Breakthrough | ||||
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Studio album by Colbie Caillat | ||||
Released | August 25, 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2008–2009 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 49:07 | |||
Label | Universal Republic | |||
Producer | ||||
Colbie Caillat chronology | ||||
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Singles from Breakthrough | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 57/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | |
AllMusic | |
Billboard | (Favorable) |
New York Daily News | |
PopMatters | |
Q | |
Rolling Stone | |
Slant Magazine | |
Sputnikmusic | |
Uncut |
Breakthrough is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat. The album was released on August 19, 2009 through Universal Republic Records. The follow-up to her successful debut album, Coco (2007), Breakthrough was developed in late 2008 when Caillat returned to her home after two years on tour, with the singer setting up a "writing camp" with songwriters and producers in Hawaii and writing over 40 songs for the record.
Inspired by the fact that she was trying to find herself again and breaking the creativity chains that surrounded her, Breakthrough deals with themes of growing up, experiencing life, love, making mistakes and learning from them, as well as heartbreak and why everlasting love seems elusive. To help develop her expected sound and lyrics, Caillat worked with previous collaborators, such as Mikal Blue, Ken Caillat and Jason Reeves, while working for the first time with Kara Dioguardi, Rick Nowels, John Shanks and Greg Wells.
Breakthrough received generally mixed to favorable reviews from contemporary music critics, with some praising its rich texture and for being a consistent album with catchy tracks, while others dismissing its title and finding issues with some of the song's lyrics. The album was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Commercially, it was successful in the United States, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 106,000 copies in its first week, becoming her first album to top the Billboard charts. Elsewhere, it reached the top-ten in four countries, while failing to replicate the success of her debut album in other territories.