Time to Win, Vol. I

Time to Win, Vol. 1 is the first official EP from the Canadian band, Down with Webster. It released October 6, 2009 on Universal Motown. The album was successful in Canada, all three singles off the album charted in the top 25 on the Canadian Hot 100 and all three were certified Platinum. The album has sold over 40,000 copies in Canada and was certified Gold in December 2010.[1]

Time to Win, Vol. 1
EP by
Down with Webster
ReleasedOctober 6, 2009
GenreRap rock
Length24:38
LabelUniversal Motown / Universal Music
Producer
Down with Webster chronology
Down with Webster
(2007)		 Time to Win, Vol. 1
(2009)		 Time to Win, Vol. 2
(2011)
Singles from Time to Win, Vol. 1
  1. "Rich Girl$"
    Released: October 2009
  2. "Your Man"
    Released: January 2010
  3. "Whoa Is Me"
    Released: June 15, 2010

Background and recording

The band said the reason to release "Time to Win" in two separate volumes was because: "As a band, we are constantly writing and recording, so instead of taking years to finish and deliver an album, releasing them this way enables us the freedom to get music out to our fans faster, more often, and for less money".[2]

The majority of "Time to Win, Vol. 1" was recorded at Chill Ville Studios, Toronto. Additional recording happened at The Hit Factory Criteria, Miami. The album was mixed at various locations such as The Orange Lounge, Toronto and South Beach Studios, Miami. "Time to Win, Vol. 1" was mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City.

The album mainly has new songs except for "Miracle Mile", which was also on the band's self-released album and included on Universal Motowns insistence.[3]

James Robertson, Demacio Castellon and Down with Webster produced all of the tracks.[4] Down with Webster had worked with Robertson previously on their self released album in 2007.[5]

Release and promotion

"Back of My Hand" was released digitally on July 7, 2009 as the first promotional single from the album.[6] "Time to Win" was released later that year as the second promotional single from the album.[7]

Time to Win, Vol. 1 was released on October 6, 2009. A CD release concert was performed in October, 2009 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto.[8]

'WINtour 2010' was Down with Webster's first headlining tour. It took place from January to February 2010 and supported Time to Win, Vol. 1.[9] Down with Webster also opened for Forever the Sickest Kids (in the Cheap Date Tour), Timbaland (in the Shock Value II Tour) and 3OH!3 (in the Streets of Gold tour) to support the album.

Commercial performance

The album's lead single, "Rich Girl$" was released in October 2009 and peaked at No. 21 on the Canadian Hot 100. It was also certified Platinum in Canada in April, 2010.[10] In the United States it was added over 20 times in one week[11] and was played on over 60 Contemporary Hit Radio stations.[12] "Your Man" was released as the second single and is the most successful single to date. It was released in January 2010 and peaked at No. 12 on the Canadian Hot 100 and was also certified Platinum in Canada in April, 2010.[10] "Whoa Is Me" was released as the album's third single on June 15, 2010. It peaked at No. 13 on the Canadian Hot 100. It was certified Platinum in Canada in January, 2011.[10]

The album sold over the 40,000 copies in Canada and certified Gold. All three singles ("Your Man", "Rich Girl$", and "Whoa Is Me") have been certified platinum singles in Canada, with "Your Man" and "Rich Girl$" having over 40,000 digital downloads and "Whoa Is Me" having over 80,000 digital downloads.[10]

Reception

Time to Win, Vol. I was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Ben Packard of Rock Wire called the EP "one of the most solid records of the year," praising the group's beats and vocals as "something you just can't ignore." The first track "Time to Win" was described as the "perfect opening for the album" with its "incredibly catchy" production. He approved of "Whoa Is Me"'s "incredible mix of beats and guitar shredding", and vocal transitions between the band members on "Your Man". Packard opined that "Parade Music" is the most "'hip hop' type of song" on the album and complimented the guitar solo. However, he found "Miracle Mile" to be strange and monotonous .[13] "Rich Girl$" was described by Aryeh Carni of eatsleepbreathemusic.com as having a "cheesy 80′s sound like Eddie Money and it's got that guilty pleasure hook to go along [with it]". On "Back of my Hand", she compared it to Eminem’s "Stan" due to the sound of "rainstorms and keys" being heard in the intro. She commended the band for showcasing their sense of humour and nonchalant attitude in their music. In addition, Carni noted their use of "beats and samples, heavy guitars and clever lyrical games" on the album.[14]

The EP was nominated for Pop Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2011 which took place on March 27, 2011.[15][16]

Track listing

All of the songs were produced by Down with Webster and James Robertson except where noted.

Time To Win, Vol. 1[17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Time To Win"Tyler Armes, Andrew Martino, Patrick Gillett, Cameron Hunter, Martin Seja2:50
2."Whoa Is Me"T. Armes, A. Martino, P. Gillett, C. Hunter, M. Seja3:43
3."Your Man" (Co-produced by Demacio Castellon)T. Armes, A. Martino, P. Gillett, C. Hunter, M. Seja, Edyth Wayne, Ronald Dunbar2:48
4."Rich Girl$" (Co-produced by Demacio Castellon)T. Armes, A. Martino, P. Gillett, C. Hunter, M. Seja, Daryl Hall3:40
5."Miracle Mile"T. Armes, A. Martino, P. Gillett, C. Hunter, M. Seja, Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown3:39
6."Back of My Hand" (Also produced by Demacio Castellon)T. Armes, A. Martino, P. Gillett, C. Hunter, M. Seja4:30
7."Parade Music"T. Armes, A. Martino, P. Gillett, C. Hunter, M. Seja3:27

Sample credits

  • "Your Man" contains a sample of "Girl It Ain't Easy" performed by Honey Cone and written by Ronald Dunbar and Edyth Wayne
  • "Rich Girl$" contains elements of "Rich Girl" performed by Hall & Oates and written by Daryl Hall
  • "Miracle Mile" contains a sample of "Broadway Melody 1929" performed by Rubino Orchestra, and written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown

Personnel

Credits for Time to Win, Vol. 1 adapted from AllMusic.[18]

Charts
Chart performance for Time to Win, Vol. 1
Chart (2010) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[19] 50

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20] Gold 40,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Music Canada Gold and Platinum Search: "Time to Win, Vol.1". Music Canada. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  2. Time to Win, Vol. 1 is available everywhere downwithwebster.com. Retrieved November 7, 2010
  3. Down with Webster no down with Gene Simmons Archived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine msn.ca. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  4. Jon O'Brien. "Time to Win, Vol. 1 Review by Jon O'Brien". AllMusic. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  5. Down with Webster – Toronto Music Scene Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 30, 2011
  6. "Back of My Hand – Down with Webster". AllMusic. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  7. "Time to Win – Down with Webster". AllMusic. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  8. CD Release Show Recap downwithwebster.com. Retrieved July 30, 2011
  9. WINtour 2010 Archived 2011-04-15 at the Wayback Machine downwithwebster.com. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  10. "Music Canada Gold and Platinum Search: Down with Webster – Digital Download Certifications". Music Canada. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  11. Down with Webster's Time To Win, Vol. I in Stores Today Archived 2010-10-09 at the Wayback Machine Business Wire, January 7, 2011
  12. Down with Webster Rocks CMJ Archived 2012-07-21 at archive.today January 7, 2011
  13. Ben Packard (June 11, 2011). "CD Review: Down With Webster – Time to Win Vol 1". Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  14. Carni, Aryeh (December 30, 2011). "Album Review: Down With Webster – Time to Win, Vol. 1". Eat Sleep Breathe Music. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  15. 2011 Juno Awards Nominees Archived 2011-02-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved February 1, 2011
  16. Stevenson, Jane (February 1, 2011). "Juno noms announced". torontosun.com. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  17. Time To Win Vol. 1 – AllMusic Retrieved December 23, 2010
  18. "Time to Win, Vol. 1 – Down with Webster Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  19. "Canadian Albums Chart: Top 100". Jam! Canoe. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  20. "Canadian album certifications – Down With Webster – Time to Win, Vol. 1". Music Canada. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
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