Spark Seeker#Spark Seeker: Acoustic Sessions
{{Short description|Album by Matisyahu}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Spark Seeker
| type = studio
| artist = Matisyahu
| cover = Matisyahu - Spark Seeker.jpg
| alt =
| released = July 17, 2012
| recorded = 2011–2012
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Pop{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/matisyahu-discusses-new-album-undercurrent/|title=Matisyahu Discusses New Album Undercurrent|author=Paul Zollo|publisher=American Songwriter the Craft of Music|accessdate=2021-08-09}}|hip-hop|electronic|reggae fusion}}
| length = 55:31
| label = Fallen Sparks Records, via RED
| producer = Kool Kojak
| prev_title = Live at Stubb's, Vol. 2
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = Spark Seeker: Acoustic Sessions
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Matisyahu studio album
| type = studio album
| prev_title = Light
| prev_year = 2009
| title = Spark Seeker
| year = 2012
| next_title = Akeda
| next_year = 2014
}}{{Singles
| name = Spark Seeker
| type = studio
| single1 = "Sunshine"
| single1date = 2012
| single2 = "Live Like A Warrior"{{youTube|p53pDNodxHE|"Live Like A Warrior"}}
| single2date =
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = Allmusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Jeffries |first=David |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/spark-seeker-mw0002377512 |title=Allmusic review |publisher=Allmusic.com |date=2012-07-17 |accessdate=2012-07-25}}
|rev2 = Sputnikmusic
|rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://sputnikmusic.com/review/50916/Matisyahu-Spark-Seeker/ |title=Sputnikmusic review |publisher=Sputnikmusic.com |date= |accessdate=2012-07-25}}
|rev3 = Consequence of Sound
|rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2012/07/album-review-matisyahu-spark-seeker/ |title=Consequence of Sound review |publisher=consequence.net |date=2012-07-16 |accessdate=2012-07-25}}
}}
Spark Seeker is an album by American reggae singer Matisyahu (Matthew Miller), which was released on July 17, 2012. It is his fourth studio release, and follows 2009's Light. Spark Seeker debuted at #19 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 16,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1690414/nas-life-is-good-album-billboard/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903223526/http://www.mtv.com/news/1690414/nas-life-is-good-album-billboard/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 3, 2014|website=MTV|title=Life Is Good For Nas Atop Billboard Charts|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|date=July 25, 2012|accessdate=October 20, 2014}} It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart.{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=matisyahu|chart=all}} The album was recorded in Los Angeles, California, and Tel Aviv, Israel. Miller considers Spark Seeker to be his attempt at a pop album.{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/matisyahu-discusses-new-album-undercurrent/|title=Matisyahu Discusses New Album Undercurrent|author=Paul Zollo|publisher=American Songwriter the Craft of Music|accessdate=2021-08-09}}
The vinyl LP version of the record was pressed at United Record Pressing in Nashville, TN.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150929334374775.442683.45121499774|website=Facebook|title=Matisyahu – Spark Seeker – Fallen Sparks Records|accessdate=October 20, 2014|date=June 22, 2012}}
Cover art
The cover for Spark Seeker is a picture of a girl who was found in the Judean Desert, taken by Mary Margaret Chambliss, the wife of Matisyahu's agent. Yossi Belkin, the graphic designer behind the cover art, claimed that "the girl was happy and had a sparkle in her eye," to which Miller claimed "that's it, she is the spark seeker." Belkin claims that she gave the album a "pure, fresh, and young feel," and that after going through "dozens of drafts," this one was the "most iconic,{{cite web| url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2012/08/01/matisyahu%E2%80%99s-graphic-designer-strives-to-capture-his-evolving-spirit-interview/|title=Matisyahu’s Graphic Designer Strives to Capture His Evolving Spirit (INTERVIEW)|author=Atara Arbesfeld|publisher=The Algemeiner|accessdate=August 15, 2021}}" Belkin considers this cover to be his proudest work, as of August 1, 2012. Belkin also designed the cover for Matisyahu's 2011's EP The Miracle.
It appears the girl is from a nomadic Muslim Bedouin family.{{cite web|url=http://www.marymargaretchambliss.com/personal-projects#/israel/|title=Israel|author=Mary Margaret Chambliss|accessdate=August 16, 2021}}
Track listing
{{Track listing | title1 = Crossroads | note1 = feat. J. Ralph | length1 = 5:02
| title2 = Sunshine | length2 = 3:33
| title3 = Searchin | length3 = 4:18
| title4 = Buffalo Soldier | note4 = feat. Shyne | length4 = 4:31
| title5 = Fire of Freedom | length5 = 4:29
| title6 = Bal Shem Tov | length6 = 5:05
| title7 = I Believe In Love | length7 = 4:16
| title8 = Breathe Easy | length8 = 5:01
| title9 = Summer Wind | length9 = 1:52
| title10 = Live Like a Warrior | length10 = 3:54
| title11 = Tel Aviv'n | length11 = 4:52
| title12 = King Crown of Judah | note12 = feat. Shyne and Ravin Kahalani | length12 = 4:02
| title13 = Shine on You | length13 = 4:36
}}
Personnel
- Matisyahu- vocals
- Ravid Khalani- vocals on "King Crown of Judah"
- Kool Kojak- production
- Jack Knight- Songwriting, Production, Background Vocals
- J. Ralph- vocals on "Crossroads"
- Shyne- vocals on "Buffalo Soldier" and "King Crown of Judah"
- Rabbi Hagay Batzri- Vocals, vocals (background)
- Noa Neve- vocals on "summer Wind"
- Destani Wolf- vocals on "Crossroads" and "Live like a Warrior"
Charts
class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2012) !Peak |
U.S. The Billboard 200
|align="center"|19 |
U.S. Top Digital Albums
|align="center"|7 |
U.S. Top Independent Albums
|align="center"|3 |
U.S. Top Reggae Albums
|align="center"|1 |
''Spark Seeker: Acoustic Sessions''
{{Infobox album
| name = Spark Seeker: Acoustic Sessions
| type = EP
| artist = Matisyahu
| cover = Official cover art of Matisyahu's EP "Spark Seeker, Acoustic Sessions".jpg
| alt =
| released = January 29, 2013
| recorded = 2012
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Pop, reggae, hip-hop, acoustic
| length =
| label = Fallen Sparks
| producer =
| prev_title = Spark Seeker
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Five7Seven2 Live
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Matisyahu EP
| type = EP
| prev_title = Miracle
| prev_year = 2011
| title = Spark Seeker: Acoustic Sessions
| year = 2013
| next_title = Release the Bound
| next_year = 2016
}}
}}
On January 29, 2013, Matisyahu released Spark Seeker: Acoustic Sessions, a six-song EP that features acoustic versions of songs from Spark Seeker. The iTunes versions includes an exclusive seventh track, "Silence."
=Track listing=
{{Track listing | title1 = Crossroads | length1 = 4:31
| title2 = Live Like a Warrior | length2 = 3:21
| title3 = Sunshine | length3 = 4:24
| title4 = Searchin | length4 = 2:55
| title5 = Bal Shem Tov | length5 = 3:47
| title6 = I Believe in Love | length6 = 5:28
| title7 = Silence | note7 = iTunes exclusive | length7 = 6:08
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Matisyahu}}
{{Authority control}}