Crimson/Red

Crimson/Red is the ninth studio album by the English pop group Prefab Sprout. It was released in the United Kingdom on 7 October 2013.^[1] The album title is a reference to Mark Rothko.^[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Paddy McAloon unless noted otherwise:

1. "The Best Jewel Thief in the World"
2. "List of Impossible Things"
3. "Adolescence"
4. "Grief Built the Taj Mahal"
5. "Devil Came A Calling"
6. "Billy"
7. "The Dreamer"
8. "The Songs of Danny Galway"
9. "The Old Magician"
10. "Mysterious"

Critical response

Crimson/Red garnered a four-star review in Mojo magazine,^[3] who called it: "The welcome return of Durham’s song-craftsman supreme." A four-star review was also published in The Guardian and the reviewer described the album as "charming, articulate and urbane" (a lyric from "Devil came a calling").^[4]

Four-star ratings appeared in both The Independent and The Times, with the former describing Crimson/Red as a "lovely album from a true one-off."^[5]

David Jeffries of AllMusic says "the music throughout is just as beautiful and bold as the lyrics" with "immaculate production and an overall classic album flow".^[6]

In the charts

Crimson/Red was a chart success for Prefab Sprout. The album debuted at No. 15 in the UK Albums Chart, giving the band their highest charting record since Andromeda Heights in 1997.

Crimson/Red debuted at No. 10 in Sweden and No. 21 in Norway, giving the band their second highest chart positions ever in both countries. In its second week on the Norwegian charts, "Crimson/Red" climbed to No. 7, an all-time high for the band in Norway.

In Ireland, the album debuted at No. 40 (and No. 9 on the indie chart). In Germany, the album debuted at No. 42, making it Prefab Sprout's highest charting album there.

Crimson/Red also charted in the Flanders region of Belgium (No. 83) and in Switzerland (No. 92).

References