Introduction (Alex Parks album)

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Introduction
Introduction cover
Studio album by Alex Parks
Released November 24, 2003
Genre Pop
Label Polydor
Producer(s) Gary Clark, Boo Hewerdine, Simon Hill, Glenn Skinner, Blair MacKichan and Kevin Armstrong
Professional reviews
Alex Parks chronology
Introduction
(2003)
Honesty
(2005)


Introduction is Alex Parks' debut album, released on 24 November 2003. Recorded and released within only two weeks of Parks winning the BBC's Fame Academy, it included seven original compositions, mostly co-written with songwriters Helen Boulding, Gary Clark and Boo Hewerdine, as well as six cover songs from John Lennon, Tears for Fears, R.E.M., Christina Aguilera, Eurythmics and Coldplay.

The album reached number 5 in the UK Top 40 Album charts. It has been classified double platinum in the UK, and gold in six other countries including Italy, Greece, Germany and Australia.

Introduction includes rock influences on "Dirty Pretty Words" and "Wandering Soul", as well as a folk pop acoustic track, "Not Your Average Kind of Girl".

The lead single "Maybe That's What It Takes" was released on 17 November 2003 and peaked at number 3 in the UK Top 40 the following week. The second single "Cry" was released in February 2004, and charted at number 13.

[edit] Review quotes

"Introduction is a very fine album occasionally marred with injudicious production. Overall, Polydor deserve congratulations on launching Parks and creating a wonderful debut album. Time to put Fame Academy mental blocks away because Introduction proves that Alex Parks is a genuine and rare UK talent in the ascent." - Shakenstir

"But there's no doubt she can sing, which is lucky considering the sea of all-too-contemporary covers and ill-judged rock noodlings she fights to keep her head above here." - Guardian Unlimited

"Alex Parks is going to be a great pop star. She's in possession of the sort of enigmatic qualities that generally prevent contestants from winning any form of reality game show. She appears to have something between the ears, a sense of humour, is in possession of a fragile, passionate and alluring vocal style, and is a conundrum of contradictions that usually throw the people who get off on Pop Idol and the like into a world of confusion. In fact, she doesn't seem remotely banal, or sickeningly squeaky clean. ... Alex is unique, and we should be pleased that she's here, because she's potentially going to be an artist to savour. ...But this Introduction isn't the best place to start. It's as if she was whisked from winning the show and thrust into the studio where she was furiously bullwhipped until she got all these songs recorded." - Playlouder

[edit] Track listing

Track Song Length
1. "Maybe That's What It Takes" 3:54
2. "Cry" 3:49
3. "Dirty Pretty Words" 3:10
4. "Imagine" 3:13
5. "Not Your Average Kind of Girl" 3:37
6. "Mad World" 3:03
7. "Everybody Hurts" 5:44
8. "Beautiful" 3:59
9. "Stones & Feathers" 3:07
10. "Here Comes the Rain Again" 3:20
11. "Yellow" 4:30
12. "Wandering Soul" 3:31
13. "Overconscious" 3:37

[edit] External links