Search - Mull Historical Society :: Loss

Total Genius

alexander laurence | Los Angeles, CA | 04/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The whole thing about Scottish people being depressed is a myth. Mull Historical Society is a one man show starring Colin MacIntyre. It is a very fresh and truly interesting approach. Colin has played gigs with such acts like The Strokes and Travis. This is his debut album. It has a balance of songs from ridiculous to the sublime. It starts out with "Public Service Announcer" that is a "wake up" call out to anyone listening. Apparently Colin worked at BT which is the UK telephone company. "Watching Xanadu" is like a Beach Boys uptempo song about not being able to love. The next open-ended song "Instead" is where MacIntyre pulls out all the punches and even has a children's choir singing "Maybe I wasn't meant to be..." When I first saw this record it looked like some bad indie crap. Looking at the booklet it is like an old scrapbook which means to me that the songs need time to take in. It's the name "Mull Historical Society" that creates distance. As you peel through the layers of Loss you realize that this is an emotionally deep and complex album. There's a fight against consumerism and corporations. There is sort of a Brian Wilson obsession on songs like "Watching Xanadu" and "This Is Not Who We Were." There is a loss and a sadness in the songs but it is more positive in the sense of the melancholy. Time passing and getting old is the loss. MacIntyre is like the Scottish Proust. These are big ideas recorded in a lo-fi way. "Only I" is similar to the stuff Ed Harcourt is doing. In "Animal Cannabus" he claims to be "hiding from the world." Later in the song "Mull Historical Society" MacIntyre sings "We need a new hall/To fill our membership of 2." Therefore this recording is a special relationship between him and you, the listener. At least we're not alone. This record is precious and it's like looking at one of those boxes by Joseph Cornell. Loss is an impressive debut."

What a great CD!

J. Ferrell | Palo Alto, CA United States | 12/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got this last year as a gift from a friend living in London and it blew me away--still does. The music sounds a bit like mid-60's Beach Boys, a bit like Radiohead, a bit like Super Furry Animals. It is great, witty, idiosyncratic, melodic pop, with lots of xylophones and bells. Check out the semi-hits "Barcode Bypass", "Animal Cannabus", or my favorite, "Paper Houses", and see what you thik."

Magical! Fantastic!

A. G. N. Schmitz | 08/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a CD! The songs are pop songs--verse, chorus, verse, almost no solos--with simple, direct melodies and lyrics and a wonderful sense of playfulness. "Loss" reminds me a bit of late 60's Beach Boys (e.g. Smiley Smile & Friends) with Colin as Brian. A more modern comparison might be Coldplay (though MHS is less dour, especially on this CD). Check out the opening track (Public Service Announcement), one of the British hits (Barcode Bypass, Watching Xanadu, Animal Cannabus), or try my favorie--Paper Houses."