Sweet Optimism by Alun Parry

“IF YOU HAD FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES, YOU’D BE ABOVE THE LAW…”

Acclaimed storyteller Alun Parry returns
with a set of broadsides & ballads from the other side of the mirror

Nobility isn’t a word often associated with songs. Nor is it often written in the same sentence as Woody Guthrie-worshipping socially conscious storytelling songwriters. But Alun Parry’s work contains multitudes and is brimming with noble thoughts and music. The Scouse storyteller has sold albums and filled rooms across the UK for two decades, but his fans have noticed a shift in focus: he plays fewer gigs, records more songs and releases more music than ever before. Why? No matter how hard he tries, he can’t stop writing:

“This latest set of songs are stories about how we live our lives. Yes, there’s politics, but there’s also personal struggles, humans having histories and meditations on navigating life,” he reveals. “These songs have enabled me to break out of the folk straitjacket and work within other genres to best tell the stories I want to tell.”

There’s confessional songwriting in the quietly devastating If I Should Reach The Night Again, funky musings within Friends And Influence and even a finger-pointing anthem to challenge Parry’s seminal My Name Is Dessie Warren in the gallant The Ghosts Of Your Grandfathers.

“I hope there’s some optimism in there, too,” he smiles. “No matter what we go through, we need hope. And we’ll always need each other.”

WHAT LISTENERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS NEW 15-TRACK ALBUM

"An absolute cast-iron classic already." - Joe Solo

"Passion, politics and humour wrapped up in a beautiful voice. That’s what you get with Alun Parry’s new album 'Sweet Optimism'. Alun has delivered us a bunch of songs that sometimes make you laugh and always make you think. He has an uncanny ability to write songs that feel like labour movement classics but are, in fact, brand new. Go and buy it." - Kate Richardson

"A really enjoyable album. Great singing across the record. Has unlocked something new. Rootsy and organic." - Al O'Hare

Tracklist

1.	Sonny	2:55

2.	Presidential Pardon	3:52

3.	Distillery Blues	2:51

4.	Friends And Influence	3:41

5.	If I Should Reach The Night Again	3:59

6.	Lockdown Lover	2:59

7.	Some Other Universe	2:46

8.	The Ghosts Of Your Grandfathers	4:22

9.	Streets Of Manhattan	3:23

10.	I Dated A Therapist	3:09

11.	I'd Rather Be The 'Orse	2:54

12.	Codependent Love Song (Grace vs Paul)	2:53

13.	Sweet Optimism	3:02

14.	Ruby Remembers	3:50

15.	Goodbye	2:57

Credits

released August 22, 2022

All words and music by Alun Parry

Thanks to Rea Fortis for backing vocals on Friends and Influence, and Goodbye.

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