The Miserable Rich - Twelve Ways to Count (2008) [FLAC]
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General Information
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Artist...............: The Miserable Rich
Album................: Twelve Ways To Count
Released.............: April 15, 2008
Label................: Humble Soul
Genre................: Indie-Folk/Pop
Ripper...............: XLD 117.4
Encoder..............: FLAC 1.2.1 (-8)
Scans................: Full, 600 dpi
Source...............: Original CD (HS208CD)
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Tracklist
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1. Early Mourning (3:28)
2. Pisshead (3:55)
3. Boat Song (4:44)
4. The Knife-Thrower's Hand (4:31)
5. Monkey (4:53)
6. Muswell (4:23)
7. North Villas (3:23)
8. The Time That's Mine (1:51)
9. The Barmiad's Canon (4:32)
10. Poodle (3:17)
11. Merry Go Round (4:42)
12. Button My Lip (12:14)
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Review
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Describing their music as 'the sound of one lip kissing', this Brighton based
five piece create an atmosphere on 'Pisshead', the standout track on their
debut album that could perhaps more accurately be described as the sound of
one drunk lamenting.
"I'm dead as a dodo, I'm flat on my ass" is the unexpectedly melodious sounding
refrain from front man James Malplaquet. Though this is no Tom Waits style,
booze sizzled gutter rant. Rather, the sound of kazoo, violins and even a bell
calling time on the number at its end creates a rustic sounding dipsomaniacs
love affair that's too warm and hazy to ever prompt an AA call.
This is chamber pop folk that has dismissed the beardy woollen jersey cliché
to instead don a fine layer of cashmere before entering a dusky world full of
tales of boatmen, matinees, teenage crushes and waiting for pay day. "I'll be
rolling up in backseats, I'll appreciate the view", croons Malplaquet on the
sonorous, violin soaked lament to small town boredom Button My Lip towards the
close of the album. Both deft and enchanting with their ability to embrace the
pastoral flavours of trad folk and some winningly playful pop hooks, 12 ways to
count has tear-jerkers and caustic wit in equally charismatic measure.
With strong connections to Lightspeed Champion and Brighton's Wilkommon
Collective, The Miserable Rich aren’t going to struggle for recognition -
particularly on the evidence of this superb album- but its Malplaquet's voice,
a clarion call that sounds uncannily similar to early 70's troubadour Colin
Blunstone, that really endears.
(Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/dwzf)
