Cardboard Castles
# Cardboard Castles

Cardboard Castles is the second studio album by American spoken word artist and rapper Watsky. 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 a 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 a 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 a 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" on kiisfm.com. 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 of 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: [dadushin.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 his official youtube page stating how The Fillmore is his "dream, bucket-list venue" and how excited he is for the tour.

| March 8 | Tempe, AZ * | Club Red | All Ages |
| - | - | - | - |
| March 12 | Austin, TX | SXSW | Festival |
| March 13 | San Francisco, CA | Amoeba Music | All Ages |
| March 16 | Hollywood, CA | Amoeba Music | All Ages |
| March 18 | New Orleans, LA * | House Of Blues | All Ages |
| March 20 | Gainesville, FL * | High Dive | 18+ |
| March 21 | Orlando, FL | Backbooth | All Ages |
| March 22 | Jacksonville, FL * | Jack Rabbits | All Ages |
| March 23 | Atlanta, GA * | Masquerade | All Ages |
| March 24 | Greensboro, NC * | Green Street | All Ages |
| March 26 | Washington, DC * | Howard Theatre | All Ages |
| March 27 | Baltimore, MD * | Baltimore Soundstage | All Ages |
| March 28 | Philadelphia, PA * | TLA | All Ages |
| March 29 | Northampton, MA * | Pearl Street | All Ages |
| March 30 | New York, NY * | Irving Plaza | All Ages |
| April 1 | Boston, MA * | Paradise Rock Club | All Ages |
| April 2 | Burlington, VT * | Higher Ground | All Ages |
| April 3 | Montreal, QC * | Cabaret Underworld | 18+ |
| April 5 | Toronto, ON * | Phoenix Concert Theatre | All Ages |
| April 6 | Buffalo, NY | The Waiting Room | 18+ |
| April 7 | Cleveland, OH * | Grog Shop | All Ages |
| April 8 | Ann Arbor, MI * | Blind Pig | All Ages |
| April 9 | Chicago, IL * | Bottom Lounge | All Ages |
| April 11 | Madison, WI * | High Noon Saloon | 18+ |
| April 12 | Minneapolis, MN | Varsity Theater | All Ages |
| April 13 | Iowa City, IA | Blue Moose | All Ages |
| April 14 | Lawrence, KS * | Granada | All Ages |
| April 17 | Denver, CO * | Cervantes Otherside | All Ages |
| April 19 | Salt Lake City, UT * | Kilby Court | All Ages |
| April 20 | Boise, ID | Knitting Factory | All Ages |
| April 21 | Portland, OR * | Branx | All Ages |
| April 22 | Vancouver, BC * | The Rio Theatre | All Ages |
| April 23 | Seattle, WA * | The Crocodile | All Ages |
| April 25 | San Francisco, CA* | The Fillmore | All Ages |
| May 4 | Los Angeles, CA | El Rey | All Ages |

All dates marked with an * are with rapper Dumbfoundead.

