Singing in the Dark is a concept album by Irish folk singer Susan McKeown, released through Hibernia Records on October 30, 2010. According to McKeown, the album is "an exploration of "Creativity & Madness through the lyrics of great poets who were writing through the lens of depression, mania, or substance abuse."
With an introduction by psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison, author of ', the album features poems by Lord Byron, Anne Sexton, Theodore Roethke, Gwendolyn Brooks, Nuala NÃÂ Dhomhnaill, Gwyneth Lewis, Hayden Carruth, and James Clarence Mangan, as well as songs from John Dowland, Violeta Parra, and Leonard Cohen.
Upon its release, Singing in the Dark received widespread critical acclaim from various media outlets, including The Irish Times, The New York Times, Time Out, El PaÃÂs, The Boston Globe, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, New Sounds, WNYC, PopMatters, and IrishCentral, among others. Additionally, the Brooklyn Downtown Star included Singing in the Dark on their year-end list of "Top Ten Albums of 2010."
Portions of the proceeds from Sining in the Dark were donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Fountain House, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, and Glenn Close's "Bring Change 2 Ming."
Singing in the Dark was met with widespread critical acclaim. Siobhán Long, in a review for The Irish Times, awarded the album 4 stars, writing
The New York Times was equally enthusiastic, writing "Whether sheâÂÂs backed by electric and acoustic guitars, accordion or piano, it is Ms. McKeownâÂÂs quivering, but relentless voice that dominates the soundscape. This, in turn, pushes the poetry to the forefront."
The Boston Globe observed "Grammy-winning Irish vocalist Susan McKeown wants to bring depression into the light. Her seventh solo album, âÂÂSinging in the Dark,âÂÂâ explores creativity and mental illness. Drawing from poetry and music by Lord Byron, Theodore Roethke, Anne Sexton, Frank London, Leonard Cohen, and others, McKeown dips into the bleak well of emotional suffering and comes up with a heaping cup of hope."
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer observed "McKeownâÂÂs abilities as a performer and her incredible command of her voice allow her to sing one song in an aching tenor and another in a rich altoâ¦I like the irony of her dealing with a topic thatâÂÂs been subject to so much misconception by shattering a great many of the preconceived notions most people would have had about how this type of material would be presented."
Time Out deemed Singing in the Dark "captivating," while BBC Radio called the album "delightful." WYNC's "Culture blog" featured the track âÂÂMad Sweeneyâ noting, "Based on a traditional Irish legend first recorded in the 17th century, McKeownâÂÂs haunting and enchanting vocals embrace the tale of a king driven wild by illness, who lives life like a bird or beast." Additionally, New Sounds host John Schaefer noted "Singing in the Dark is not a depressing record by any stretch. It ranges from some pretty rollicking stuff to some very folksy sounding tracks like 'Good Old World Blues': set to music by Susan McKeown herself, it really is a terrific song."
All tracks composed by Susan McKeown