Sticks and Stones (Cher Lloyd album)

After the final of the seventh series of The X Factor, Lloyd signed a record deal with English businessman Simon Cowell's label Syco Music. In the United States, she signed with Epic Records, and the album's US version was released through the label. On 28 July 2011, Lloyd previewed five tracks from the album during an Ustream session, including tracks featuring musicians Busta Rhymes, Mike Posner, Ghetts, Mic Righteous, and Dot Rotten. Described as "jukebox" by her, In September 2012, Lloyd announced that she would release the 21 track deluxe edition; it contains "Oath" featuring Becky G, "Behind the Music", and a studio version of her cover of duo Shakespears Sister's song "Stay". "Dub on the Track", featuring Mic Righteous, Dot Rotten, and Ghetts, received a music video on 13 December. Singles Four singles were released from Sticks + Stones. On 15 June 2011, the lead single "Swagger Jagger" was leaked onto the internet and was released on 29 July. In the United Kingdom, it reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 7 August, being certicified silver by British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 13 July 2022. Released on 28 October 2011, the album's second single "With Ur Love" features vocals from American singer Mike Posner. It peaked at number five in Ireland, number four in the United Kingdom and number three in Scotland. Its US version's music video was filmed and released through her YouTube channel. "Want U Back" was chosen as the third single of Sticks + Stones, being released on 3 February 2012. While the British single version of the song features vocals from American rapper Astro, its US version includes vocals from Lloyd only, and a remix features American rapper Snoop Dogg's vocals. Its music video was directed by Parris. The song sold around 2,000,000 copies, being certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Oath", produced by American producer Dr. Luke and Canadian producer Cirkut, was released on 2 October; it served as the fourth single of UK edition and second single of the US edition. It features vocals from American rapper Becky G, who originally wrote the song. The single sold around 500,000 copies in the United States, being certified Gold by RIAA. ==Critical reception==

Critical reception for Sticks + Stones has been mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 51, based on 8 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Entertainment Weekly echoed this focus on Lloyd herself, writing that her "manic lowbrow sass" could feel "tiresome at length" but was effective on singles such as "Want U Back", and adding that she had "enough charisma for both sides of the Atlantic". ==Commercial performance==

In the United Kingdom, Stick + Stones entered the UK Albums Chart at number four behind new releases of Susan Boyle, Florence and the Machine and Michael Bublé, selling 55,668 copies in its opening week. As of September 2013, it was certified Gold by BPI for shipments of 100,000 copies. Sticks and Stones debuted at number nine with 31,000 copies sold in the United States, on the chart dated 20 October 2012. It also debuted at number seven in Ireland. ==Track listing==

• Rudolf • The Runners }} • Kotecha • Shellback }} • Shellback • Max Martin • Kotecha • Mike Posner }} • Lloyd • Autumn Rowe • Jackson • Harr • The Monarch • Marcus Lomax • Clarence Coffee Jr. }} • The Runners • The Monarch }} • Chad Wolfinbarger • Alexander Kronlund • Tom Hamilton }} • Shellback • Martin }} • RedOne • AJ Junior • Johnny Powers • Neneh Cherry • Cameron McVey • James Philip Morgan • Philip Ramocon }} • RedOne • Johnny Powers }} • Priscilla Renea • Jackson • Gerald Martin • Formetta Gibson }} • Lloyd • Kotecha • RedOne • Junior • Bilal Hajji • Eric Sanicola }} • RedOne • Sanicola • Jimmy Joker }} • Lloyd • Livvi Franc • Toby Gad }} • Gad • TMS }} • Lloyd • Ronald Jackson }} }} • Shakespears Sister • Chris Thomas }} }} • Lloyd • Rudolf • Kasher • Kotecha • Harr • Jackson • Smith }} • Rudolf • The Runners }} • Shellback • Martin • Kotecha }} • Jon Levine • Anjulie Persaud }} • Levine • Mike Flynn }} • Rebbeca Gomez • Lukasz Gottwald • Ammar Malik • Daniel Omelio • Henry Walter • Emily Wright }} • Dr Luke • Cirkut • Robopop • Chris O'Ryan }} • Lloyd • Rowe • Jackson • Harr • Monarch • Lomax • Coffee Jr. }} • The Runners • The Monarch }} • Wolfinbarger • Kronlund • Hamilton }} • Shellback • Martin }} • RedOne • Junior • Powers • Cherry • McVey • Morgan • Ramocon }} • RedOne • Johnny Powers }} • Renea • Jackson • Martin • Gibson }} • Lloyd • Jackson }} }} • Gad • TMS }} }} }} }} • The Runners • The Monarch }} • Lloyd • Kotecha • RedOne • Junior • Hajji • Sanicola }} • RedOne • Sanicola • Joker }} }} • The Runners • The Monarch • Francis }} • Lloyd • Rowe • Jackson • Harr • Monarch • Lomax • Coffee Jr. }} • The Runners • The Monarch • Wideboys }} • Kotecha • Shellback • Broadus Jr. }} • Kotecha • Shellback }} }} }} Notes • "Playa Boi" interpolates portions of the composition entitled "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry. • "Swagger Jagger" interpolates melodic portions of the composition entitled "Oh My Darling Clementine". • signifies a co-producer. • signifies a vocal producer. • "Oath" does not appear on the North American LP edition of Sticks & Stones, and the original tracks six to nine are one position higher. ==Personnel==

Credits were adapted from the album's liner notes. Recording locations • We the Best Studio; Miami, Florida (4) • Boom Boom Boom (7) • Kite Studios (9) • Ealing Studios (9) • The Music Shed; London, United Kingdom (9) • Old Street Studios (9) • Darkchild Studios; Los Angeles, California (10) ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==