White Lies is the second studio album released by Irish singer-songwriter Mick Flannery. The album was released on September 12, 2008.[1] It achieved a top ten position on the Irish Albums Chart and featured prominently on the country's national radio stations.[2]
| White Lies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 12, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | Ireland | |||
| Genre | Rock, Folk | |||
| Length | 39 minutes | |||
| Label | EMI Ireland | |||
| Mick Flannery chronology | ||||
| ||||
White Lies went platinum in Ireland.[3] It also received a nomination for the Choice Music Prize. When The Irish Times placed Flannery at number forty-six in a list of "The 50 Best Irish Acts Right Now" it published in April 2009 it referenced the album White Lies in its comments.
Promotion edit
Earlier in 2008, Flannery made an appearance on RTÉ Two's music television programme Other Voices.[4] The reaction he received was positive, and Flannery was later described by one reviewer as the "where's he been hiding?" act of that series.[5] There were calls for him to receive his own episode of the show.[5]
On the day of the album's release Flannery performed the track "Tomorrow's Papers" on The Late Late Show.[6][7]
He commenced a nationwide tour of Ireland after the release of White Lies.[8]
Reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| entertainment.ie | (3.5/5)[9] |
| RTÉ Entertainment | (4/5)[10] |
As with his previous album, Flannery's age was noted: he was twenty-four years old at the time White Lies was released. When he released his debut album, Evening Train, in 2005, his age of twenty-one years was also noted.[1][11] At this stage two of his songs had already won an award each at the International Songwriting Competition, an achievement which has received much attention as he was the first Irish musician to win in this competition.[4][12]
entertainment.ie reviewer Lauren Murphy said of the album: "White Lies may not be a perfect album, but it's certainly a promising step forward for a real talent".[11] Public service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann's reviewer Harry Guerin commented on White Lies: "If you're adamant that Ireland may sink with another singer-songwriter on tour, then this is a record to seek out; you won't notice the time passing and the nation will remain afloat".[5] There was praise for the faster songs such as "Tomorrow's Paper" and "What Do You See".[5]
The Irish Times placed Flannery at number forty-six in a list of "The 50 Best Irish Acts Right Now" published in April 2009,[13] commenting on the White Lies album as having "changed everything" and "With this stunning exhibition of the gravel-voiced musician’s abilities, Flannery turned his hand to mournful piano ballads and catchy guitar tunes with a flair that far surpasses his 25 years".[14]
Track listing edit
All tracks are written by Mick Flannery
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Safety Rope" | |
| 2. | "California" | |
| 3. | "Tomorrow's Paper" | |
| 4. | "Wish You Well" | |
| 5. | "Goodbye" | |
| 6. | "Near or Far" | |
| 7. | "Wait Here" | |
| 8. | "What Do You See" | |
| 9. | "Smiling Girl" | |
| 10. | "Arise Now" | |
| 11. | "Do Me Right" | |
| Total length: | 39 minutes | |
Awards edit
In 2009, White Lies was nominated for the Choice Music Prize's Irish Album of the Year 2008.[15][16][17] Flannery was one of seven of the ten nominated acts to perform at the award ceremony in Vicar Street on March 4.[18]
White Lies lost to Ritual by Jape. However, Flannery was mentioned in the acceptance speech, as frontman Richie Egan mentioned what his mother had told him before the award: “They all deserve the award -- sure my mother even told me that Mick Flannery was going to win, she said you're good, Ritchie [sic], but he's gorgeous”.[19]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | White Lies | Irish Album of the Year 2008 | Nominated |
References edit
- ^ a b Aoife McDonnell (8 September 2008). "Interview: Mick Flannery". State. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ "Mick Flannery for Dublin headliner". Hot Press. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
The singer's sophomore White Lies release made the top 10 in Ireland, with a healthy amount of national radio play building him an enthusiastic following.
- ^ "Top artists to pay a festive visit to the INEC". The Kerryman. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ a b Harry Guerin. "Other Voices". Other Voices. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d Harry Guerin (11 September 2008). "Mick Flannery - White Lies". RTÉ. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ "Friday, 12 September 2008". RTÉ. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ Bill Browne (17 December 2009). "Mick's in the house for New Year's Eve". The Corkman. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ Carr, Eamon (18 September 2008). "A Rolling Stone: Ex-stonemason Mick Flannery looks set to hit the big time". Evening Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ entertainment.ie review
- ^ RTÉ Entertainment review
- ^ a b Lauren Murphy (23 September 2008). "Mick Flannery - White Lies". entertainment.ie. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ "Programme 1: Mick Flannery". RTÉ Radio 1. 29 November 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ "The next 50 bands". The Irish Times. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- ^ Jim Carroll; Tony Clayton-Lea; Sinéad Gleeson; Lauren Murphy (3 April 2009). "The 50 best Irish music acts right now". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
2008 was a good year for Mick Flannery. The former stonemason had hung up his chisel in search of musical fulfilment several years back, yet his 2005 debut album (Evening Train) failed to make any huge impression, despite the Corkonian's talent as a writer and performer. Last year's Choice- nominated White Lies changed everything. With this stunning exhibition of the gravel-voiced musician's abilities, Flannery turned his hand to mournful piano ballads and catchy guitar tunes with a flair that far surpasses his 25 years.
- ^ Eoin Butler (14 January 2009). "The Script debut album makes Choice shortlist". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ Eoin Butler (15 January 2009). "Choice script upset by inclusion of . . . The Script". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ Sarah Stack (15 January 2009). "The Script favourites for top music award". Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ "7 of 10 acts to play at Choice Prize show". The Irish Times. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
Fight Like Apes, Mick Flannery, Halfset, Jape, Messiah J The Expert and R.S.A.G. will perform at the ceremony, which takes place at Dublin's Vicar Street on March 4th. Lisa Hannigan, Oppenheimer and The Script are unavailable due to prior touring commitments, and Belfast DJ/musician David Holmes does not perform live.
- ^ Caitrina Cody (5 March 2009). "Jolly Jape admits he's surprised to scoop Choice gong". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2010.