Coming Home (Leon Bridges album)

Coming Home is the debut studio album by American singer Leon Bridges. It was released on June 23, 2015, by Columbia Records. The album was written by Leon Bridges, Austin Michael Jenkins, Joshua Block, Chris Vivion and produced by Niles City Sound.

Coming Home
Studio album by
Leon Bridges
ReleasedJune 23, 2015 (2015-06-23)
StudioNiles City Sound, Fort Worth, Texas
Genre
Length34:11
LabelColumbia
ProducerNiles City Sound
Leon Bridges chronology
Coming Home
(2015)		 Good Thing
(2018)
Singles from Coming Home
  1. "Coming Home"
    Released: February 3, 2015
  2. "Smooth Sailin'"
    Released: June 2, 2015

Coming Home was supported by two singles: "Coming Home" and "Smooth Sailin'". The album received generally positive reviews from critics, and charted at number six on the US Billboard 200. It was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards.

Singles

"Coming Home" was released as the lead single from the album on February 3, 2015, by Columbia Records.[1] The song continued the success of the demo version and became a "Top 10 Most Viral Track" on Spotify, the same month as its release.[2] The album's second single, "Smooth Sailin'", was released on June 2, 2015.[3]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.4/10[4]
Metacritic78/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
The Daily Telegraph[7]
The Guardian[8]
Mojo[9]
NME8/10[10]
The Observer[11]
Pitchfork7.0/10[12]
Q[13]
Rolling Stone[14]
Spin7/10[15]

Coming Home was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 78, based on 21 reviews.[5] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.4 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[4]

Adam Kivel of Consequence said, "On Coming Home, Bridges solidly aligns with the latter, his soulful R&B studied and nostalgic, but also immediate and emotionally true".[16] Ryan Patrick of Exclaim! said, "Coming Home is a star-making vehicle that is solidly crafted, robustly traditionalist and palpably soulful. This is not just a nostalgia act; this is music from the heart, and the soul".[17] Leonie Cooper of NME also gave the album a positive review stating, "Coming Home exists in a satin-swathed timewarp that takes you back 55 years. Texan singer Leon Bridges' debt to the warmth of soul pioneer Sam Cooke is evident in every tune on a debut album where even the stylish artwork acts as an unreconstructed envoy to a 1960 dependent on daiquiris and dinner dances".[10] Kitty Empire of The Observer said, "Coming Home is, perhaps, a healthy reiteration of the classic sounds of succour in a time of need; a principled and mellifluous nay-saying".[11] Ernest Wilkins of Pitchfork said, "While he obviously has good intentions, at times, Bridges can't help but come off as an imitator".[12] Chuck Arnold of Rolling Stone gave the album a positive review stating, "Leon Bridges is a throwback to the days when guys did things like "swim the Mississippi" to impress their dates ("Better Man"). But this retro-soul man doesn't have to work so hard to win you over on his debut LP: His smooth, Sam Cooke-esque croon makes Coming Home the best kind of nostalgia trip. Tunes like the tender title track dance right back to the late Fifties, and album closer "River" is a gospel-blues testimony that runs deep".[14]

Harley Brown of Spin said, "What it does best is address the simple lament of not having anything to twist to in too long".[15] Jonathan Hatchman of Clash gave the album a positive review stating, "Texas has always been a state synonymous with pioneering musical innovation. Yet, with the release of Fort Worth native Leon Bridges' debut album, an anomaly has arisen which sends the listener back into the past. Having begun his career with a string of open-mic night shows, his rich blend of soul and rhythm 'n' blues influences peppered a demo of Bridges' album title track, which received an overwhelming level of success after its appearance on SoundCloud".[18] Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "It's all a pleasing time warp without turbulence, one with songs built more to evoke the past than to last in one's memory".[6] Tim Jonze of The Guardian said, "Bridges has a fantastic voice, but you sense he's also yet to truly find it".[8]

Year-end lists
Select year-end rankings of Coming Home
Publication List Rank Ref.
Mojo Top 50 Albums of 2015
27
[19]
Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums of 2015
31
[20]

Industry awards
Awards and nominations for Coming Home
Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2016 Grammy Awards Best R&B Album Nominated
[21]

Commercial performance

Coming Home debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 selling 42,000 equivalent copies (38,000 in pure album sales).[22] On June 24, 2015, the album was at number five on The Official Chart Update in the United Kingdom.[23]

Track listing

All songs produced by Niles City Sound.

Coming Home track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Coming Home"
3:26
2."Better Man"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
2:21
3."Brown Skin Girl"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
3:26
4."Smooth Sailin'"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
3:07
5."Shine"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
3:38
6."Lisa Sawyer"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
4:05
7."Flowers"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
2:56
8."Pull Away"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
3:02
9."Twistin' & Groovin'"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
4:14
10."River"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
3:56
Total length:34:11
Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."There She Goes"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
2:35
12."Daisy Mae"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
2:56
13."Mississippi Kisses"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
2:24
14."Here in My Arms"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
2:07
15."Outta Line"
  • Bridges
  • Jenkins
  • Block
  • Vivion
2:02
Total length:46:15

Notes

  • "Coming Home" and "Here In My Arms" features background vocals from Gabriel Lawson and Tyesha Simpson
  • "Better Man" features background vocals from Brittni Jessie, Tyesha Simpson, Ansley Dougherty and Njia Martin
  • "Brown Skin Girl" features background vocals from Paul Andrade, Brittni Jessie and Beth Riley
  • "Smooth Sailin'" features background vocals from Brittni Jessie
  • "Shine" features background vocals from Brittni Jessie, Elle Chupik, Beth Riley and Katie Robertson
  • "Lisa Sawyer", "Twistin' & Groovin'", "Daisy Mae" and "Outta Line" features background vocals from Beth Riley, Brittni Jessie and Elle Chupik
  • "Flowers" and "Pull Away" features background vocals from Brandon Marcel, Brittni Jessie, Elle Chupik and Beth Riley
  • "River" features background vocals from Paul Andrade, Shon Gardner, Brittni Jessie, Tyesha Simpson, Njia Martin and Ansley Dougherty
  • "There She Goes" features background vocals from Brittni Jessie, Gabriel Lawson, Elle Chupik, Beth Riley and Katie Robertson
  • "Mississippi Kisses" features background vocals from Paul André, Jake Paleshic, Brandon Marcel and Jake Hill

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[24]

Charts

Certifications
Certifications and sales for Coming Home
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[42] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[43] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Silver 60,000‡
United States (RIAA)[45] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for Coming Home
Region Date Label(s) Format(s) Edition Ref.
United States June 23, 2015 Columbia
Standard
[46]
February 5, 2016 Digital download Deluxe
[47]

References
  1. Powers, Ann (February 2, 2015). "Songs We Love: Leon Bridges, 'Coming Home'". NPR Music. Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  2. "Spotify's Top 10 Most Viral Tracks". The New York Times. February 11, 2015. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  3. Milton, Jamie (June 2, 2015). "Leon Bridges previews debut album with 'Smooth Sailin'". DIY. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  4. "Coming Home by Leon Bridges reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  5. "Reviews for Coming Home by Leon Bridges". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  6. Kellman, Andy. "Coming Home – Leon Bridges". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  7. Brown, Helen (June 27, 2015). "Leon Bridges, Comin' Home, review: 'genuine groove'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  8. Jonze, Tim (June 18, 2015). "Leon Bridges: Coming Home review – new soul talent in search of direction". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  9. "Leon Bridges: Coming Home". Mojo (260): 87. July 2015.
  10. Cooper, Leonie (June 11, 2015). "Leon Bridges – 'Coming Home'". NME. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  11. Empire, Kitty (June 22, 2015). "Coming Home by Leon Bridges review – unabashed old-school soul". The Observer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  12. Wilkins, Ernest (June 24, 2015). "Leon Bridges: Coming Home". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  13. "Leon Bridges: Coming Home". Q (348): 112. July 2015.
  14. Arnold, Chuck (June 23, 2015). "Coming Home". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  15. Brown, Harley (June 24, 2015). "Review: Leon Bridges Teaches Us How to Twist Again on 'Coming Home'". Spin. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  16. Kivel, Adam (June 23, 2015). "Leon Bridges – Coming Home". Consequence. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  17. Patrick, Ryan. "Leon Bridges Coming Home". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  18. Hatchman, Jonathan (June 16, 2015). "Leon Bridges – Coming Home". Clash. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  19. "Top 50 Albums of 2015". December 26, 2015. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  20. "Leon Bridges, 'Coming Home' – 50 Best Albums of 2015". Rolling Stone. December 1, 2015. Archived from the original on December 31, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  21. "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  22. "Leon Bridges' "Coming Home" Debuts with 38.2K First Week Sales". headlineplanet. July 2, 2015. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  23. "Wolf Alice and Everything Everything battle for Number 1 album". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015.
  24. Coming Home (CD liner notes). Leon Bridges. Columbia Records. 2015.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. "Australiancharts.com – Leon Bridges – Coming Home". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
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  27. "Ultratop.be – Leon Bridges – Coming Home" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
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  29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Leon Bridges – Coming Home" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  30. "Lescharts.com – Leon Bridges – Coming Home". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  31. "Offiziellecharts.de – Leon Bridges – Coming Home" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  32. "Charts.nz – Leon Bridges – Coming Home". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
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  37. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  38. "Leon Bridges Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  39. "Leon Bridges Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  40. "Best of 2015 – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  41. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  42. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  43. "Canadian album certifications – Leon Bridges – Coming Home". Music Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  44. "British album certifications – Leon Bridges – Coming Home". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  45. "American album certifications – Leon Bridges – Coming Home". Recording Industry Association of America.
  46. "Coming Home by Leon Bridges". iTunes Store. June 23, 2015. Archived from the original on August 13, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  47. Walker, Joe (February 5, 2016). "Leon Bridges Releases Five New Tracks". OnSMASH. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
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