Ball Park Music (album)

Ball Park Music is the sixth studio album by Australian indie rock band Ball Park Music. It was written and recorded in Brisbane throughout the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, and released on 23 October 2020. The album was preceded by three singles – "Spark Up!", "Day & Age" and notably "Cherub", which polled at number four in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2020.

"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
Ball Park Music chronology
Good Mood
(2018)		 Ball Park Music
(2020)		 Weirder & Weirder
(2022)
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 Herald[1]

The record achieved commercial success, debuting at number 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It was nominated for Australian Album of the Year at the 2020 J Awards and Album of the Year at the 2021 Queensland Music Awards, winning the latter. It was further nominated for Best Independent Release and Best Rock Album at the 2021 ARIA Awards.[2]

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.[3] 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."[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

Lead single "Spark Up!" was released on 19 March 2020, alongside the announcement their forthcoming record would be titled Mostly Sunny.[3] This name would later be changed eponymously on 23 April, after the band decided the initial title did not match the overall theme of the album.[6] The album artwork designed by Polly Bass Boost and band member Dean Hanson was issued alongside the announcement.[7] In an interview with Triple J, keyboardist Paul Furness elaborated on the decision to change the title:

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.[6]

On 5 June 2020, second single "Day & Age" was released.[8] On 16 August, the band performed "Day & Age" live from the Black Bear Lodge bar in Brisbane for Australian live music program The Sound.[9] On 3 August, the band began selling face masks branded with the album's cover artwork following a Tweet parodying the chorus of "Spark Up!", with the lyrics "Life is short / The doors are shut / I say we mask up".[10]

The record's final single "Cherub" was issued on 28 August.[11] The band performed the track live from Prawn Records HQ on 11 September for NME Australia.[12] All three singles had been premiered by Triple J prior to their digital releases.[3]

Ball Park Music was released on 23 October 2020 through Prawn Records and Inertia Music in digital and physical formats.[13] The same day, 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".[14]

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.[15] 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 (2014) as their highest peak in the region.[16]

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 Ball Park Music Independent Album of the Year Nominated [17][18]

J Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020 Ball Park Music Australian Album of the Year Nominated [19]

Queensland Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 Ball Park Music Album of the Year Won [20][21]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Sam Cromack, unless otherwise noted

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

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.[22]

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)[23] 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. Kelly, Vivienne (20 October 2021). "ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  3. 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.
  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. 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. 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.
  7. Triscari, Caleb (7 July 2020). "Ball Park Music confirm release date of self-titled album, unveil cover art". NME Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. Newstead, Al (5 June 2020). "First Spin: Ball Park Music conjure dreamy goodness on 'Day & Age'". Triple J. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  9. Triscari, Caleb (17 August 2020). "Ball Park Music perform 'Day & Age' for 'The Sound'". NME Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  10. Martin, Josh (4 August 2020). "Ball Park Music are selling their own face masks". NME Australia. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  11. Newstead, Al (28 August 2020). "First Spin: Ball Park Music share gorgeous slow-burner 'Cherub'". Triple J. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  12. Gwee, Karen (11 September 2020). "Watch Ball Park Music play 'Cherub' live from their studio". NME Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  13. Fuamoli, Sose (7 July 2020). "Ball Park Music continue to tease new album with artwork and release date". Triple J. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  14. 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.
  15. "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.
  16. "Letter To You lands Bruce Springsteen fifth ARIA #1 album". Australian Recording Industry Association. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  17. "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.
  18. "2021 AIR Awards Winners". Scenstr.com.au. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. "2021 Queensland Music Awards Winners". Scenestr. 5 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  22. Ball Park Music (booklet). Ball Park Music. Prawn Records / Inertia Music. 2020. 9332727108426.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
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