by request
AllMusic Review by Tom Demalon
Fronted by the sibling pairing of Neil MacColl and Calum MacColl, sons of writer Ewan MacColl, Joyland
is a remarkably listenable album of intelligent, well-written
folk-tinged pop that holds up from first cut to last. Sister Kirsty
MaColl lends a hand providing backing vocals on the delightful "Shine,"
which conjures memories of an earthier Sundays and is complimented with
whistles and mandolin, and the lilting "King Of The World." The lyrics
of the MacColl brothers are often bittersweet as on "Memory Lane" and
"Black Lines," in which the edgy guitars slice through. Neil MacColl
resembles Richard Thompson, vocally, especially on "This Town" and Eddi Reader, formerly of Fairground Attraction, is a worthy foil on the two tracks that she sings on. Joyland
is often anything but that, if you listen to the lyrics, but,
musically, it succeeds in delivering upbeat, sunny adult pop that makes
not humming along an impossibility.
Tracklist
1 | Colours Of Spring | 4:06 |
2 | King Of A Rainy Country | 4:41 |
3 | Shine | 4:12 |
4 | Memory Lane | 5:18 |
5 | Flowers | 5:11 |
6 | Wind And Rain | 3:31 |
7 | Believe | 3:53 |
8 | King Of The World | 4:09 |
9 | This Town | 4:38 |
10 | Black Lines | 4:19 |
11 | I Want To Scare Myself | 4:51 |
12 | XXX | 3:49 |