i think this is definitely one of those cases where the following album makes it's predecessor completely defunct.

I mean, it has some great songs on it and a number of superb moments, but there's plenty of gash as well. Some of the lyrical segments are just embarrassing, hopelessly clumsy and pathetically twee (not that tweeness is absent from Ys obvz). And a lot of songs in general are a little bit uninspired in terms of lyrical content and themes. It's all a bit immature really

Plus the voice.. it's so girlish and chirpy, far more so than Ys - I can really understand the criticisms levelled against her where i couldn't before. And bear this in mind: before i'd heard Ys i really loved TMEM. I could hear problems with it but i certainly thought it was better than i do now

Basically, i could never truly love someone who thinks The Milk-Eyed Mender is better than Ys. And that is that