And Their Refinement Of The Decline
by Stars Of The Lid
  • Record Label: Kranky
  • Release Date: Apr 7, 2007
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 103 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 103
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 103
  3. Negative: 23 out of 103

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  1. BlakeBlake
    Jan 5, 2008
    4
    Yeah its pretty, but how much pretty can a person take?
  2. TommyA.
    Nov 19, 2007
    6
    This album is exceedingly average, even for its nature as a 2-hour drone piece. It's beautiful, it's peaceful, it's warm, yes; however, it is not special enough to warrant the perfect ratings it is receiving. Also, it has been done before; look at Fripp & Eno's 1973 album No P.ssyfooting. The Stars of the Lid album serves a purpose, but it simply is not exceptional This album is exceedingly average, even for its nature as a 2-hour drone piece. It's beautiful, it's peaceful, it's warm, yes; however, it is not special enough to warrant the perfect ratings it is receiving. Also, it has been done before; look at Fripp & Eno's 1973 album No P.ssyfooting. The Stars of the Lid album serves a purpose, but it simply is not exceptional enough to warrant an album-of-the-year award or any such level of acclaim. It is not exceptional enough to lift it that far above any other drone album of its type.… Expand
  3. IanM.
    Nov 21, 2007
    4
    Wow, this album makes The Field sound like the Chemical Brothers. Can't tell one song from the next.
  4. AndrewC
    Nov 26, 2007
    4
    This is good music for a snooze. As for it's genius, the critics need to stop being pretentious idiots and take the music for what it is rather than what is viewed as hip.
  5. J.K.
    Nov 17, 2007
    5
    By the numbers new age ambiance with a compulsively depressive bend. All of the incredibly simple, inoffensive and slow moving compositions offer little in the way of dynamism, depth or progression. The song titles are actually more interesting than the songs themselves. Perfect listening for those quiet nights when you need a little help falling asleep.
  6. PaulC
    Jan 23, 2008
    6
    I found this to be pleasant album, the kind of thing you can have on in the background and no one will complain, and one or two people might even inquire as to who the artist is. It's like frosting on a cake, but how much of it can you eat before you want something more substantive. This album, along with Burial and The Field, is vastly overrated by critics. Spoon, Arcade Fire, The I found this to be pleasant album, the kind of thing you can have on in the background and no one will complain, and one or two people might even inquire as to who the artist is. It's like frosting on a cake, but how much of it can you eat before you want something more substantive. This album, along with Burial and The Field, is vastly overrated by critics. Spoon, Arcade Fire, The National and probably 10 other bands put out albums better than this in 2007, and yet for some reason this is the fourth best album of 2007. Five years from now this will not be an album you are still listening to with any sort of frequency; it will simply be useless space on your iPod. This is a good, not great album, and there are a lot of better artists to support both financially and critically.… Expand
  7. JeremyF
    Nov 22, 2007
    5
    I will be the first to admit that, in this genre, this album is flawless. Perfectly orchestrated drones and washing soundscapes. However, this is hardly a listenable album. At over 2 hours long, the album begins to literally drone, and become tedious. Some songs go on for 3 or more minutes too long, such as the 8-minute pieces and up. I did enjoy "Apreludes in c sharp major" and "A I will be the first to admit that, in this genre, this album is flawless. Perfectly orchestrated drones and washing soundscapes. However, this is hardly a listenable album. At over 2 hours long, the album begins to literally drone, and become tedious. Some songs go on for 3 or more minutes too long, such as the 8-minute pieces and up. I did enjoy "Apreludes in c sharp major" and "A Meaningful Moment...," because they are simply beautiful. They are the only two I can sit and voluntarily listen to. All the others serve measly as background music. And actually, they're perfect for background music. You don't need to listen to them. However, this does not make for utter perfection like all too many critics are saying. I give it a 10 for minimalistic perfection, and ambience, and I give it a 3 for musical/listenable quality. Not bad, but definitely not half as good as everyone is saying.… Expand
  8. DorksH
    Dec 28, 2007
    4
    Excellent music to fall asleep to. Not much more though. I guess people who like their music really, really slow, yet disturbingly dissonant at times, should give it a listen. At the end of cd1 I'm wondering how it would sound at double or triple speed.

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best Album of 2007
46
#46 Most Discussed Album of 2007
65
#65 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. AllMusic
    90
    It's an awesome thing, this album, and anyone, virtually anyone who encounters it will be in some way moved by the impure music it contains.
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  2. Almost Cool
    85
    Call it music for lucid dreaming, call it music for daydreams, or call it music for simply strolling in the dusk, this is another album that will stretch time and take you to another place.
    Read full review
  3. cokemachineglow
    82
    If nothing else, Stars of the Lid have achieved Adam's goal of making music "to really relax to," abjectly defying intent listening, laying waste to the established vocabulary of music production and appreciation.
    Read full review
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