Sparkadia The Great Impression

  full reviewuser ratings (8) 
Tracklist:
1. "The Great Impression"
2. "Fingerprints"
3. "Talking Like I'm Falling Down Stairs"
4. "China"
5. "Love Less Love"
6. "Ghost"
7. "Shoot Straight"
8. "Mary"
9. "Hurt Me"
10. "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish"
11. "The Lost Ones"
12. "Fade from View"

Bonus Tracks
13. "Still Can't Make Up My Mind"
14. "Too Young"


Release Date: 03/18/2011

user rating
2.9
good
Chart.

recommended by reviewer
Coldplay Viva La Vida


  On 4 Lists

3.5
great
(Dougie) Jimmy Stephens USER (69 Reviews)

July 4th, 2011 | 16 replies | 3,788 views

Summary: They may break like China, yet Sparkadia are as cohesive as superglue

Alexander Burnett is a curious creature indeed. After the relative success of Sparkadia’s debut album, Postcards in 2008; Sparkadia decided that after extensive touring, all of the band members decided to part ways due to personal reasons... Except for Burnett, and with that, he would continue to carry the band’s name to release a second album, yet under the guise of a solo artist. The Great Impression shows great maturity in ‘the bands’ sound and lyricism, as the musical interplay is more deftly layered, dreamy and intertwining with Burnett’s Chris Martin-esque vocals, which really drives the The Great Impressionist all the way home to being a fantastic ‘indie/pop’ album.

The Great Impression is basically carried by the two major singles of the album, as the cohesive nature of the album seems to really build into each of ‘China’ and ‘Talking Like I’m Falling Down Stairs’, which have both reached great success on the Australian charts. Yet, ‘Love Less Love’ is definitely the highlight tune of the album, building through dreamy synth chords and the whimsical vocals of Burnett, which seem to become stronger and stronger through each track. While, ‘Ghost’ and the all important title track seem to be equally hypnotic, flying through orchestral segments, children choirs and gently strummed guitar to ease you through, giving the album a diverse range of simple to hectic sounding sweetness.

The Great Impression is an album that is trying to encapsulate the dreaming nature of the listener, and this is where the album slightly falters. It’s trying too hard to be the Inception of the music scene. Songs like ‘Fade from View’ and ‘Still Can’t Make Up My Mind’ exemplify this, as their gentle synth melodies and grungy guitar, it is almost too dreamy to be real, especially when Burnett’s vocals are layered until the cows come home throughout the choruses. Though, The Great Impressionist, still hits its mark lyrically sending strong messages about love, hate and all that jazz which is exactly what you expect from a Sparkadia record:

When she worked out where my weakness lay
She wouldn't stop until I gave way
Every time that she goes there she know there's so much I can take
Before I break


The Great Impression is definitely the landmark album that Burnett was chasing, even if he is releasing it under the Sparkadia name. The Great Impression twist and turns through mystically dynamic stories that are encrusted with catchy hooks, beautiful vocals, endearing instrumentation and most importantly, heavy replay value making The Great Impression exactly what it wanted it to be; popular.

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Comments:Add a Comment 
Douglas
July 4th 2011



7755 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I don't like this review one bit, but the album needed one, sooooo here she blows

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Digging: S. Carey - Hoyas

AtavanHalen
July 4th 2011



16904 Comments

Album Rating: 4

Don't be too hard on yourself, it's not that bad.

Great band, followed them on tour in April.

Digging: Kate Miller-Heidke - Nightflight

Douglas
July 4th 2011



7755 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Cheers man.

Yeah I am seeing them in Melb and Geelong, I hear they are pretty tight live.

AtavanHalen
July 4th 2011



16904 Comments

Album Rating: 4

Yeah, the live band is made up of dudes from London, all very good musicians. Looking forward to seeing them in Sept - will be my seventh time.

Douglas
July 4th 2011



7755 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Ah awesome, that's good to know. 7, chhheeesseees

AtavanHalen
July 4th 2011



16904 Comments

Album Rating: 4

First time was in 2005, when they opened for Ben Lee.

Douglas
July 4th 2011



7755 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Ah yeah, you love that Ben Lee bloke

HBFS
July 5th 2011



1104 Comments

Album Rating: 3

Mary is fantastic live

Digging: The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now

Digging: The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now

Mordecai.
July 5th 2011



8023 Comments


nice review Dougie. Love this album. ‘Talking Like I’m Falling Down Stairs’ has been my jam this year.

Mordecai.
July 5th 2011



8023 Comments


super cute

Douglas
July 5th 2011



7755 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Cheers dude. Yeah man it's a nice listen.

Douglas
July 5th 2011



7755 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Your super cute

Jim
August 11th 2011



5108 Comments

Album Rating: 4

must have missed this review

this album grew on me big time. china is brilliant obviously but the whole thing is consistent as hell.

AtavanHalen
August 11th 2011



16904 Comments

Album Rating: 4

SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT STRAIGHTTTTTTT

Mordecai.
August 12th 2011



8023 Comments


MAARRRYYYYYYYYYY

HBFS
August 12th 2011



1104 Comments

Album Rating: 3

I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO MAAAARRYYYY



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