RecordedQ Studios, Sydney
Studios 301, Sydney ProducerAlex Lloyd, Ed Buller, Trent Williamson Black the Sun
(1999)Watching Angels Mend
(2001) GenresAlternative rock, Lo-fi music SimilarDistant Light, Watching Angels Mend, Good in the Face of a Stranger, Acoustica, Alex Lloyd
Alex lloyd black the sun triple j live at the wireless august 2nd 1999
Black the Sun is the debut album by the Australian singer–songwriter Alex Lloyd, released in January 1999 via EMI Records. It won the 2000 ARIA Music Award for Best Male Artist.
The song "Something Special" was later remixed by Resin Dogs to create "Something Special (Resin Dogs SP1200Resination Mix)".
Critical reception
Black The Sun received critical acclaim, with Triple J listeners voting it their album of the year. Writing for The Guardian in September 2000, John Aizlewood compared Lloyd's "eclectic approach" and "inspired turn of phrase" to that of Beck, and stated that the album "yields more with each play". He went on to draw comparison with the music of Crowded House, and singled out "Black the Sun", "What a Year" and "Backseat Clause" as the album's highlights, the latter, he noted, is a track which "closes the album in stark, lonesome fashion".
Accolades
Black The Sun was awarded a nomination for "Breakthrough Artist - Album" at the 2000 ARIA Awards, where Lloyd himself won the prize for "Best Male Artist".
Track listing
All tracks written by A. Wasiliev, except where noted.
"Melting"
"Momo"
"Something Special" (A. Wasiliev/S. Miller)
"Desert"
"Snow"
"My Way Home"
"Black The Sun"
"Lucky Star"
"What A Year" (A. Wasiliev/B. Quinn)
"Faraway"
"Aliens"
"Gender"
"Backseat Clause"
Personnel
Alex Lloyd – co-producer, guitar, vocals, programming, drums, bass
Additional musicians
Louise Morgan – spoken word
Trent Williamson – programming, harmonica
Terapai Richmond – drums
Daniel Denholm – string arrangement, vocal arrangement
Clayton Doley – organ
Technical personnel
Ed Buller – co-producer, programming
Trent Williamson – co-producer
Weekly charts
Black The Sun peaked at #9 on the Australian Charts in July 1999. The album remained in the top 50 albums for 28 weeks.