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And Their Refinement Of The Decline
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  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
And Their Refinement Of The Decline Image
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 103 Ratings

  • Summary: The Austin-based duo releases its first new album in six years.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Sputnikmusic
    100
    This album is a swirl of pure emotions and grandiosity, but is never overbearing, never feeling like anything more than your own personal score. Thus, it’s completely brilliant.
  2. Tiny Mix Tapes
    100
    I can confidently say that this is some of the most astonishingly beautiful music being made today.
  3. musicOMH.com
    100
    It is also one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful albums that I have heard since its predecessor.
  4. 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.
  5. Stylus Magazine
    83
    The listener who comes away from the two-hour experience of …And Their Refinement of Decline without becoming a bit misty at least once is too hardened for my friendship.
  6. 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.
  7. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    42
    This two-hour double-CD/triple-LP, their first product since 2001, is grand, somber, amelodic, arhythmic and slow, leaving plenty of time to admire the notes' altered states.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 69
  3. Negative: 17 out of 69
  1. MattD
    Apr 21, 2008
    10
    Perhaps the most important music being made today.... Stars of the Lid could just bridge the gap between classical and pop music.
  2. JohnH.
    Dec 13, 2007
    10
    This is possibly the most beautiful music I have heard this year. This album is a subtle, yet powerful hybrid between modern classical and This is possibly the most beautiful music I have heard this year. This album is a subtle, yet powerful hybrid between modern classical and ambient music. Granted, this type of music is not for everyone, especially since people these days are always looking for instant gratification (i.e. MTV/ radio), and never seem to have enough to time to slow down and enjoy the latent complexities in life. The drone-based songs are melancholy yet soothing, and perfect for accompanying the more meditative and reflective moments in life. It took me weeks of listening to understand this album, but now stars of the lid are one of my favorite bands. So I encourage people to listen beneath the surface, and most of all be patient when trying to understand this album. You won… Expand
  4. Bezet
    Jul 4, 2011
    10
    This is one of my favourite albums of all time. "Even If You're Never Awake" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. People givingThis is one of my favourite albums of all time. "Even If You're Never Awake" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. People giving this album negative reviews because it is a "bunch of random tones slowly fading in and out" should educate themselves on drone and ambient music; it's like giving a negative score to Metallica because "there is too much of electric guitars and shouting" or to 2Pac, because "his music is just talking over a beat".… Expand
  5. powell
    Nov 16, 2007
    9
    cue backlash.
  6. blahblah
    Dec 17, 2007
    7
    Stars of the Lid still hold a neat position between refined, tasteful ambient and classical instrumentation and composition; and on this Stars of the Lid still hold a neat position between refined, tasteful ambient and classical instrumentation and composition; and on this record they seem to be leaning further over to the latter. With this in mind I hope this is yet another step in a sound that has been slowly evolving for a decade. There's some soul-crushingly beautiful music on this disc but they could do with cutting it down a bit on to one CD - it doesn't manage to get away with it like Tired Sounds did because it's not so "continuous" and dreamy as that release.… Collapse
  7. 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 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.… Expand
  8. MartyM.
    Dec 8, 2007
    0
    If you'd like to hear the next stars of the lid album, lie down next to your fridge for about 50 minutes complete rubbish.

See all 69 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

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

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