Catch 22 (Tinchy Stryder album)

Catch 22 is the second full-length solo studio album by recording artist Tinchy Stryder. After three successful singles leading up to the album, the album was then released on 17 August 2009.[2] The album is produced and co-written by award-winning producer and songwriter Fraser T Smith, whose previous credits include James Morrison, Craig David and Kano.

Catch 22
Studio album by
Released17 August 2009
Recorded2008–09
GenrePop rap[1]
Length58:02
Label
ProducerFraser T. Smith
Tinchy Stryder chronology
Star in the Hood EP Vol. 2
(2009)
Catch 22
(2009)
Street Anthems
(2009)
Singles from Catch 22
  1. "Stryderman"
    Released: 20 July 2008
  2. "Take Me Back"
    Released: 19 January 2009
  3. "Number 1"
    Released: 20 April 2009
  4. "Never Leave You"
    Released: 2 August 2009
  5. "You're Not Alone"
    Released: 26 October 2009

The album was preceded by a collaborative album with grime producer Maniac and a two-part free downloadable extended plays (EP), Star in the Hood EP Vol. 1 & Star in the Hood EP Vol. 2.[3] Tinchy Stryder toured his album, Catch 22, in October 2009, and again in February/March 2010.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
Digital Spy     [5]
The Guardian     [6]
The Independent     [7]
RapReviews          [8]
State     [9]
The Times     [10]
Virgin Media     [11]

The Mirror gave the album a positive review: "...keen learner with an eye on the crossover market, Stryder shows infectious energy and determination to cover his core market on this second album. Check the auto-tuned pop thrills of Take Me Back and Shake Me. Stryder cuts an impressive sway as the hardworking pupil of the Grime Crossover Contingent."[12] The Telegraph gave the album 3/5 stars and said: "American rappers have their guns. Tinchy Stryder has his mum. The witty domesticity of Stryder’s raps are part of the charm of this decidedly British hip hop album. Coming from the grime world, but not in the least grimy, the hook laden, techno-pop tracks are so relentlessly catchy, his unpretentious, snotty-nosed lyricism is like aural icing on a sugary pop cake."[13]The Times gave the album 3/5 stars and said: "With a second No 1 single under his belt, Kwasi Danquah III, 22, is being hailed by wishful thinkers as the second coming of grime. Catch 22 is an uneasy balancing act between these two Stryder sides; but it makes for compelling spectacle."[10]The Independent however was much less favourable of the album giving it 2/5 stars: "Tinchy Stryder may be the second-biggest name in grime, but Catch 22 suggests he's more in the mould of Akon than Dizzee Rascal: there's little of Dizzee's bonkers charm about these tracks, and plenty of Akon's reliance on auto-tuned hooks and romantic themes. Indeed, when not reflecting on his success, Tinchy's time seems mostly taken up with oiling his way into girls' affections, trying to extricate himself from their clinging attentions, or apologising for mistreating them."[7]

Commercial performance

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At the beginning of the week commencing 17 August 2009 Catch 22 was duelling with Calvin Harris's Ready for the Weekend for the top spot in the UK, with only 1,000 copies between them.[14] By the last mid-week update there was only a few copies between them.[15][16] Catch 22 reached No. 2 in the UK by the end of the week, with Harris outselling Stryder by 8000 copies.[17] Tinchy Stryder used his official Twitter to convey his gratitude to his fans for the high charting of the album.[18] In its second week the album fell to No. 5 in the UK[19] and was certified Gold in the UK.[20]

In Ireland, the album debuted and peaked at No. 9.[21]

Singles

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  • The first single "Stryderman",[22][23] was released as a digital download on 20 July 2008 with the CD single released on 8 August 2008. The song was added to BBC Radio 1's C Playlist in July 2008 and debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 73;[24] Stryder's first single to chart in the UK.
  • The second single "Take Me Back", which also featured fellow Universal Island Records-signed act Taio Cruz was released on 19 January 2009. The single received high amount of praise and received placement on Radio 1's A Playlist. The single eventually peaked at number 3 in the UK; marking Stryder's first Top 10 single in the UK.[25]
  • The third single "Number 1" which featured UK trio N-Dubz became Stryder's second Top 10 single and first number-one single in the UK when it debuted at the top spot on the UK Singles Chart on 27 April 2009.[26]
  • The fourth single "Never Leave You" featured vocals from Amelle Berrabah of the Sugababes and was released on 9 August 2009; where it peaked at number-one in the UK,[27] Stryder's third consecutive Top 10 single on the UK Singles Chart.
  • The fifth and final single "You're Not Alone" was released on 26 October 2009,[28] where it reached number 14 in the UK; marking the fourth UK Top 15 hit from Stryder.

Track listing

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Standard edition[29][30]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Take Off"Kwasi Danquah IIITinchy Stryder1:47
2."I'm Landing"
TMS3:38
3."Take Me Back" (featuring Taio Cruz)Smith3:35
4."Spotlight" (featuring Tanya Lacey)
Smith3:37
5."Number 1" (featuring Dappy of N-Dubz)
Smith3:33
6."Shake Me"Prince Rapid3:40
7."Stryderman"
4:08
8."Warning"Labrinth3:18
9."First Place"Frankmusik2:48
10."Pit Stop"DanquahStryder1:47
11."Halo"
  • Danquah
  • Smith
Smith3:42
12."Tryna Be Me" (featuring Ruff Sqwad)
3:26
13."Never Leave You" (featuring Amelle Berrabah)
  • Danquah
  • Smith
  • Cruz
Smith3:31
14."We Got Dem" (featuring Chipmunk)
Dirty Danger3:02
15."You're Not Alone"Smith3:50
16."Preview"
  • Danquah
  • Smith
Smith3:53
17."Catch 22"DanquahStryder1:50
18."Express Urself"Chase & Status2:57
Total length:58:02
iTunes bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
19."On My Own"DanquahStryder3:47
Total length:61:49
Deluxe edition bonus tracks[31]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Stryderman Remix" (featuring Wiley)Richard CowieSmith4:09
2."Take Me Back Remix" (featuring Sway and Chipmunk)Smith4:14
3."Never Leave You Remix" (featuring Bashy and Double S)Ashley ThomasSmith3:30
4."Rollin"
Maniac3:29
5."Stuck on My Mind"DanquahPrince Rapid3:44
6."It's a Problem"DanquahP. Rapid2:43
7."Story Unfold"DanquahToddla T3:27
8."B.O.Y.Z"DanquahDirty Danger4:09

Notes

Charts

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Release history

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Release history and formats for Catch 22
Country Date Format Label
Various 17 August 2009[37] CD, digital download Takeover Entertainment, Universal Island

References

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  1. ^ David Jeffries. "Tinchy Stryder – Third Strike". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Tinchy: Int He Generous, Like?". Hattie C in the Place to Be. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Star in the Hood EP is Here!!". Tinchy Stryder official site. Retrieved 6 July 2009.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Chisling, Matthew. "Review: Catch 22". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  5. ^ Balls, David. "Review: Tinchy Stryder: 'Catch 22' ". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  6. ^ Petridis, Alexis. "Review: Tinchy Stryder, Catch 22 (Island)". Film & Music, The Guardian. No. 14 August 2009. p. 9.
  7. ^ a b Gill, Andy (14 August 2009). "Album: Tinchy Stryder, Catch 22 (Island)". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  8. ^ RapReviews review Tinchy Stryder Catch 22, RapReviews. RapReviews.com.
  9. ^ State review Tinchy Stryder Catch 22 Album State Review Archived 29 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. state.ie.
  10. ^ a b Cairns, Dan (16 August 2009). "Tinchy Stryder Catch 22". The Times. London. Retrieved 28 April 2010.[dead link]
  11. ^ Tinchy Stryder Catch 22 Album Review. Virgin Media.
  12. ^ Tinchy Stryder Album Review. The Mirror.
  13. ^ McCormick, Neil (13 August 2009). "Tinchy Stryder: Catch 22' Tinchy Stryder's techno-pop tracks are relentlessly catchy in Catch 22'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  14. ^ Good News For David And Akon Boots Calvin. Digital Spy.
  15. ^ Tinchy Stryder UK Music Blog – The Sound. Digital Spy.
  16. ^ Tinchy Stryder – Twitter status. Twitter.
  17. ^ Calvin Beats Tinchy To Albums No-1.. Digital Spy.
  18. ^ Tinchy Stryder Thanks Fans For Number Two. Digital Spy.
  19. ^ Arctic Monkeys Score Chart Hat-Trick. Digital Spy.
  20. ^ a b Catch 22 – British Phonographic Industry, certifiedawards Archived 11 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine. BPI.
  21. ^ The Script Album Stays On Top In Ireland. Digital Spy.
  22. ^ Tinchy Stryder – first major label single Archived 1 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. urbanworld.co.uk.
  23. ^ Stryderman by Tinchy Stryder Songfacts. songfacts.com
  24. ^ Tinchy Stryder – acharts. acharts.us.
  25. ^ "Tinchy Stryder – Take Me Back – Music Charts". aCharts.us. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  26. ^ "Tinchy Stryder – Number 1 – Music Charts". aCharts.us. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  27. ^ "UK Singles Top 75". Official Charts Company. acharts.com. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  28. ^ Stryder Announces New Single Details. Digital Spy.
  29. ^ Tinchy Stryder Catch 2 Album Archived 19 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. rnbuncovered.com
  30. ^ Catch 22 Music CD. Play.com.
  31. ^ Tinchy Stryder – Catch 22 CD Product. Play.com.
  32. ^ Tinchy Stryder – Catch 22. Billboard.
  33. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Tinchy Stryder". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  36. ^ "UK Year-End Charts 2009" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  37. ^ Catch 22 Album. Amazon
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