This band demands close attention!
Album Cover
Sparrow and the Workshop produce a mixture of Folk, Synth Pop and Indie Rock music. The trio is made up of lead vocalist Jill O’Sullivan, Nick Packer on guitar and drums and Gregor Donaldson on drums and backing vocals. They have just released their third album Murderopolis and it’s their loudest album yet!
The band formed in 2008 and signed to Distiller Records and later released their first album Crystals Fall in 2010. Their second album Spitting Daggers was released a year later and they then signed to Toad Records to produce their third album.
Their new album Muderopolis has eleven new tracks with a mixture of upbeat anthems and slow ballads. Drowned in Sound is calling their new album 'Genuine, honest music, impeccably crafted by three individuals with an obvious desire for their chosen path.' BBC music are also saying that 'Like all worthwhile things, this band demands close attention.'
The Lead singer Jill O’Sullivan reminds me of the likes of Lana Del Ray and Ellie Goulding, she has quirks and licks in her vocals and that is something that I really enjoy listening too in female vocalists.
The opening track, ‘Valley of Death’ is a euphoric melancholic introduction to the album, the seductive beat complements the poetic romance of the lyrics of the first verse and then it gradually becomes more brooding as they focus on reality of a relationship.
The second track on the album ‘Darkness’ was my least favourite, the ominous guitar and drums are intense and they build-up as the song progresses, there is a hypnotic chanting in the background that I really didn’t like.
Odessa is an enchanting and melodious, the exquisite vocals of lead singer Jill O’Sullivan really shine in this particular track. It was a complete contrast from the song Darkness and even though it shows the versatility of this band I felt that the song Odessa displays their best lyrics and musical ability. Half way through the track the dynamic of the song changes and the song becomes more upbeat, a disparity to the ballad feeling you get at the beginning of the song. However, I feel it works for this song.
Shock Shock is one of my favourites on the album; it reminds me of a song that Florence and the Machine would release. I love the overlay of electric guitars and the idiosyncratic vocals on this track.
Water Won’t Fall is one of my other favourites on the album; I like the rhythms on the backing track and the soothing melody that accompanies the meaningful lyrics. I also liked the glockenspiel that was added to this song, I felt that this added an enchanting element to the music.
The album titled song Muderopolis was not one of my favourites on the album, I felt that there was more instrumental breaks than lyrics and even though I enjoyed the music the lyrics lacked the meaning that some of the other songs had.
The Faster You Spin was another one at the album that I enjoyed; the slow and steady rhythm was a perfect match to the story behind the lyrics.
Avalanche of Lust is my ultimate favourite on this album, the harmonies are heavenly and the song is my overall lyrical favourite.
Flower Bombs had an infectious melody and I liked the electric guitar riff that surfaced about half way through the song.
Towards the end of the album we hear the folk roots of the band in the ballad The Glue That Binds US. You can feel the frustration that comes through in the lyrics, it is strongly emotive and the tones imply an argument about no longer needing someone, which eventually begins to sound like one person trying and failing to convince themselves of the fact.
Autumn to Winter was the slowest ballad on the album and it had the sweetest melody and the lyrics to match.
The album was bittersweet because there were songs that I loved, ones that I felt didn’t quite hit the right mark and ones that I liked.
Overall though I really liked their sound, Sparrow and the Workshop are unique in their own way and they create ominous angry music but they also show every light and shade of happiness in between.
Rating ****