Instead of succumbing to the rut-like template of British folk rock, The Misers have allowed their sound to be influenced by much bigger fish across the pond and elsewhere.
‘Amplified Life Stories’ opens with a flurry of Harmonicas in ‘Take Me Down’, which is followed by the anthemic ‘Give It Up For Love’. Neil’s vocals channel all the rasping and throaty heartache of all his famous male predecessors – David Gray, Kelly Jones, Springsteen himself.
Tracks like ‘Shoot the Breeze’ and ‘Spinning’ veer away from the initial Alabama country sound and appear more tender, delicate and folk like.
‘Call Me Anytime’ again boasts an anthemic, sing-along chorus with the emotive lyrics, “I’ve been there before girl/ I know what you’re going through”.
‘The Long Walk Home’ displays some painfully romantic guitar riffs and ‘Lord, Shuffle My Feet’ is a classic country song, designed to be played driving down Route 66 rather than the A38 through Herefordshire.
‘Don’t Let Go (Song for Lee)’ takes the album from Springsteen-inspired 70s into an era dominated by The Who and their trademark keyboard sounds. Although this song stands alone as one of the heavier tracks on the album, it is by far, one of the best.
The album ends with stadium ballad ‘Dead before My Time’; a love song that sounds like a tribute to all the great stadium bands that The Misers adore and hope to emulate.
Overall, ‘Amplified Life Stories’ is a very good album.
It’s muffled, country feel sounds like The Misers have created their very own Wonder Years soundtrack, taking their listeners through a journey that explains the monumental title of the album.
The production is impeccable and Neil and Adam shine through as very talented, well-practised and well-honed musicians. They create a country-folk noise that sounds like Springsteen revitalised; a modern twist on an old great. Towards the end of the album however, the tinny country guitars begin to wear thin and the rock n’ roll epic of ‘Don’t Let Go (Song For Lee)’ just about saves the album. The boys are brilliant musicians capable of making great things but ‘Amplified Life Stories’ falls slightly by sounding slightly repetitive in places.
‘Amplified Life Stories’ opens with a flurry of Harmonicas in ‘Take Me Down’, which is followed by the anthemic ‘Give It Up For Love’. Neil’s vocals channel all the rasping and throaty heartache of all his famous male predecessors – David Gray, Kelly Jones, Springsteen himself.
Tracks like ‘Shoot the Breeze’ and ‘Spinning’ veer away from the initial Alabama country sound and appear more tender, delicate and folk like.
‘Call Me Anytime’ again boasts an anthemic, sing-along chorus with the emotive lyrics, “I’ve been there before girl/ I know what you’re going through”.
‘The Long Walk Home’ displays some painfully romantic guitar riffs and ‘Lord, Shuffle My Feet’ is a classic country song, designed to be played driving down Route 66 rather than the A38 through Herefordshire.
‘Don’t Let Go (Song for Lee)’ takes the album from Springsteen-inspired 70s into an era dominated by The Who and their trademark keyboard sounds. Although this song stands alone as one of the heavier tracks on the album, it is by far, one of the best.
The album ends with stadium ballad ‘Dead before My Time’; a love song that sounds like a tribute to all the great stadium bands that The Misers adore and hope to emulate.
Overall, ‘Amplified Life Stories’ is a very good album.
It’s muffled, country feel sounds like The Misers have created their very own Wonder Years soundtrack, taking their listeners through a journey that explains the monumental title of the album.
The production is impeccable and Neil and Adam shine through as very talented, well-practised and well-honed musicians. They create a country-folk noise that sounds like Springsteen revitalised; a modern twist on an old great. Towards the end of the album however, the tinny country guitars begin to wear thin and the rock n’ roll epic of ‘Don’t Let Go (Song For Lee)’ just about saves the album. The boys are brilliant musicians capable of making great things but ‘Amplified Life Stories’ falls slightly by sounding slightly repetitive in places.
