Absent Friends
by The Divine Comedy
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Gorgeous, grotto-fabulous chamber pop. [14 May 2004, p.71]
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  2. Under The Radar
    90
    If you appreciate intelligent and literate lyrics, and are not put off by theatrical orchestration in your pop songs, then this is as good a Divine Comedy album as any to immerse yourself in the considerable talents of Neil Hannon. [#7]
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  3. AllMusic
    90
    It ranks high among his finest albums.
  5. Dot Music
    80
    It’s pretty much all fantastic.
  6. The Guardian
    80
    It's quite something - all the more given that he's now a one-man operation - and merits attention as much for its ludicrousness as anything.
  7. PopMatters
    80
    While he's still as self-absorbed as he's always been, shifting tenses has loosened Hannon up and in turn inspired one of the best albums he's made to date.
  8. Filter
    80
    While Hannon's aesthetic/literary weltanschauung is rather haughty, it succeeds by sheer force of intellect and style. [#11, p.95]
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  9. Magnet
    80
    His deft handling of the pop-song idiom makes even these smaller-scale songs soar. [#64, p.89]
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  10. Mojo
    80
    His songwriting has rarely sounded so acute. [Apr 2004, p.109]
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  11. Pitchfork
    78
    Absent Friends isn't my favorite Divine Comedy record (Fin de Siecle, actually), but it is an excellent record, and one that seems more likely to appeal to non-fans than his more ostentatious outings.
  12. Blender
    70
    His wisest and warmest record yet. [#27, p.136]
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  13. Uncut
    70
    The best record he's made since 1996's Casanova, it's one of those rare instances when an artist retraces their steps and successfully locates what made them interesting in the first place. [May 2004, p.102]
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  14. Q Magazine
    70
    Another beautifully scored Divine Comedy album that sounds a bit like Scott Walker and a lot like the last one. [May 2004, p.102]
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  15. Splendid
    60
    By the time "Our Mutual Friend"'s symphonic percussion and hammering cellos reach their crashing apex, the album begins to feel a little like the fourth consecutive hour at a well-stocked party full of musical theater majors.
  16. Tiny Mix Tapes
    50
    Pleasant but unmoving.
  17. Logo
    40
    Patchy at best.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. allisonm
    Feb 7, 2005
    10
    came across this very late but love love it..
  2. JesseS
    Oct 25, 2004
    7
    Somewhere in between the cheesy ("Come Home Billy Bird") and the sadly immaculate drama-ridden & clever ("Our Mutual Friend") we have a Somewhere in between the cheesy ("Come Home Billy Bird") and the sadly immaculate drama-ridden & clever ("Our Mutual Friend") we have a generally good effort from his Divine Hannon. His most Scott Walker-ish homage. Perhaps.… Full Review »
  3. as
    Jul 8, 2004
    7
    good cd, BUT copy protected - and small print on cover says may not play on car cd players - i'm not impressed, as thats where I play good cd, BUT copy protected - and small print on cover says may not play on car cd players - i'm not impressed, as thats where I play most of my cds.… Full Review »
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