Season of the Sparks
Studio album by
Adrian Crowley
Released24 April 2009
Length36:00[1]
LabelTin Angel Records
Adrian Crowley chronology
Long Distance Swimmer
(2007) 		Season of the Sparks
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash link
Hot Press link
The Irish Times link
RTÉ link
StateOrange link
The Sunday Times 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.

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]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Season of the Sparks Choice Music Prize - Irish Album of the Year 2009 Won

References

  1. ^ a b 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. 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d 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."
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