Ball Park Music (album)

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"Mostly Sunny (album)" redirects here. For the 2016 documentary, see Mostly Sunny.

Ball Park Music
The cover art depicts a smiling yellow moon in the centre, with a light blue background surrounding it
Studio album by
Ball Park Music
Released23 October 2020
Recorded2019–2020
Length38:59
Label
  • Prawn
  • Inertia
Producer
  • Paul McKercher[a]
  • Sam Cromack[b]
  • William Bowden[c]
Ball Park Music chronology
Good Mood
(2018) 		Ball Park Music
(2020)
Singles from Ball Park Music
  1. "Spark Up!"
    Released: 19 March 2020
  2. "Day & Age"
    Released: 5 June 2020
  3. "Cherub"
    Released: 27 August 2020
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Newcastle Herald3.5/5 stars[1]

Ball Park Music is the eponymous sixth studio album by Australian indie rock band Ball Park Music, released on 23 October 2020 through Prawn Records and Inertia Music.

Primarily written and recorded in Stafford, Brisbane, Ball Park Music originated at the beginning of the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.

Preceded by three singles—"Spark Up!", "Day & Age" and "Cherub"—Ball Park Music achieved commercial success, debuting and peaking at number 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album additionally received multiple award nominations, including Australian Album of the Year at the 2020 J Awards and Album of the Year at the 2021 Queensland Music Awards, winning the latter.

Background[]

A week prior to the announcement of the album, the band's 2011 single "It's Nice to Be Alive" placed at number 17 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of the 2010s.[2] The band's guitarist Dean Hanson discussed the result whilst premiering lead single "Spark Up!" on the station's breakfast program, Breakfast with Sally and Erica, stating:

"[It's] so good. We could not be happier to see the company that our little song is in, with some big hitters of the decade. I think we all know we're in a simulation at the moment but that solidifies it for us."[2]

The album was initially titled Mostly Sunny, but was retitled in April after the band decided the initial title did not match the overall theme of the album.[3] In an interview with Triple J, keyboardist Paul Furness elaborated on the decision to change the title:

"[It became] clear before our eyes all of a sudden. Mostly Sunny didn't feel right for a number of reasons. We always did like the title – it had a similar rhythm to it as Good Mood and felt like a continuation. As we've finished this album we've realised, it's really not a continuation of Good Mood. It is its own thing with a different emotional palette."[3]

Recording[]

The band began recording the album in October 2019 at the beginning of the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.[4] The album was primarily recorded in Stafford, Brisbane.[5]

Recording locations[]

Main recording locations

  • Prawn HQ (Ball Park Music's home studio), Brisbane, Queensland – vocals, mixing
  • Free Energy Device, Sydney, New South Wales – mixing
  • King Willy Sound, Launceston, Tasmania – mastering

Additional recording locations

  • Jennifer Boyce's bedroom, Sydney, New South Wales – additional vocals

Release[]

The band announced the album with the title Mostly Sunny on 19 March 2020, alongside the release of lead single "Spark Up!".[2] On 23 April, however, they announced that they were retitling the album eponymously.[5]

Ball Park Music was released on 23 October 2020 through Prawn Records and Inertia Music,[6] on CD,[7] LP,[8] digital download,[9] and streaming formats.[10]

Promotion[]

Singles[]

Ball Park Music was preceded by three singles: "Spark Up!", released on 19 March 2020,[2] "Day & Age", released on 5 June 2020,[11] and "Cherub", released on 28 August 2020.[12] All singles were premiered on Triple J prior to their official release.[2][11][12]

Merchandise[]

On 3 August 2020, the band posted a link on their Twitter account to face masks merchandise, intended for use during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[13] The tweet included a parody of "Spark Up!"'s chorus, with the lyrics "Life is short/The doors are shut/I say we mask up" written in place of the original chorus.[13] The masks feature the band's name in small text and the smiling moon featured on the album's cover artwork.[13]

Live performances[]

On 16 August 2020, Ball Park Music performed "Day & Age" live from the Black Bear Lodge bar in Brisbane, Queensland for Australian live music program The Sound.[14]

On 11 September 2020, the band performed "Cherub" live from "Prawn Records HQ", which NME Australia premiered exclusively.[15]

On 23 October 2020, the band performed live on Triple J's Like a Version segment, performing a cover of Radiohead's "Paranoid Android" alongside their "original" track "Cherub".[16]

Artwork[]

The cover art depicts a smiling yellow moon in the centre, with a light blue background surrounding it.[17] The artwork and design were created by Polly Bass Boost and the band's own Dean Hanson, with Hanson additionally credited for the album's photography.[18]

Commercial performance[]

On 28 October 2020, Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced in their mid-week report that the album was in contention to debut within the top 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[19] On 31 October 2020, Ball Park Music debuted and peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart for the chart dated 2 November 2020, tying with Puddinghead () as their highest peak in the region.[20]

Awards and nominations[]

AIR Awards[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 Ball Park Music Independent Album of the Year Nominated [21][22]

J Awards[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020 Ball Park Music Australian Album of the Year Nominated [23]

Queensland Music Awards[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 Ball Park Music Album of the Year Won [24][25]

Track listing[]

All tracks are written by Sam Cromack, except "Nothing Ever Goes My Way", co-written with Dean Hanson, and "Katkit", co-written with Daniel Hanson, Dean Hanson and Paul Furness.

Ball Park Music track listing
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Spark Up!"
  • Paul McKercher
  • William Bowden
4:19
2."Head Like a Sieve"
  • McKercher
  • Bowden
2:42
3."Nothing Ever Goes My Way"
  • McKercher
  • Bowden
3:40
4."I Feel Nothing"
  • McKercher
  • Bowden
3:54
5."Bedroom"
  • McKercher
  • Bowden
3:16
6."Katkit"
  • Bowden
  • Sam Cromack
1:24
7."Cherub"
  • McKercher
  • Bowden
5:28
8."Bad Taste Blues, Pt. III"
  • McKercher
  • Bowden
4:18
9."Obit 2020"
  • McKercher
  • Bowden
3:08
10."Day & Age"
  • McKercher
  • Bowden
3:50
11."Turning Zero"
  • McKercher
  • Bowden
3:08
Total length:38:59

Personnel[]

Adapted from the album's liner notes.[18]

Musicians[]

Ball Park Music

  • Sam Cromack – writing, vocals, guitar, synthesiser, shaker (1–11)
  • Jennifer Boyce – vocals, bass guitar, kazoo (1–11)
  • Daniel Hanson – writing (6), drums, tambourine, wheelbarrow, bongos, vocals (1–11)
  • Dean Hanson – writing (3, 6), guitar, vocals, bass guitar (1–11)
  • Paul Furness – writing (6), piano, rhodes, trombone, synthesiser, mellotron, tambourine, vocals (1–11)

Other musicians

  • Tom Myers – additional vocals (9, 11)
  • Florence the Dog – "panting" (4)

Technical[]

  • Paul McKercher – mixing (1–5, 7–11)
  • Sam Cromack – mixing (6)
  • William Bowden – mastering (1–11)

Artwork[]

  • Polly Bass Boost – artwork, design
  • Dean Hanson – artwork, design, photography

Charts[]

Chart performance for Ball Park Music
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26] 2

Notes[]

  1. ^ Tracks 1–5, 7–11
  2. ^ Track 6
  3. ^ All tracks

References[]

  1. ^ Leeson, Josh (15 October 2020). "Review: Ball Park Music, Self-titled". The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Newstead, Al (19 March 2020). "First Spin: triple j textline reacts to new Ball Park Music stomper 'Spark Up!'". Triple J. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Newstead, Al (23 April 2020). "Ball Park Music change upcoming album title to mark "beginning of a new chapter"". Triple J. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. ^ Martin, Josh (17 March 2020). "Ball Park Music announce new album 'Mostly Sunny' with first single, 'Spark Up!'". NME Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Martin, Josh (23 April 2020). "Not so sunny after all: An update on Ball Park Music's new album from isolation". NME Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. ^ Fuamoli, Sose (7 July 2020). "Ball Park Music continue to tease new album with artwork and release date". Triple J. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Ball Park Music". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Ball Park Music (White / Black Marble Vinyl)". JB Hi-Fi. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Ball Park Music by Ball Park Music on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Ball Park Music – Album by Ball Park Music on Spotify". Spotify. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Newstead, Al (5 June 2020). "First Spin: Ball Park Music conjure dreamy goodness on 'Day & Age'". Triple J. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Newstead, Al (28 August 2020). "First Spin: Ball Park Music share gorgeous slow-burner 'Cherub'". Triple J. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c Martin, Josh (4 August 2020). "Ball Park Music are selling their own face masks". NME Australia. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  14. ^ Triscari, Caleb (17 August 2020). "Ball Park Music perform 'Day & Age' for 'The Sound'". NME Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  15. ^ Gwee, Karen (11 September 2020). "Watch Ball Park Music play 'Cherub' live from their studio". NME Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  16. ^ Bruce, Jasper (23 October 2020). "Ball Park Music cover a Radiohead classic for triple j's Like a Version". NME Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  17. ^ Triscari, Caleb (7 July 2020). "Ball Park Music confirm release date of self-titled album, unveil cover art". NME Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b Ball Park Music (booklet). Ball Park Music. / . 2020. 9332727108426.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ "Bruce Springsteen, Ball Park Music and Ariana Grande set for big debuts on this week's ARIA Charts". Australian Recording Industry Association. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Letter To You lands Bruce Springsteen fifth ARIA #1 album". Australian Recording Industry Association. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Details confirmed for 2021 AIR Awards as nominees announced". The Music. 2 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  22. ^ "2021 AIR Awards Winners". Scenstr.com.au. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  23. ^ Triscari, Caleb (19 November 2020). "Lime Cordiale take home Australian Album of the Year at the 2020 J Awards". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  24. ^ Martin, Josh (6 May 2021). "Ball Park Music and Sycco go home with top gongs at 2021 Queensland Music Awards". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  25. ^ "2021 Queensland Music Awards Winners". Scenestr. 5 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  26. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
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