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It isn't everyday one comes across an honest, and honestly surprising, set of love songs such as this.
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Most of the tracks here could have emerged at almost any point between the late 60s and now, but when you're confronted by the sheer bittersweet enthusiasm that van Pelt manages to squeeze into each one, it would be a little unfair to draw up a family tree.
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Graham Van Pelt has provided us with us with the blissful whimsy needed to enjoy the dandelion tufts of summer with carefree trust.
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Five Roses reveals Van Pelt as a talented producer who knows his way around summery pop songs.
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There are some stretches of instrumental filler, but for the most part (and particularly in the case of tracks like 'Maybe Lately,' 'Little Trees,' and 'Hold Your Secrets to Your Heart') Miracle Fortress'debut is a thing of rare beauty.
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Five Roses is far from mere homage. This is the work of a precocious and incredibly ambitious songwriter who is playfully navigating the history of pop music.
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Miracle Fortress' jubilant indie pop effortlessly integrates cuddly mammalian coos, cottony guitar fuzz, and gentle falsetto choruses.
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Van Pelt teases enough sonic frontiers and has enough madcap charisma to mildly triumph where others would have failed.
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It's gorgeous from start to finish.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 8 out of 9
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Mixed: 0 out of 9
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Negative: 1 out of 9
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GuillaumePopFeb 2, 2008Underrated, totally!
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lintoJan 23, 2008One of the most underrated albums of 2007.