Good Mood is the fifth studio album by Australian indie pop band Ball Park Music. It was released on 16 February 2018, debuting at number five on the ARIA Albums chart. The album was promoted with two national tours from February 2018 and May 2019 respectively,[7][8] as well as three singles including the certified platinum "Exactly How You Are".[9] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2018, the album was nominated for three awards: Producer of the Year, Engineer of the Year and Best Cover Art.[10]
| Good Mood | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 16 February 2018 | |||
| Recorded | May–July 2017 | |||
| Studio | Bunnings Warehouse Recording Studio, Stafford, Queensland | |||
| Genre | Indie pop[citation needed] | |||
| Length | 41:15 | |||
| Label | Prawn Records | |||
| Producer | Ball Park Music | |||
| Ball Park Music chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Good Mood | ||||
Recording and production
editThe album was recorded between May and July 2017 at the band's studio (named the Bunnings Warehouse Recording Studio), within an industrial estate in Stafford in Brisbane.[11][12] It was produced by the band and engineered by Cromack, mixed by Paul McKercher and mastered by William Bowden.[13][11]
On the song-writing, Cromack said, "I put some rules on myself: everything had to have the classic verse-chorus-verse-chorus pop structure. I had a ball. And with my lyrics I was like, 'For God's sake, Sam, be clear about what you want to say!'. So often we look down on pop music, but the rules didn't crush our creativity."[14]
Cover
editThe photo on the cover was taken by band guitarist Dean Hanson. It depicts horse rider Mindy Davies atop her steed, Teddy.[15] Hanson said Cromack was fascinated with images of "horses rearing in cool places", and the band thought it would be a powerful album cover to "get someone to rear their horse in front of the garage door of [their] studio."[15] The image went on to be nominated for Best Cover Art at the ARIA Music Awards of 2018.[10]
Critical response
editThe Sydney Morning Herald said, "Opening with the poppy, yet summery laid-back feel of "The End Times", this self-produced album brings studio whiz and ARIA award-winner Paul McKercher into the mix, elevating frontman/guitarist Sam Cromack's vocals to a new level and highlighting his lyrical strength."[16] The Herald Sun claimed, "The experimentation and attention to sonic detail here (it's a headphones album) makes this their Pet Sounds", and compared "The End Times" to, "a ragged Go-Betweens-style indie gem".[17]
The Australian noted, "the affable plain-spokenness, the facility for melodies that can cure a vitamin D deficiency and, yes, the festival-friendly anthems with unabashedly broad appeal" and declared it their best album.[18]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Sam Cromack, unless noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The End Times" | 4:07 | |
| 2. | "I Am A Dog" | 3:36 | |
| 3. | "Frank" | 3:48 | |
| 4. | "The Perfect Life Does Not Exist" |
| 3:21 |
| 5. | "Exactly How You Are" | 3:36 | |
| 6. | "Hands Off My Body" | 2:57 | |
| 7. | "So Nice" | 5:08 | |
| 8. | "Dreaming of America" | 4:44 | |
| 9. | "If It Kills You" |
| 4:42 |
| 10. | "I Am So In Love With You" |
| 5:13 |
| Total length: | 41:15 | ||
Personnel
editAdapted from liner notes.[11]
- Ball Park Music – producer, writing, arrangements; specifically:
- Sam Cromack – engineer, writing (all tracks)
- Dean Hanson – art direction, cover photo, writing (tracks 4, 9–10)
- Paul McKercher – mixing
- William Bowden – mastering
- Polly Bass Boost – art direction
- Mindy Davies – horse rider
- Teddy – horse
Charts
edit| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] | 5 |
References
edit- ^ Newstead, Al (14 September 2017). "First listen: Ball Park Music's 'Exactly How You Are' is the feel-good anthem we all deserve". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Exactly How You Are (single)". Apple Music. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Newstead, Al. "First Spin: Ball Park Music continue the feel-good vibes on 'The Perfect Life Does Not Exist'". Triple J. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- ^ "The Perfect Life Doesn't Exist (single)". Apple Music. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "BALL PARK MUSIC Good Mood - note "upcoming single Hands Off My Body"". xpressmag. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Ball Park Music - Hands Off My Body (Official Video)". YouTube. June 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Wilton, Jake (24 November 2017). "Ball Park Music Start 2018 With A 'Good Mood'". AAA Backstage. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Langford, Jackson (5 February 2019). "Ball Park Music Announce Huge 'Good Good Mood' Regional Tour". Music Feeds. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Davies, Hayden (16 September 2017). "Ball Park Music return with a summery new anthem, Exactly How You Are". Pilerats. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ a b "2018 ARIA Award Nominees Announced". Australian Recording Industry Association. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ a b c Cromack, Sam. Good Mood (Liner notes). Prawn Records. p. 6.
- ^ Q (29 March 2018). "Ball Park Music Good Mood gets 8.5/10". X-Press Magazine. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Andrew McMillen. "Ball Park Music rises from uni beginnings to stardom". The Australian.
- ^ Craig Mathieson (21 February 2018). "Having a ball: Ball Park Music find their mojo with Good Mood". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ a b Al Newstead (23 November 2017). "Ball Park Music aren't horsing around with their feel-good new album". Triple J. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Marty Boulton. "Courtney Barnett's first new music in three years is out now". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "New album reviews: Vance Joy, Black Panther, MGMT and more". Herald Sun.
- ^ Caitlin Welsh. "Ball Park; Orava; Lion's Paw; Sonny Smith; Richard Russell". The Australian.
- ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.