Whisper House
Whisper House | ||||
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Studio album by Duncan Sheik | ||||
Released | January 27, 2009 (U.S.) | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Label |
RCA Victor (U.S.; CD) | |||
Producer | Duncan Sheik | |||
Duncan Sheik chronology | ||||
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Singles from Whisper House | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | (71/100)[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
The A.V. Club | B+[3] |
Paste | (7.9/10)[4] |
PopMatters | [5] |
Whisper House is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik. It was released on RCA Victor in 2009.
Details
The album, Sheik's first in the wake of success from composing music for the Tony award-winning musical Spring Awakening, contains selections from an original stage musical of the same name, with book and additional lyrics by Kyle Jarrow.[6] The world premiere of the musical occurred January 13, 2010 at San Diego, California's Old Globe Theatre.[7] The director is Peter Askin and the cast includes Arthur Acuna, Holly Brook, Kevin Hoffman, Ted Koch, David Poe, Mare Winningham, and Eric Brent Zutty.[8] Sheik cited influences from part of his childhood spent around Hilton Head, South Carolina, and recalling its iconic lighthouse and the ghost stories he shared there with friends.[9] Holly Brook (aka Skylar Grey) sings on many of the tracks.
Release
The album was met with little commercial success, but favorable reviews. Review aggregating website Metacritic reports a normalized score of 71% based on 4 reviews.[1] The album's first single, "Earthbound Starlight", debuted via the "Pop Candy" blog on USAToday.com.[10] On Sheik's official website, streaming audio was made available for the album's first single, as well as its first and second tracks, in advance of the album release.[11]
Track listing
- "Better to Be Dead"
- "We're Here to Tell You"
- "And Now We Sing" (feat. Holly Brook)
- "The Tale of Solomon Snell"
- "Earthbound Starlight"
- "Play Your Part"
- "You've Really Gone and Done It Now"
- "How It Feels"
- "I Don't Believe in You"
- "Take A Bow"
- "The Ghost In You" (iTunes bonus song)
References
- 1 2 Critic reviews at Metacritic
- ↑ Allmusic review
- ↑ The A.V. Club review
- ↑ Paste review
- ↑ PopMatters review
- ↑ "Track List Announced for Sheik's 'Whisper House'; Concert Dates Added", Adam Hetrick, Playbill.com, January 8, 2009
- ↑ "Old Globe Will Premiere Duncan Sheik's 'Whisper House' and Bricusse's Sammy Davis Jr. Musical", Kenneth Jones, Playbill.com, May 2, 2009
- ↑
- ↑ "Duncan Sheik: A Troubadour Turns To Theater", Jacki Lyden, All Things Considered, National Public Radio, January 24, 2009
- ↑ "Earthbound Starlight" (video), Sony BMG Music, January 20, 2009
- ↑ Duncan Sheik official website, accessed January 24, 2009