- Record Label: Nonesuch
- Release Date: Oct 10, 2006
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Though smarty-pants Lemony Snicket fans may get references I miss, in between there are times when Stephin Merritt's monotonous low baritone seems merely inexpressive.
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The Tragic Treasury may be Merritt's most consistent album since 2000's remarkable 69 Love Songs - it's packed with fantastic melodies and mordant lyrical wit.
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Spin[His] most consistently entertaining album since 1999's 69 Love Songs. [Dec 2006, p.96]
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What's surprising is that The Tragic Treasury turns out to be the most consistently enjoyable record Merritt has released this century.
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Merritt doesn't deviate from his signature lo-fi synth pop and brooding vocals, but he certainly sounds like he's having a whole lot of fun.
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Merritt's lyrical dark wit chimes nicely with the books' macabre surrealism.
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UncutIt's both Gothic and arch, meaningless and amusing. [Nov 2006, p.110]
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The Tragic Treasury is rarely charming: instead of being faux funereal, dirges like "Dreary, Dreary" and "Things Are Not What They Appear" are just funereal.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 7 out of 8
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Mixed: 1 out of 8
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Negative: 0 out of 8
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alexfJul 25, 2007Great album. It was so creative.
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HaroldCOct 20, 2006A very good album from Stephin Merritt.