Top tracks — play these first
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Eleven — This opening track establishes the album's intimate atmosphere with its delicate arrangements and layered vocals, setting the tone for the collaborative experience.
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How Dare You — With its infectious melody and playful lyrics, this track exemplifies the duo's ability to blend humor with poignant social commentary.
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Hallelujah — This song stands out for its rich vocal interplay and heartfelt lyrics, capturing the essence of vulnerability that permeates the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and unique vocal interplay, making it a notable entry in indie pop.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks with layered vocal harmonies, while the second half shifts to more introspective and slower pieces.
- Each song typically alternates lead vocals between Thao Nguyen and Mirah, creating a conversational dynamic throughout the record.
- Several tracks incorporate unconventional instrumentation, such as strings and woodwinds, which adds depth to the arrangements.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate moments of quiet reflection
- playful storytelling with charm
- short bursts of melodic joy
- cathartic release through harmonies
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced music
- seek long, sprawling compositions
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time of its release in 2011, Mirah was already an established figure in the indie scene, having released several albums since her debut in 2000. Thao + Mirah marked a collaboration with Thao Nguyen, showcasing a unique partnership that highlighted both artists' individual styles while exploring new sonic territories together.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Laura Veirs· Sufjan Stevens· Neko Case
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Little Cup
The moment shifts from a nostalgic reflection to a stark confrontation of personal truths within a vivid metaphorical landscape.
This structural shift enhances the emotional impact of the song, contrasting fond memories with a sobering reality, thereby deepening its thematic complexity.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Eleven 4:00
- 2 Folks 2:53
- 3 Little Cup 3:34
- 4 Rubies and Rocks 4:02
- 5 Teeth 2:51
- 6 Spaced Out Orbit 4:24
- 7 How Dare You 2:59
- 8 Sugar and Plastic 2:02
- 9 Likable Man 3:33
- 10 Hallelujah 4:08
- 11 Squareneck 3:38
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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