Mt. Desolation is the debut studio album by English alt country duo Mt. Desolation, released on 18 October 2010 in the United Kingdom and on 19 October 2010 in the US. This is the first album by the side project of the band Keane's Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quin.
Mt. Desolation | ||||
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Studio album by Mt. Desolation | ||||
Released | 18 October 2010 (2010-10-18) | |||
Recorded | January 2010 | |||
Genre | Alternative country | |||
Length | 49:05 | |||
Label |
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Producer | Emery Dobyns | |||
Mt. Desolation chronology | ||||
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Singles from Mt. Desolation | ||||
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No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Departure" | 3:37 |
2. | "Annie Ford" | 4:21 |
3. | "Bridal Gown" | 4:57 |
4. | "State Of Our Affairs" | 4:39 |
5. | "Bitter Pill" | 4:07 |
6. | "Another Night On My Side" | 3:01 |
7. | "Midnight Ghost" | 5:05 |
8. | "Platform 7" | 3:34 |
9. | "My My My" | 3:49 |
10. | "Coming Home/Halo Of Fireflies" | 11:55 |
11. | "Pushed Around" (Amazon MP3 and 7Digital UK exclusive bonus track) | 3:31 |
12. | "Wherever You Were Going" (iTunes exclusive bonus track) | 2:51 |
Total length: | 49:05 |
Most pressings of the CD only include 11 songs (Halo of Fireflies, hidden after Coming Home, is not listed on the back) however some extra songs have been released, either on special pressings of the CD, or digitally.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The album was met with generally favourable reviews, with the Guardian thinking of it, when compared to Keane's Night Train, as a "more convincing vehicle for their undisputed melodic gifts" and citing "Bitter Pill" as a highlight.
BBC Music called the production "fittingly delicate and unfussy, with no oppressive effects" and commented on the singer's voices, saying "Rice-Oxley and Quin [...] both sound a little shy", but welcoming the "intermittent, effortlessly harmonising female vocals".
Virgin.com, however, wasn't as enthusiastic, giving the album a 6 out of 10, describing their self-titled debut as "a mixed bag of charming country inspired tunes and hard to take seriously line dancing tracks", before adding that "the self gratifying love for the music that has been created makes this collaborative country collection well worth a listen despite the odd rogue."
Mt Desolation:
Support musicians:
Guest Artist:
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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UK Albums Chart[2] | 140 |
US Billboard Heatseekers Albums[3] | 10 |