth Eldridge   Vocals (Background)
Carrie Brown Albanese   Vocals (Background)
Saul Simon MacWilliams   Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Bass,Piano
Ian Axel   Piano,Vocals,Ukulele,Vocals (Background)
Dan Romer   Bass,Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic)
Todd Low   Viola
Chala Yancy   Viola,Violin
Greg Holden   Vocals (Background)
Dave Eggar   Cello
Jordan Miller   Vocals (Background)
Chad King   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mike Tuccillo   Bass,Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Guitar (Electric)
Oscar Albis Rodriguez   Bass,Guitar
Chuck Palmer   Conductor
Tony Maceli   Double Bass
Futuristic   Featured Artist
Gregg Wattenberg   Vocals (Background)
Jonathan Dinklage   Viola,Violin
Peter Sachon   Cello
Katie Kresek   Violin
Derek Fuhrmann   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Kevin Weaver   Drums
Kevin Kadish   Piano,Vocals (Background)
Josh Kear   Guitar (Acoustic)
Adam Christgau   Drums,Percussion
Antoine Silverman   Violin
Gunnar Olsen   Drums

Technical Credits

Michael Klein   A&R
Matt Barnes   Assistant Engineer
Milan Sarkadi   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Chad Vaccarino   Composer
Mike Adubato   Engineer
Cameron Krieger   Assistant
Marcus Gutierrez   Engineer
Zachary Beck   Composer
Steve Wilson   Illustrations
Saul Simon MacWilliams   Producer,Orchestration,Drum Programming,String Arrangements
David Kutch   Mastering
Barrington Hall   Assistant
Ian Axel   Composer,Liner Notes
Dan Romer   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation,Drum Programming,String Arrangements
Maureen McDonald   Composer
Mike Smith   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Greg Holden   Composer
Dave Eggar   Orchestration,String Arrangements
Meghan Foley   Art Direction
Joseph Llanes   Photography
Chad King   Liner Notes
Mike Tuccillo   Engineer,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation,Drum Programming
Simon Bloor   Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Chuck Palmer   Leader,Orchestration,String Arrangements
Jordan Stillwell   Engineer
Dalia Glickman   A&R
Ted Jensen   Mastering
L.A. Reid   A&R
Gregg Wattenberg   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Producer
Joe Zook   Mixing
Mark Endert   Mixing
Jon Samson   Engineer
Antonina Armato   Composer
Tim James   Composer
Derek Fuhrmann   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Producer
Kevin Kadish   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Orchestration,Drum Programming
Josh Kear   Composer
Phil Tan   Mixing
Honey Larochelle   Vocal Producer
David Baron   Arranger,Orchestration