Tom Moriarity - Fire in the Dolls House (Album Review)
Monday, 09 May 2011
Written by Craig Willis
I begin this review with a confession. I can hardly contain my excitement about this next album - 'Fire in the Dolls House' by Tom Moriarty.
At first his name intrigued me, Moriarty being the name of Sherlock Holmes' nemesis, obviously. Then I popped it in the cd player and with just a few plucks of the guitar I knew this was going to be good. Right from the start, with the title track great things just start to snowball, just when you're thinking this guy is clearly a great guitarist, the vocals come soaring through and you're taken back again. And what a voice, somewhere in between the Ray LaMontagne and a softer Tom Waits, Moriarty's vocals and some how gruff and smooth at the same time. Like butter on gravel!
As the album goes on there is lots of musical range with Moriarty not only showing his romantic side with tracks such as 'Stay With Me Tonight', a Dylan-esq number that just shows this guys musical diversity. He also shows us his cheeky, rebellious side an this album particularly on the track 'Smile if you Wanna Get High”, which is the lead single from this album. Other highlights include the track 'Life's a Mystery' which sound like Moriarty channelling folk legend Richard Thompson.
Ian Grimble is on producing duty and has done a bang up job. He has worked his magic in the past for bands such as Mumford & Sons, KT Tunstall and even the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, so has he done the same for Tom Moriarty? For me, yes. The album also carries a bit of musical heritage being recorded and mastered at Abbey Road.
It's hard to believe that Mr Moriarty once worked in the big bad city, in the financial district somewhere. But thankfully for us, he had enough of “the man” and returned to music. Apparently the Music Institute in LA had marked Moriarty as destined for big things. Well that was a few years ago now but sometimes destiny takes her time. Finally, with this album I believe Tom Moriarty is on the road to musical greatness.
This is a superb example of singer - songwriter music at its very best. I just hope that someday I get to see this guy live because I just know that he would be amazing.
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Right from the start, with the title track great things just start to snowball, just when you're thinking this guy is clearly a great guitarist, the vocals come soaring through and you're taken back again. And what a voice, somewhere in between the Ray LaMontagne and a softer Tom Waits, Moriarty's vocals and some how gruff and smooth at the same time. Like butter on gravel!
