Personality - One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird
Encyclopedia
Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird is the second album by Australian band The Sleepy Jackson
, released in July 2006. The album was recorded at Big Jesus Burger Studios in Sydney, and was produced by Scott Horscroft and Luke Steele
. Guests on the album include The Presets
, Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil
) and Davey Lane (You Am I
), among others.
In an interview for PerthMusic, drummer Malcom Clark explains the album's title:
, Mojo
, Uncut
, Q
and The Guardian
. Other reviews, such as The Independent
, have been more critical, stating: "Steele's work here has been lazily and mistakenly compared to that of Spector
and Wilson
, but there's no succulent centre of comparable song craft hiding inside these over-egged, tune-dodging arrangements, merely the fantasy that ambition is the gateway to genius."
In Craig Mathieson
's book, Playlisted, he argues that Steele is overrated and that the album was "overblown for the sake of being overblown".
The album debuted at number 10 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart
and number 69 on the Swedish Albums Chart. The album was also nominated for a J Award
by Australian radio station Triple J
. Three singles were released from the album: "God Lead Your Soul
" in May 2006, "Devil Was in My Yard
" in September 2006 (in Australia only), and "I Understand What You Want but I Just Don't Agree" in October 2006 (UK only).
The album did not received the same commercial success as Lovers with only 50,000 copies sold.
except where noted.
A special edition was also released in Australia, which included a bonus DVD
featuring a 'making-of' the album documentary, the music video for "God Lead Your Soul", and a photo gallery.
The Sleepy Jackson
The Sleepy Jackson are an Australian alternative rock band formed in Perth, Western Australia. The band's name was inspired by a former drummer who was narcoleptic. The band revolves around the distinctive vocal style of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Luke Steele...
, released in July 2006. The album was recorded at Big Jesus Burger Studios in Sydney, and was produced by Scott Horscroft and Luke Steele
Luke Steele (singer)
Luke James Steele , is the vocalist and primary songwriter of the alternative rock band The Sleepy Jackson...
. Guests on the album include The Presets
The Presets
The Presets are an Australian electronic duo formed in 2003, consisting of Julian Hamilton on vocals and keyboards, and Kim Moyes on drums and keyboards. They released their debut album Beams in 2005 to positive critical response. Their 2008 release Apocalypso debuted at number-one on the ARIA...
, Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
) and Davey Lane (You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
), among others.
In an interview for PerthMusic, drummer Malcom Clark explains the album's title:
"Well the Personality bit has to do with all the people that were involved in making this record and the different aspects that they brought along. The Spider/Bird bit has to do with some religious symbolism. It shows the two different sides - God/Devil, Good/Evil, and leaves it up to each person to make up their own mind. Some people might see the Spider as evil and the Bird as good, other people might see the complete opposite."
Critical reception
It was released in the United Kingdom to very positive reviews from a number of publications, including NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
, Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
, Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. Other reviews, such as The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, have been more critical, stating: "Steele's work here has been lazily and mistakenly compared to that of Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
and Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, but there's no succulent centre of comparable song craft hiding inside these over-egged, tune-dodging arrangements, merely the fantasy that ambition is the gateway to genius."
In Craig Mathieson
Craig Mathieson
Craig Mathieson is an Australian music journalist and writer. His books include, Hi Fi Days and The Sell-In .-Biography:...
's book, Playlisted, he argues that Steele is overrated and that the album was "overblown for the sake of being overblown".
The album debuted at number 10 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
and number 69 on the Swedish Albums Chart. The album was also nominated for a J Award
J Award
The J Award is an award given by influential Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by a panel of members of the music industry, led by Richard Kingsmill...
by Australian radio station Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
. Three singles were released from the album: "God Lead Your Soul
God Lead Your Soul
"God Lead Your Soul" was the first single from The Sleepy Jackson's second album Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird. It was released in Australia on 29 May 2006, and was the highest-ranked new entry on the ARIA singles chart at number 25...
" in May 2006, "Devil Was in My Yard
Devil Was in My Yard
"Devil Was in My Yard" was the second and final single to be released from The Sleepy Jackson's second album Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird. The single was released on 25 September 2006 in Australia only...
" in September 2006 (in Australia only), and "I Understand What You Want but I Just Don't Agree" in October 2006 (UK only).
The album did not received the same commercial success as Lovers with only 50,000 copies sold.
Track listing
All songs written by Luke SteeleLuke Steele (singer)
Luke James Steele , is the vocalist and primary songwriter of the alternative rock band The Sleepy Jackson...
except where noted.
- "You Needed More" – 3:09
- "Devil Was in My YardDevil Was in My Yard"Devil Was in My Yard" was the second and final single to be released from The Sleepy Jackson's second album Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird. The single was released on 25 September 2006 in Australia only...
" – 3:21 - "God Lead Your SoulGod Lead Your Soul"God Lead Your Soul" was the first single from The Sleepy Jackson's second album Personality - One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird. It was released in Australia on 29 May 2006, and was the highest-ranked new entry on the ARIA singles chart at number 25...
" – 3:29 - "Work Alone" – 3:03
- "God Knows" – 2:58
- "I Understand What You Want but I Just Don't Agree" – 3:20
- "Miles Away" – 2:36
- "Higher Than Hell" – 2:55
- "Play a Little Bit for Love" – 4:30
- "Don't Say" (Steele, Andrew Klippel, Jessica OrigliassoJessica OrigliassoJessica Louise Origliasso is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Albany Creek, Queensland she, along side twin sister Lisa Origliasso, performed in show business at a young age. Origliasso rose to fame in 2000's when she and her sister formed a pop duo...
, Lisa OrigliassoLisa OrigliassoLisa Marie Origliasso is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Albany Creek, Queensland she, along side twin sister Jessica Origliasso, performed in show business at a young age. Origliasso rose to fame in 2000's when she and her sister formed a pop duo...
) – 3:06 - "You Won't Bring People Down in My Town" – 3:18
- "Dream On" – 2:58
- "How Was I Supposed to Know" – 4:04
A special edition was also released in Australia, which included a bonus DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
featuring a 'making-of' the album documentary, the music video for "God Lead Your Soul", and a photo gallery.