The Magician's Private Library Explained

The Magician's Private Library
Type:studio
Artist:Holly Miranda
Cover:The Magician's Private Library.jpeg
Released:February 23, 2010
Recorded:2008; Staygold Studio, Sterling Sound[1]
Genre:Indie rock, alternative
Length:42:28
Label:XL Recordings
Producer:Dave Sitek, Katrina Ford
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The Magician's Private Library is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Holly Miranda, released February 23, 2010, in the United States by XL Recordings. It was produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek and Celebration's Katrina Ford.

Writing and development

While performing in New York City's anti-folk scene with The Jealous Girlfriends in support of their 2007 album The Jealous Girlfriends, Miranda decided to release a solo album with help from her producer friend TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek. The Magician's Private Library was recorded in 2008. Miranda's publisher Chrysalis Music financed the album, but it wasn't formally released until 2010 after Miranda was signed to XL Recordings.[2] Miranda explained that the title came from her uncle's description of what he thought The Dark Side of the Moon sounded like.[3]

"Sleep on Fire" was inspired by Miranda's friend who was asleep in his bed when the apartment downstairs caught on fire. After the friend was rescued and the fire was put out, they found that the only part of the friend's apartment that had burned was the floor beneath his bed.

Composition

Musically, the album drew influences from Nina Simone[2] and dream pop icons Cocteau Twins and Mazzy Star.[4]

Lyrically, the songs on The Magician's Private Library address sleep and dreaming.[2] Miranda explained in an interview with About.com that,

"A lot of times when I’m writing songs, I’m writing them to myself, trying to help me get through something, or work something out, understand something. Hopefully that sense is something I can share with people. A lot of these songs are about dreams, and the contrast between dreaming and reality; exploring the divide between the two, and becoming aware that living in dreams can be dangerous, and that the present moment is all we have."[5]

Critical reception

The Magician's Private Library received generally favorable reviews. The album holds a score of 68 out of 100 on the review aggregator website Metacritic.[6] Andrew Leahey of Allmusic said, "The results are alternately ghostly, sexy, and nocturnal, but they’re always moving."[7] Likewise, Mark Perlaki of Gigwise.com described the album as "lush, ethereal, and brassy-toned."[4] By contrast, Drowned in Sound's David Renshaw said, "Holly Miranda makes nice music, sometimes really pretty, but it doesn’t say anything real or move emotions to anywhere even nearing an extreme."[8]

Many reviews focussed on Dave Sitek's role in producing the album. Ben Schumer, writing for PopMatters, said, "he seems to have carried over that 'cough medicine/Tinkerbell' vibe from his time working with Scarlett Johansson," but added that Miranda "is overwhelmed by her collborators." Schumer also noted that the album sounded too much like a TV on the Radio album.[9] Conversely, Drowned in Sound's David Renshaw commented that "Sitek’s production is impressive throughout and shows a less seen side to his technique."[8]

Verbicide Magazine placed the album at No. 33 on the Top 50 Albums of 2010.[10]

Singles

Promotion

To promote The Magician's Private Library, Miranda released the limited edition EP Sleep on Fire on June 9, 2009. Only 1,000 copies were pressed.[16] Miranda also released an EP titled Choose to See, which included her cover of Yoko Ono's "Nobody Sees Me Like You Do" as well as covers of David Byrne ("Glass, Concrete & Stone"), When in Rome ("The Promise"), Swans ("God Damn the Sun"), and Lauryn Hill ("Ex-Factor") that was included with the purchase of The Magician's Private Library at Rough Trade shops.[17]

Miranda toured as the opening act on Tegan and Sara's US tour.[18] Miranda also toured as a supporting act on the Xx Tour by the xx,[3] the Lungs Tour by Florence and the Machine,[19] and as part of the 2010 Latitude Festival[20] and Super Bock Super Rock festival.

"No One Just Is" was featured in the CW television series Gossip Girl (episode title: Dr. Estrangeloved).

Personnel

Source:[21]

Charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
Belgium Heatseekers (Ultratop Wallonia)[22] 15
U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers[23] 40

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
BelgiumFebruary 19, 2010CD, LP, digital downloadXL Recordings, V2 Records
United KingdomFebruary 22, 2010XL Recordings
United StatesFebruary 23, 2010
GermanyFebruary 26, 2010[24] XL Recordings, Beggars

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Holly Miranda – The Magician's Private Library (CD, Album) at Discogs. Discogs. Zink Media, Inc.. September 4, 2010.
  2. Web site: Music - Holly Miranda - A Young Singer's Newest Transformation - NYTimes.com. August 23, 2010 . Sisario, Ben . February 1, 2010. New York Times.
  3. Web site: Holly Miranda: "It sounded like I was in their heads." . August 20, 2010 . Saxelby, Ruth . November 1, 2009. Dummy Mag . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100612101527/http://dummymag.com/next/2009/11/18/holly-miranda-it-sounded-like-i-was-inside-their-heads-/ . June 12, 2010 .
  4. News: Holly Miranda – The Magician's Private Library (XL) Released 22/02/10. Perlaki. Mark. March 4, 2010. Gigwise.com. August 24, 2010.
  5. News: Holly Miranda Interview – An Interview with Holly Miranda. Carew. Andrew. 2010-02-09. About.com. The New York Times Company. 2010-08-23. May 14, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130514041228/http://altmusic.about.com/od/interviews/a/hollymiranda.htm. dead.
  6. Web site: Holly Miranda Profile at Metacritic.com . August 20, 2010. Metacritic.
  7. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1713242|pure_url=yes}} allmusic (((The Magician's Private Library > Overview)))]. August 20, 2010 . Leahey, Andrew . 2010 . Allmusic.
  8. Web site: Holly Miranda – The Magician's Private Library / Releases / Releases // Drowned in Sound . August 22, 2010 . Renshaw, David . February 1, 2010 . . Silentway . February 21, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100221224501/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/15123/reviews/4139146 . dead .
  9. News: Holly Miranda: The Magician's Private Library < PopMatters. Schumer. Ben. March 8, 2010. PopMatters. PopMatters Media, Inc.. August 24, 2010.
  10. Web site: Verbicide's Top 50 Albums of 2010 . January 9, 2011 . January 2, 2010. Verbicide Magazine.
  11. News: Holly Miranda – Forest Green Oh Forest Green (Vinyl) at Discogs. Discogs. Zink Media, Inc.. August 24, 2010.
  12. Web site: Forest Green Oh Forest Green by Holly Miranda – Releases . August 20, 2010 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20101029141244/http://beggarsgroupusa.com/releases/forest-green-oh-forest-green/ . October 29, 2010 . dead .
  13. Web site: Holly Miranda to release TV On The Radio-produced single and tour – ticket details . August 20, 2010 . April 1, 2010. NME.
  14. Web site: Pitchfork: The Playlist: Holly Miranda – "Waves". August 20, 2010 . Fitzmaurice, Larry . February 3, 2010. Pitchfork Media.
  15. Web site: Holly Miranda 'Waves' free download & tour dates . January 21, 2011 . Brockington, Ryan . February 3, 2010 . . https://archive.today/20120904231305/http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/you_must_know_holly_miranda_jU27i8n4BEQBUAn5wYy9JJ . September 4, 2012 . dead .
  16. Web site: Sleep On Fire by Holly Miranda – Releases . August 20, 2010 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20101028070157/http://beggarsgroupusa.com/releases/sleep-on-fire/ . October 28, 2010 . dead .
  17. News: Holly Miranda – Choose To See EP (CD) at Discogs. Discogs. Zink Media, Inc.. August 24, 2010.
  18. Web site: Q&A With Holly Miranda, Opening for Tegan and Sara This Sunday – Miami Music – Crossfade . August 20, 2010 . Hood, John . February 1, 2010. Miami New Times.
  19. News: Florence & the Machine played Letterman (video) & Bowery Ballroom w/ Holly Miranda (and Nada Surf) – pics & setlist. Birman. Paul. October 2, 2009. Brooklyn Vegan. August 23, 2010.
  20. News: Crystal Castles, The Antlers, Holly Miranda Join Latitude Festival Line-Up. Gregory. Jason. May 2, 2010. Gigwise.com. August 23, 2010.
  21. News: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1713242/credits|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic (((The Magician's Private Library > Credits))) ]. AllMusic. August 25, 2010.
  22. Web site: ultratop.be – Holly Miranda – The Magician's Private Library. Ultratop 50. Hung Medien. September 5, 2010.
  23. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=holly miranda|chart=all}} The Magician's Private Library – Holly Miranda ]. August 20, 2010. Billboard.
  24. Web site: Musicline.de – Miranda, Holly – The Magician's Private Library. Musicline.de. Phononet. de. September 7, 2010.

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