Crimson/Red
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album|
| name = Crimson/Red
| type = Studio album
| artist = Prefab Sprout
| cover = File:CrimsonRedAlbum.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2013|10|07|df=yes}}
| recorded = Autumn 2012
| venue =
| studio = Andromeda Heights Studio
| genre = Pop
| length =
| label = {{hlist|Icebreaker|Kitchenware}}
| producer = {{hlist|Calum Malcolm|Paddy McAloon}}
| prev_title = Let's Change the World with Music
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
Crimson/Red is the tenth studio album by English pop band Prefab Sprout, although for this album "Prefab Sprout" consists entirely of singer/songwriter Paddy McAloon, who writes, sings and plays every note on the album. Crimson/Red was released in the United Kingdom by Icebreaker Records and Kitchenware Records on 7 October 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.prefabsproutalbum.com/ |title=Prefab Sprout | Crimson/Red |publisher=Prefabsproutalbum.com |date=2013-10-07 |accessdate=2013-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012020144/http://www.prefabsproutalbum.com/ |archive-date=2013-10-12 |url-status=dead }} The album title is a reference to artist Mark Rothko.According to an interview with Paddy McAloon on BBC Radio 6 Music on 8 October 2013
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/crimsonred/prefab-sprout|title=Reviews for Crimson/Red by Prefab Sprout|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=6 May 2019}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/crimson-red-mw0002583681|title=Crimson/Red – Prefab Sprout|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=6 May 2015}}
| rev2 = The Guardian
| rev2Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/03/prefab-sprout-crimson-red-review|title=Prefab Sprout: Crimson/Red – review|work=The Guardian|date=3 October 2013|accessdate=6 May 2019}}
| rev3 = The Independent
| rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Richman|first=Simmy|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-review-prefab-sprout-crimsonred-icebreaker-records-8859018.html|title=Album review: Prefab Sprout, Crimson/Red (Icebreaker Records)|work=The Independent|date=6 October 2013|accessdate=15 October 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007233551/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-review-prefab-sprout-crimsonred-icebreaker-records-8859018.html|archivedate=7 October 2013|url-status=dead}}
| rev4 = The Irish Times
| rev4Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Clayton-Lea|first=Tony|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/prefab-sprout-crimson-red-1.1549184|title=Prefab Sprout: Crimson/Red|work=The Irish Times|date=4 October 2013|accessdate=6 May 2019}}
| rev5 = Mojo
| rev5Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|last=Eccleston|first=Danny|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/7357/prefab-sprout-crimson-red/|title=Prefab Sprout – Crimson Red|work=Mojo|date=7 October 2013|accessdate=15 October 2013}}
| rev6 = The Observer
| rev6Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Mongredien|first=Phil|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/06/prefab-sprout-crimson-red-review|title=Prefab Sprout: Crimson/Red – review|work=The Observer|date=6 October 2013|accessdate=15 October 2013}}
| rev7 = Q
| rev7Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=Prefab Sprout: Crimson/Red|work=Q|issue=328|date=November 2013|page=114}}
| rev8 = Record Collector
| rev8Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|last=Staunton|first=Terry|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/crimsonred|title=Prefab Sprout – Crimson/Red|work=Record Collector|issue=420|date=November 2013|accessdate=6 May 2019}}
| rev9 = The Times
| rev9Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Hodgkinson|first=Will|author-link=Will Hodgkinson|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/prefab-sprout-crimsonred-67m7ccfx668|title=Prefab Sprout: Crimson/Red|work=The Times|date=5 October 2013|access-date=6 May 2019|url-access=subscription}}
| rev10 = Uncut
| rev10Score = 8/10{{cite journal|last=Mulholland|first=Garry|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/prefab-sprout-crimsonred|title=Prefab Sprout – Crimson/Red|work=Uncut|date=31 October 2013|accessdate=6 May 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506083317/https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/prefab-sprout-crimsonred|archivedate=6 May 2019}}
}}
In Mojo magazine, critic Danny Eccleston called Crimson/Red "the welcome return of Durham's song-craftsman supreme". The Observer{{'}}s Phil Mongredien praised the album as "charming, articulate and urbane" (a lyric from "Devil Came a Calling"). Four-star ratings appeared in both The Independent and The Times, with the former describing Crimson/Red as a "lovely album from a true one-off".
David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "The music throughout is just as beautiful and bold as the lyrics", with "immaculate production and an overall classic album flow".
Commercial reception
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2015}}
Crimson/Red was a chart success for Prefab Sprout. The album debuted at No. 15 in the UK Albums Chart, giving the band their highest-charting record since Andromeda Heights in 1997.
Crimson/Red debuted at No. 10 in Sweden and No. 21 in Norway, giving the band their second-highest chart positions ever in both countries. In its second week on the Norwegian charts, "Crimson/Red" climbed to No. 7, an all-time high for the band in Norway.
In Ireland, the album debuted at No. 40 (and No. 9 on the indie chart). In Germany, the album debuted at No. 42, making it Prefab Sprout's highest-charting album there.
Crimson/Red also charted in the Flanders region of Belgium (No. 83) and in Switzerland (No. 92).
Track listing
All songs written by Paddy McAloon.
- "The Best Jewel Thief in the World"
- "List of Impossible Things"
- "Adolescence"
- "Grief Built the Taj Mahal"
- "Devil Came a Calling"
- "Billy"
- "The Dreamer"
- "The Songs of Danny Galway"
- "The Old Magician"
- "Mysterious"
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Prefab Sprout}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crimson Red}}