Season of the Sparks

Last updated

Season of the Sparks
Adrian Crowley's Season of the Sparks album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Adrian Crowley
Released24 April 2009
Length36:00 [1]
Label Tin Angel Records
Adrian Crowley chronology
Long Distance Swimmer
(2007)		Season of the Sparks
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg link
Hot Press Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg link
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link
RTÉ Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link
State Orange link
The Sunday Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link

Season of the Sparks is the fifth studio album released by Irish singer-songwriter Adrian Crowley. On March 3, 2010, it was announced as the winner of the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2009 at Vicar Street, Dublin.

Contents

It was released on April 24, 2009. [2]

Reception

Hot Press gave Season of the Sparks five stars, calling it a "batch of beautiful Al Stewart/Leonard Cohenesque pastoral reflections". [3] RTÉ reviewer Harry Guerin gave the record four out of five stars and called it "an album for all seasons". [1] Lauren Murphy, who reviewed the album for The Irish Times , also gave it four out of five stars, stating that this is Crowley's "most consistently beautiful album yet" and that the artist "utilises his lyrical talent to conjure up the most gorgeous imagery this side of the Shannon". [4] The Sunday Times reviewer Dan Cairns also gave it four out of five stars, calling it "a great album" and saying it was " like a Paula Rego painting set to music". [5] State called it "that rare and precious thing, a perfect expression of joy", noting that the first track "Summer Haze Parade" was "Crowley's most overtly uplifting moment to date". [6] Clash praised Crowley's "ability to craft a beautiful lullaby to the simplicity of the countryside". [7]

Season of the Sparks was the last album to be reviewed by Les Inrockuptibles journalist Richard Robert before he retired after 35 years of work. [8] Robert sent a letter to Crowley in Dublin expressing his joy about the album. [8]

Track listing

Season of the Sparks features ten tracks, including the title track "Season of the Sparks".

No.TitleLength
1."Summer Haze Parade" 
2."The Beekeeper's Wife" 
3."The Wishing Seat" 
4."The Three Sisters" 
5."Squeeze Bees" 
6."Liberty Stream" 
7."Horses Like to Dream All Night" 
8."Season of the Sparks" 
9."Swedish Room" 
10."Pay No Mind (To the Dawn Crier)" 
Total length:36:00

Awards

Season of the Sparks won the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2009 at Vicar Street on March 3, 2010. It was chosen by a panel of twelve people from the Irish music industry as most deserving winner from a shortlist of ten albums. Crowley received a prize of €10,000 cheque. [9] [10] [11] He described himself as "totally flabbergasted", adding "I didn't really think it was the sort of record that was going to win awards". [10] [12] Crowley promised to use the money to fund his music. [10] He was one of eight nominees who performed at the awards ceremony, including the Academy Award-winning, Grammy Award-nominated The Swell Season and Crowley's close friend Valerie Francis. [10] [13] [14]

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2010Season of the SparksChoice Music Prize - Irish Album of the Year 2009Won

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Flannery</span> Irish singer and songwriter

Mick Flannery is an Irish singer and songwriter.

Bell X1 are an Irish rock band from County Kildare. The group consists of Paul Noonan, David Geraghty and Dominic Phillips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathy Davey</span> Irish singer-songwriter

Catherine Davey is an Irish singer-songwriter. She has released one extended play, "Come Over" (2004), and four albums, Something Ilk (2004), Tales of Silversleeve (2007), The Nameless (2010) and New Forest (2016). Her second album garnered her a 2007 Choice Music Prize nomination and the 2008 Meteor Award for Best Irish Female and spawned a number of successful singles, including "Reuben", "Moving", and "Sing for Your Supper". The Nameless was the top selling album in Ireland upon the week of its release. It was also nominated for the Choice Music Prize.

Dan Hegarty is an Irish radio presenter employed by RTÉ. He presents his show The Alternative on RTÉ 2fm Monday to Thursday from 11pm–12am. He is regularly dispatched to important musical events such as the Eurosonic Festival in The Netherlands, Electric Picnic and Oxegen for live broadcasting purposes, as well as being sent around the country to present the 2fm 2moro 2our. In 2008 Hegarty featured on the panel of judges for the Choice Music Prize and was sent to The Music Show to distribute advice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Hannigan</span> Irish musician

Lisa Margaret Hannigan is an Irish musician, singer, composer, and voice actress. She began her musical career as a member of Damien Rice's band. Since beginning her solo career in 2007 she has released three albums: Sea Sew (2008), Passenger (2011), and At Swim (2016). Hannigan's music has received award nominations both in Ireland and the United States. Hannigan also received attention in North America for her role as Blue Diamond in Steven Universe, an American animated television series created by Rebecca Sugar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choice Music Prize</span> Award

The Choice Music Prize, known for sponsorship reasons as the RTÉ Choice Music Prize is an annual music prize awarded to the best album from a band or solo musician who is born in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland or holds an Irish passport. For bands, the majority of members must have been born on the island of Ireland or hold an Irish passport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delorentos</span> Irish alternative rock band

Delorentos are a Dublin-based Irish alternative rock band, formed in 2005. They consist of Rónan Yourell, Kieran McGuinness, Níal Conlan and Ross McCormick. The band's debut album In Love with Detail was critically acclaimed in Ireland, being nominated for the Choice Music Prize and in the Best Irish Album category at the 2007 Meteor Awards, at which Delorentos were also nominated for Best New Irish Band. Two extended plays have also been released; their debut release, titled Leave It On, in October 2005, and the follow-up EP, titled Do You Realise, came out in November 2007. The Delorentos discography consists of a selection of singles which impacted on the Irish Singles Chart, such as "The Rules" in May 2006 and "Stop" in July 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jape (band)</span> Irish electronic–rock band

Jape are an Irish electronic–rock band from Dublin. Formed as a side project by Richie Egan whilst part of The Redneck Manifesto, they have released five albums to date; Cosmosphere (2003), The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me (2004), Ritual (2008), Ocean of Frequency (2011), and This Chemical Sea (2015). Jape's wider discography includes the EP, Jape is Grape (2007), as well as a number of singles, including "Floating" and "Phil Lynott". The band have performed at festivals and events such as Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, Lovebox and Hard Working Class Heroes and provided support for The Flaming Lips at Belsonic in Belfast in August 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fight Like Apes</span> Irish alternative rock band

Fight Like Apes are an Irish alternative rock band formed in Dublin in 2006.

<i>Sea Sew</i> 2008 studio album by Lisa Hannigan

Sea Sew is the debut studio album released by Lisa Hannigan. It was released in Ireland on 12 September 2008, with the lead single, "Lille", made available as a free download on lisahannigan.ie on 25 August.

Halves are an ambient band based in Dublin, Ireland. It is composed of Brian Cash and brothers Tim and Elis Czerniak, with additional live members.

<i>Tales of Silversleeve</i> 2007 studio album by Cathy Davey

Tales of Silversleeve is the second album released by Irish singer Cathy Davey. It was released on 12 October 2007 as the follow-up release to Davey's 2004 debut Something Ilk. The album contains eleven tracks, including the singles "Reuben", "Sing for Your Supper" and "Moving".

<i>Ritual</i> (Jape album) 2008 studio album by Jape

Ritual is the third studio album from electronic rock band Jape, released on Co-op Records in 2008. It won the Choice Music Prize for the 2008 Irish Album of the Year in March 2009.

<i>Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion</i> 2008 studio album by Fight Like Apes

Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion is the debut studio album of Fight Like Apes. It was released in Ireland on 26 September 2008, the UK on 26 January 2009 and Japan in April 2009.

Jeremy Hickey is an Irish multi-instrumentalist and producer from Kilkenny. He has released four albums and one EP. Rarely Seen Above Ground (2007) Organic Sampler (2008) Be It Right Or Wrong (2010)Rotate EP (2013) and Chroma (2020).

A summary of the year 2010 in the Irish music industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Crowley</span> Irish singer-songwriter

Adrian Crowley is a singer, composer, songwriter, lyricist from Galway, based in Dublin and was born in Sliema, Malta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Villagers (band)</span> Irish indie folk band

Villagers are an Irish indie folk band and the musical project of the sole long-term member, Conor J O'Brien who is a singer-songwriter based in Dublin, Ireland.. Widely known for his production, arrangements and thought-provoking lyrics, O'Brien currently releases Villagers material via Domino Recording Co.

<i>White Lies</i> (Mick Flannery album) 2008 studio album by Mick Flannery

White Lies is the second studio album released by Irish singer-songwriter Mick Flannery. The album was released on September 12, 2008. It achieved a top ten position on the Irish Albums Chart and featured prominently on the country's national radio stations.

<i>Long Distance Swimmer</i> 2007 studio album by Adrian Crowley

Long Distance Swimmer is the fourth studio album released by Irish singer-songwriter Adrian Crowley. It was recorded during a one-week period in the home of Crowley's sister in the suburb of Foxrock, County Dublin, was released on the Tin Angel record label, and features contributions from other musicians, such as James Yorkston.

References

  1. 1 2 Harry Guerin (11 May 2009). "Adrian Crowley - Season of the Sparks". RTÉ . Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  2. ↑ Jim Carroll (11 April 2009). "Crowley crafts the finished article". The Irish Times . Retrieved 4 March 2010. See next Friday's Ticket for details of a free audiostream on irishtimes.com of Adrian Crowley's new album Season of the Sparks, one week in advance of its release on April 24.
  3. ↑ "Adrian Crowley – Season of the Sparks". Hot Press . 22 April 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  4. ↑ Lauren Murphy. "Adrian Crowley - Season of the Sparks". The Irish Times . Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  5. ↑ Dan Cairns (8 November 2009). "Adrian Crowley - Season of the Sparks". The Sunday Times . Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  6. ↑ Niall Crumlish (1 May 2009). "Adrian Crowley – Season of the Sparks". State . Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  7. ↑ "Adrian Crowley – Season of the Sparks". Clash . 2 November 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  8. 1 2 Brian Boyd (6 March 2010). "Season in the sun". The Irish Times . Retrieved 7 March 2010. AFTER 35 YEARS reviewing albums for the prestigious French music magazine, Les Inrockuptibles, journalist Richard Robert picked up the last album he would ever write about before his retirement. Robert, it would be safe to say, has heard it all – a few times over. He pressed the play button on Adrian Crowley's Season Of The Sparks and fell into a deep swoon. "Dazzling in its writing and its execution"; "a beauty that enchants the lives of us music-lovers"; "a miracle of equilibrium and elegance"; and "an art that is consummate" were among the phrases Robert used in his review. So moved was Robert by Crowley's work that he sought out his address in Dublin and sent him a letter telling him how glad he was that the last album he ever reviewed was Crowley's one.
  9. ↑ "Crowley wins the Choice Music Prize". RTÉ. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Colin Gleeson (4 March 2010). "Sparky rock singer scoops top album title". Irish Independent . Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  11. ↑ "Adrian Crowley wins the Choice Music Prize!". Hot Press . 3 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  12. ↑ "The Choice Prize: A night of sparks". Hot Press . 4 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  13. ↑ Jeananne Craig (4 March 2010). "Crowley wins €10k Choice music award". Evening Herald . Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  14. ↑ Brian Finnegan (4 February 2010). "Valerie Francis: Slow burner". Evening Herald . Retrieved 4 March 2010. Francis is also thrilled about being shortlisted for the Choice award, but her enthusiasm bubbles over for her good friend and fellow nominee Adrian Crowley (The Season of the Sparks). "When the list was announced I was jumping up and down because I heard his name. I was so excited, I didn't realise I had been shortlisted myself. We were hoping both of us would be shortlisted because it wouldn't have felt right if one of us was left out. The hard work has paid off."
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.