The Sea of Memories
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Gavin Rossdale |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Key people | Gavin Rossdale (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Chris Traynor (lead guitar), Corey Britz (bass guitar, backing vocals), Robin Goodridge (drums) |
| Products | Albums, singles |
The Sea of Memories represents the fifth full-length album from the English alternative rock group Bush, officially released on 13 September 2011 via Zuma Rock Records, eOne Music, and earMUSIC. This record marked the band's return to studio albums after a decade, following their 2001 release Golden State. It also introduced new members Chris Traynor and Corey Britz, who contributed on lead guitar and bass respectively. Significantly, this album was Bush's first under E1 Records, departing from their earlier associations with Interscope and Atlantic. The album's title is inspired by a lyric from the track "Baby Come Home". The visual artwork for the cover was crafted by Los Angeles-based street artist RETNA.
Background and production
Originally scheduled for an autumn 2010 release under the tentative name Everything Always Now, The Sea of Memories was produced by Bob Rock. Pre-production sessions commenced in June 2010, with recording finalized approximately one year later.
Promotion
Bush collaborated with Electronic Arts to provide a complimentary download of "All My Life" through the video game publisher’s website. Additionally, "The Sound of Winter" was included on the soundtrack for NHL 12 and was made available as a free digital download starting 25 July 2011; it was also accessible on US iTunes.
To support the album's launch, Bush performed "The Sound of Winter" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 21 July and later on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 22 September. Their appearance on Discovery Channel's American Chopper Live aired on 6 December 2011 and became the show's second-highest-rated episode.
Several songs from this album were incorporated into the Ski Channel’s film tour Winter, directed by Steve Bellamy, who is also the founder of the Tennis Channel. Notably, "The Sound of Winter" was featured as the film’s theme track.
In early 2012, Bush released "Baby Come Home" as the third single and performed it again on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 2 February 2012.
Commercial performance
The initial single from the album, "The Afterlife" (released June 2010), attained positions within the top 40 on both the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks (#34) and Alternative Songs (#22) charts. The follow-up single, "The Sound of Winter" (July 2011), achieved greater success, reaching top ten status on US Active Rock (#4) and Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks (#3). It notably became the first self-released single to top the Alternative Songs chart on 18 October, subsequently leading the Rock Songs chart as well—marking Bush’s inaugural number one in that category. In Canada, it peaked at #2 on the Alternative Chart, #4 on Active Rock, and #97 on the Canadian Hot 100. Upon its release on 13 September 2011, The Sea of Memories sold approximately 20,000 copies during its debut week in the United States, entering the Billboard 200 at number 18. The album also reached number 20 on Top Digital Albums, climbed to number five on both Top Independent Albums and Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums, and secured number eight on Top Rock Albums.
Critical reception
Critics offered mixed feedback for The Sea of Memories, which holds a Metacritic score of 51 based on ten reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic awarded it 2.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "the most enjoyable collection of songs released under Bush's name." Rockfreaks.net commended tracks such as "The Sound of Winter," likening the album to classic material from Bush. IGN rated it 7 out of 10, acknowledging it as a positive comeback despite some flaws. Love-It-Loud.com emphasized Rossdale’s compelling vocal performance alongside memorable hooks spanning various musical styles.
Conversely, several critiques were less favorable or ambivalent. Entertainment Weekly remarked that it contributed "zero entries" worthy of a greatest-hits compilation. The A.V. Club characterized it as revisiting Rossdale's previous missteps. According to Consequence of Sound, while it revitalized the Bush brand, it did not break new ground. PopMatters suggested that although fans might appreciate it, critics inclined to view Bush as derivative would remain unconvinced. Spin (magazine) praised "The Afterlife" but recommended earlier ballads over newer ones. Meanwhile, Kerrang! labeled it an unsuccessful comeback effort, and Uncut (magazine) criticized its production for accentuating a hollow sound quality.
Track listing
Every track composed by Gavin Rossdale
Personnel
Bush
- Gavin Rossdale – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Chris Traynor – lead guitar
- Corey Britz – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Robin Goodridge – drums
Additional musicians
- Jamie Muhoberac – keyboard instruments
Technical personnel
- Jay Baumgardner – mixing engineer
- John Ewing, Jr. – engineering, mixing
- Davis Factor – photography
- Matty Green – assistant engineer
- Eric Helmkamp – engineering
- Ted Jensen – mastering engineer
- Michael Moses – publicity management
- Julian Peploe – graphic design
- Nicole Perna – publicity coordination
- Bob Rock – producer
- Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing engineer
Chart performance
- Album
| Chart (2011) | Highest position |
|---|---|
| Template:Album chart | |
| UK Albums (Official Charts) | 200 |
| Template:Album chart | |
| Template:Album chart | |
| Template:Album chart | |
| Template:Album chart | |
| Template:Album chart |
- Singles
| Single | Chart | Highest position |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Sound of Winter" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 3 | 2011 |
| "The Sound of Winter" | Alternative Songs | 1 | 2011 |
| "The Sound of Winter" | US Active Rock | 4 | 2011 |
| "The Sound of Winter" | Rock Songs | 1 | 2011 |
| "The Sound of Winter" | US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles | 4 | 2011 |
| "The Sound of Winter" | Canadian rock/alternative chart | 2 | 2011 |
| "The Sound of Winter" | Canadian Active Rock Chart | 4 | 2011 |
| "The Afterlife" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 34 | 2010 |
| "The Afterlife" | Alternative Songs | 22 | 2010 |