Sense (The Lightning Seeds album)

Sense is the second album by English musical group the Lightning Seeds, released in 1992. It was produced chiefly by Ian Broudie and Simon Rogers.

Background
"The Life of Riley", released as a single in 1992, was written for Broudie's son Riley.

The album's second single, "Sense", was co-written by Broudie and Specials singer and long-time writing partner Terry Hall. The single includes a track written by Broudie and Paul Simpson from their time as Care, "Flaming Sword", as a B-side. Hall released a re-recorded version of "Sense" with himself on vocals in 1994.

In 2009, an instrumental version of "Sense" was used in BMW's Story of Joy advertisement. The instrumental version of "The Life of Riley" also appeared on BBC's Match of the Day, soundtracking football high points.

Critical reception
Trouser Press called the album a "disgruntled production extravaganza" and "a strange achievement but not an unpleasant one". The Washington Post wrote that "the pop-rock sound of the previous album, though not utterly transformed, has become softer, vaguer, more liquid".

Commercial performance
The album reached No. 50 on the UK Albums Chart and the singles, "The Life of Riley" and "Sense", charted at No. 28 and No. 31, respectively.

Track listing
All songs written by Ian Broudie (except where stated).
 * 1) "Sense" – 4:12 (Broudie, Terry Hall)
 * 2) "The Life of Riley" – 4:05
 * 3) "Blowing Bubbles" – 4:16
 * 4) "A Cool Place" – 2:57
 * 5) "Where Flowers Fade" – 5:03 (Broudie, Hall)
 * 6) "A Small Slice of Heaven" – 3:50 (Broudie, Hall)
 * 7) "Tingle Tangle" – 3:22
 * 8) "Happy" – 4:33 (Broudie, Ian McNabb)
 * 9) "Marooned" – 4:40
 * 10) "Thinking Up, Looking Down" – 5:19

Personnel
The Lightning Seeds
 * Ian Broudie – vocals, all instruments, producer
 * Simon Rogers – all instruments, producer

Production
 * Cenzo Townshend – engineer
 * Phil Ault – additional engineer
 * Simon Dawson – additional engineer
 * Bob Ludwig – mastering

Additional musicians
 * Mark Feltham – harmonica
 * Alan Dunn – accordion
 * Clive Layton – Hammond organ
 * Roddy Lorimer – trumpet
 * Terry Hall – backing vocals
 * Juliet Roberts – backing vocals
 * Ian McNabb – backing vocals

Other personnel
 * Peter Ashworth – photography

Certifications

 * United Kingdom (BPI): Silver (1 July 1997)