Prairie Cat: It Began/Ended With Sparks

Breaking up is hard to do, however, so is traipsing across Canada to follow a girl before the impending breakup and losing all of your precious recording gear in the process. Lucky for Vancouver scenester Cary Pratt, who plays under the moniker Prarie Cat, the experience was a source of inspiration for It Began/Ended With Sparks, an endearing collection of piano-heavy pop songs calling to mind the simple genius of Randy Newman. It Began/Ended With Sparks is the kind of listen you’d want to start your day with. It’s cheerful yet defiant and provides an ample sense of personal empowerment, without ever taking itself too seriously. The harmonious sway of “Given Up” is the album’s standout, though the smile it will inevitably leave on your face speaks to the charm of the entire album. Nobody looks forward to ending relationships; let’s just be thankful we have hopeful records like It Began/Ended With Sparks to see us through the heartache.