Kaleidoscope Eyes

Coming off of three back-to-back world tours, two major album cycles, multiple awards and several years together, Sheppard spent 2019 writing, recording and taking time to discover who they are now. The band rediscovered life outside of touring; Amy Sheppard kick-started a global body-positive movement called Kiss My Fat Ass and became engaged to her longtime partner Lachlan; Emma Sheppard built a caravan house with her partner and George spent time as a father and explore new artistic avenues.{{cite web|url=https://www.the360mag.com/sheppard-announces-new-album-kaleidoscope-eyes/|title= Sheppard Announce New Album Kaleidoscope Eyes|website=360|date=October 2020|accessdate=27 November 2020}}

In February 2020, the band announced they would release a new single every month of 2020, leading to a new studio album late in 2020. George Sheppard said "Our forthcoming album isn't necessarily a concept album, but there's definitely a cohesive theme running throughout the songs and a linear narrative that I hope people are able to piece together as the year goes on and the album grows."

In October 2020, the band confirmed the release date as 19 February 2021 and announced the title of the project as Kaleidoscope Eyes, with George Sheppard saying "Somewhere along the album's journey, I became obsessed with the idea of a kaleidoscope. To most people it might just be a tube with pretty shards of glass, but to us it represented so much more." Amy Sheppard added "Each time you look into a kaleidoscope, you are looking at something in a new light. It's often bittersweet, because the slightest change can shift the entire picture forever. On the other hand, if you continue to tumble, you'll eventually find new beauty in a different arrangement of the same pieces. It's a strangely beautiful metaphor for love and how the world seems much brighter when you're in love. That message has managed to wind its way throughout the entire record."{{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2020/10/sheppard-confirm-kaleidoscope-eyes/|title=Sheppard Confirm Kaleidoscope Eyes|website=Auspop|date=22 October 2020|accessdate=23 October 2020|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022225533/https://www.auspop.com.au/2020/10/sheppard-confirm-kaleidoscope-eyes/|url-status=dead}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = auspOp

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2021/03/daniel-inspects-sheppards-kaleidoscope-eyes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329211754/https://www.auspop.com.au/2021/03/daniel-inspects-sheppards-kaleidoscope-eyes/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 March 2021|title=Daniel inspects Sheppard|publisher=auspOp|date=27 March 2021|accessdate=3 April 2021}}

| rev2 = The Courier-Mail

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/alice-cooper-sheppard-melvins-new-album-reviews/news-story/39766996159a1c492d11c4a38eb0ba2f|title=Alice Cooper, Sheppard, Melvins: New album reviews|publisher=The Courier-Mail |date=27 February 2021|accessdate=7 March 2021}}

| rev3 = Rolling Stone Australia

| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/sheppard-kaleidoscope-eyes-review-23580/|title=Kaleidoscope Eyes See Sheppard Delivering Powerful Career-Defining Pop |publisher=Rolling Stone Australia |date=26 February 2021|accessdate=26 February 2021}}

}}

Poppy Reid from Rolling Stone Australia said "This third offering is a seamless mix of carefree sunshine, heartbreak, and disco-thumped redemption." Stack Magazine called it an "album of pop pearls".{{cite web|url=https://stack.com.au/music/music-interview/track-by-track-sheppard-on-the-pop-pearls-of-kaleidoscope-eyes/|title=Track-by-track: Sheppard on the pop pearls of Kaleidoscope Eyes|website=Stack Magazine|date=26 February 2021|accessdate=26 February 2021}}

John O'Brien from The Courier-Mail said "In the words of more than one fan, Sheppard have never done a bad song. They proved it again during last year's lockdown, churning out one perfect pop tune after another on a monthly basis. Now the results are collected on this, their third album, with a few new tracks thrown in for good measure... At a generous 16 tracks, Kaleidoscope Eyes offers both quality and quantity, and cements Sheppard's status as South East Queensland's premier pop export since Savage Garden."

Daniel from auspOp called it "the most self-assured, cohesive and enjoyable Sheppard album to date".

{{Track listing

| headline = Kaleidoscope Eyes track listing

| total_length = 53:25

| title1 = Kaleidoscope Eyes

| writer1 = {{hlist|Jay Bovino|Amy Sheppard|George Sheppard}}

| length1 = 1:35

| title2 = Die Young

| writer2 = {{hlist|Bovino|Jon Hume|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard}}

| length2 = 3:55

| title3 = Don't Believe in Love

| writer3 = {{hlist|Bovino|Kyle Mooreman|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard|Pete Walsh}}

| length3 = 3:23

| title4 = Somebody Like You

| writer4 = {{hlist|Bovino|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard}}

| length4 = 4:04

| title5 = Animals

| writer5 = {{hlist|Bovino|Pip Norman|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard}}

| length5 = 3:24

| title6 = Brand New

| writer6 = {{hlist|Bovino|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard|Keith Varon}}

| length6 = 3:11

| title7 = Looking for Love

| writer7 = {{hlist|Bovino|Jeffrey David|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard}}

| length7 = 4:03

| title8 = Symphony

| writer8 = {{hlist|Bovino|Alice Nice|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard|Keith Sorrells}}

| length8 = 3:31

| title9 = Midsommar

| writer9 = {{hlist|Bovino|G. Sheppard}}

| length9 = 0:39

| title10 = M.I.A.

| writer10 = {{hlist|Bovino|Rasmus Budny|Kristen Carpenter|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard|Alvin Tengblad}}

| length10 = 4:02

| title11 = Catalina

| writer11 = {{hlist|Tushar Apte|Bovino|Steph Jones|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard}}

| length11 = 3:39

| title12 = Solid Gold

| writer12 = {{hlist|Steve Aiello|Bovino|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard}}

| length12 = 3:21

| title13 = Come Back

| writer13 = {{hlist|Bovino|Tania Doko|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard}}

| length13 = 3:44

| title14 = Thank You

| writer14 = {{hlist|Bovino|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard}}

| length14 = 3:57

| title15 = Learning to Fly

| writer15 = {{hlist|Bovino|Jesse James Cameron|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard|Whakaio Taahi}}

| length15 = 3:12

| title16 = Lazy Love

| writer16 = {{hlist|Bovino|Adéle Cechal|A. Sheppard|G. Sheppard|Martin Stiling|Trans Torell}}

| length16 = 3:45

}}

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Category:2021 albums

Category:Sheppard (band) albums