Loss [Enhanced]

Mull Historical Society | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 7, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Xl Recordings
• ASIN: B000066703
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #540,140 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Public Service Announcer

2. Watching Xanadu

3. Instead

4. I Tried

5. This Is Not Who We Were

6. Barcode Bypass

7. Only I

8. Animal Cannabus

9. Strangeways Inside

10. Mull Historical Society

11. Paper Houses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Total Genius, April 20, 2004

By 

alexander laurence (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loss (Audio CD)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great CD!, December 13, 2002

By 

J. Ferrell (Palo Alto, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Loss (Audio CD)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavenly PoP Swirl !~!~!~!, June 1, 2002

By 

Bonnie Buellis (Westminster, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loss (Audio CD)

Terrific release by these great West Scottish Lads!
You will find yourself repeating every word with Colin after just a few listens.Lovely and Fun Jangley acoustic Pop with Horns Strings and even a few background kitchen and Amusement park noises.
May I have another please! and sooooon