Watching the Sky
{{About|the album by Sheppard|the song by the Bangles|Everything (The Bangles album)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Watching the Sky
| type = studio
| artist = Sheppard
| cover = Watching the Sky by Sheppard.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2018|06|08|df=yes}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Indie pop
| length = 46:59
| label = Empire of Song
| producer =
| prev_title = Undercover
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Kaleidoscope Eyes
| next_year = 2021
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Watching the Sky
| type = Studio
| single1 = We Belong
| single1date = 1 November 2016
| single2 = Keep Me Crazy
| single2date = 10 March 2017
| single3 = Edge of the Night
| single3date = 23 June 2017
| single4 = Coming Home
| single4date = 10 November 2017
| single5 = Riding the Wave
| single5date = 13 April 2018
| single6 = Hometown
| single6date = 1 June 2018 {{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/1Boh2IpbQTkL7wLlnDZmdA|title=Hometown|website=Spotify|date=1 June 2018|accessdate=17 June 2018}}
}}
}}
Watching the Sky is the second studio album by Australian indie pop band Sheppard, released on 8 June 2018. The album was confirmed in January 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Sheppard-Drops-Coming-Home-Video-20180126|title=Sheppard Drops 'Coming Home' Video|website=BroadwayWorld|date=26 January 2018|accessdate=3 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theindustryobserver.com.au/sheppard-might-not-cool-theyre-writing-whole-line-descriptors/|title= Sheppard might not be cool, but they're writing themselves a whole new line of descriptors|publisher=The Industry Observer|date= 30 January 2018|accessdate=3 February 2018}} with George Sheppard saying "an album is the true artistic statement, so announcing Watching the Sky is a really exciting step for us."{{cite web|url=http://www.vmusic.com.au/sheppard-release-new-video-details-for-sophomore-album|title=Sheppard Release New Video & Details of Sophomore Album|publisher=V Music|date=January 2018 |accessdate=3 February 2018}}
The album was supported by a week of in-store appearances across Australia from 8 June 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/06/sheppard-hits-the-shops/|title=Sheppard Hits the Shops|publisher=auspOp|date=5 June 2018|accessdate=6 June 2018}}
In July 2018, the band announced a 30-venue national tour commencing on 10 August in Mount Isa and concluding on 20 October in Gold Coast, Queensland. The tour is their biggest national tour to date.{{cite web|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/sheppard-announce-biggest-national-tour/|title= Sheppard Just Announced Their Biggest National Tour To Date|publisher= Music Feeds|date= 16 July 2018|accessdate=14 September 2018}}
Reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = auspOp
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}} {{cite news |url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/06/watching-the-sky-davids-sheppard-review/ |title=Watching the Sky for David's Sheppard Review |publisher=auspOp |date=15 June 2018|accessdate=15 June 2018}}
| rev2 = The Music
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |first=Mac |last=McNaughton |url=http://themusic.com.au/music/albumreviews/2018/06/08/sheppard-watching-the-sky-mac-mcnaughton/ |title=Sheppard – Watching The Sky |work=The Music |date=8 June 2018 |accessdate=15 June 2018}}
}}
Mac McNaughton from The Music said "Kids need this kind of non-threatening, relentlessly up-beat optimism and they'll lap it up" and that the album has "many sickly sweet highs". David from auspOp said "The band doesn't mess with the formula that makes them so appealing" adding "There's nothing terrible about this album, but it just doesn't seem to go anywhere." David praised the songs "Coming Home", "Love Me Now" and "Edge of the Night". Stack Magazine said the group have "delivered" on their second studio album, adding "[al]though not everything works. For example, 'Edge of the Night' over-reaches, trying too hard to be a party anthem but ending up sounding like a Peter Andre out take." The publication also acknowledged that "for every misfire there's a banger to ignite the party", saying "'Castaways' and 'Sorry' show genuine pop smarts" and "'We Belong' and 'Live for You' showcase Amy Sheppard's powerful vocal, which is perhaps underutilised."{{cite web|url=https://stack.com.au/music/album-review/sheppard-watching-sky-review/|title=Sheppard Watching the Sky review|work=Stack Magazine|date=8 June 2018|accessdate=15 June 2018}} Mikey Cahill from the Herald Sun said "They ply feel-good, treacly jams that will turn your stomach. Their aim: to serve up inoffensive party pop. They nail the brief on "Coming Home" and "Love Me Now"... they fail on "Edge Of the Night" and … the rest of the LP."{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/music/album-reviews-beyonce-jayz-christina-aguilera-sheppard/news-story/58ab4002134a900152030ecd6e784dc9|title=Album reviews: Beyonce & Jay-Z, Christina Aguilera, Sheppard |work=Herald Sun|date=20 June 2018 |accessdate=14 September 2018}}
Track listing
{{expand section|songwriters|date=May 2019}}
{{Track listing
| total_length = 46:59
| all_writing =
| title1 = Watching the Sky
| writer1 =
| length1 = 0:50
| title2 = Coming Home
| writer2 = {{hlist|Chris Wallace|Matt Radosevich|Jason Bovino|George Sheppard|Amy Sheppard}}
| length2 = 3:55
| title3 = Keep Me Crazy
| writer3 = {{hlist|George Sheppard|Amy Sheppard|Peter Thomas|Kyle Moorman}}
| length3 = 3:16
| title4 = Love Me Now
| writer4 =
| length4 = 3:31
| title5 = We Belong
| writer5 = {{hlist|George Sheppard|Amy Sheppard|Jason Bovino|A. Dawson}}
| length5 = 3:27
| title6 = Edge of the Night
| writer6 = {{hlist|Jay Bovino|Amy Sheppard|George Sheppard|Kyle Moorman|Peter Thomas}}
| length6 = 3:24
| title7 = Live for You
| writer7 =
| length7 = 3:54
| title8 = Sorry
| writer8 =
| length8 = 4:13
| title9 = Choke
| writer9 =
| length9 = 2:55
| title10 = Call Me Up
| writer10 =
| length10 = 3:09
| title11 = Hometown
| writer11 =
| length11 = 3:07
| title12 = Castaways
| writer12 =
| length12 = 3:26
| title13 = Riding the Wave
| writer13 =
| length13 = 3:24
| title14 = I Was Lost
| writer14 =
| length14 = 4:28
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|1|artist=Sheppard|album=Watching the Sky|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 June 2018}} |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2018-06-15|title=NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=18 June 2018|access-date=15 June 2018}}
| 9 |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| Catalogue |
|---|
| scope="row"| Various
| 8 June 2018 | {{flat list| | Empire of Song | EOS007 |
| scope="row"| Australia
| {{flat list|
| Empire of Song | EOS007V |