Josh Pyke - Only Sparrows (25/08/2011)
Only Sparrows is the third LP from Sydney singer-songwriter Josh Pyke. The album comes almost three years since Pyke's last offering, Chimney's Afire, and marks several changes in his life. For the recording of Only Sparrows, Pyke relinquished some of the control he had taken over his previous albums by bringing additional musicians into the studio, rather than playing the bulk of the instruments himself.
Only Sparrows also saw Pyke take his first overseas writing trip, spending some time alone in the New York winter. Possibly the biggest change of Pyke's life occurred later into the writing stage of the album, when he became a father for the first time. All of these changes have led to the creation of a record that takes a slight deviation from Pyke's earlier work, but still has the distinct sound that his fans have come to love.
Only Sparrows begin with Clovis' Son, a hauntingly beautiful track. It's dreamy, atmospheric sound is possibly an unusual choice for an opening song, but it works incredibly well. Lead single No One Wants A Lover has already been getting a fair amount of radio play, and it's easy to see why. The song is classic Josh Pyke: catchy hooks, handclaps and an unexpected F-bomb - but with a fuller sound, most likely due to the additional band members.
One of the albums' stand-outs is Punch In The Heart, a duet with Katy Steele. Pyke co-wrote the track with Whitley several years ago and when it came to recording, Steele added her vocals from her current location in New York. Steele is a personal favourite of mine and her voice blends so perfectly with Pyke's on the soulful love song that it makes you wonder; 'why hasn't this happened sooner?' Another album highlight for me is Good Head Start; its driving rhythm and twangy guitar are a little more on the country side of Pyke's usual folk pop, and it's a sound that works well with his flawless vocals.
Only Sparrows does lose some momentum occasionally, but even the album's less exciting moments are buoyed by Pyke's lyrics. He has the ability to write insightful and intriguing lyrics that keep your attention even when the music might not be all that groundbreaking.
Only Sparrows closes in a similar way to how it begun. Love Lies sweetly finger-picked guitar and echoing vocals create a divine book-end with Clovis' Son.
Only Sparrows doesn't immediately live up to the high expectations created by Memories & Dust and Chimney's Afire, but after several listens it does reveal itself to be a beautiful album in its own right. Other than No One Wants A Lover, it doesn't perhaps have the same commercial appeal of the two previous records, but the lyrics reach deeper and there are still plenty of standout tracks that will please any admirer of Pyke's - and most certainly win over some new fans.
Chelsea McIntyre
Only Sparrows also saw Pyke take his first overseas writing trip, spending some time alone in the New York winter. Possibly the biggest change of Pyke's life occurred later into the writing stage of the album, when he became a father for the first time. All of these changes have led to the creation of a record that takes a slight deviation from Pyke's earlier work, but still has the distinct sound that his fans have come to love.
Only Sparrows begin with Clovis' Son, a hauntingly beautiful track. It's dreamy, atmospheric sound is possibly an unusual choice for an opening song, but it works incredibly well. Lead single No One Wants A Lover has already been getting a fair amount of radio play, and it's easy to see why. The song is classic Josh Pyke: catchy hooks, handclaps and an unexpected F-bomb - but with a fuller sound, most likely due to the additional band members.
One of the albums' stand-outs is Punch In The Heart, a duet with Katy Steele. Pyke co-wrote the track with Whitley several years ago and when it came to recording, Steele added her vocals from her current location in New York. Steele is a personal favourite of mine and her voice blends so perfectly with Pyke's on the soulful love song that it makes you wonder; 'why hasn't this happened sooner?' Another album highlight for me is Good Head Start; its driving rhythm and twangy guitar are a little more on the country side of Pyke's usual folk pop, and it's a sound that works well with his flawless vocals.
Only Sparrows does lose some momentum occasionally, but even the album's less exciting moments are buoyed by Pyke's lyrics. He has the ability to write insightful and intriguing lyrics that keep your attention even when the music might not be all that groundbreaking.
Only Sparrows closes in a similar way to how it begun. Love Lies sweetly finger-picked guitar and echoing vocals create a divine book-end with Clovis' Son.
Only Sparrows doesn't immediately live up to the high expectations created by Memories & Dust and Chimney's Afire, but after several listens it does reveal itself to be a beautiful album in its own right. Other than No One Wants A Lover, it doesn't perhaps have the same commercial appeal of the two previous records, but the lyrics reach deeper and there are still plenty of standout tracks that will please any admirer of Pyke's - and most certainly win over some new fans.
Chelsea McIntyre