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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Promise Of Love
EMAILPRINTby American Analog Set
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 8 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Tiger Style
Release Date: 17 June 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
The Austin, Texas-based drone-pop qunitet--known to friends and reviewers as AmAnSet--returns with their fifth LP.
Also By This Artist: Set Free
Also On The Web: Tiger Style
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Magnet
What's miraculous about Promise Of Love is the way the band instills the music with such incredible warmth. [#59, p.85]
Flak Magazine
AmAnSet's output is predictable, delivering what the Austin, Texas, group does best: floating melodies and whispered vocals in songs about you and me and now, all the things that came between us.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
They may not aim to change the world, but it couldn't hurt if a few more people were exposed to music as subtly accomplished as that found on Promise of Love.
Read Full Review >Mojo
Promise of Love's cyclical episodes unravel at an amenable mid-pace, each one allowed just enough time to establish a mood bfore halting as over-familiarity threatens. [Jul 2003, p.101]
Alternative Press
Narcotic, hypnotic and quietly cerebral, it's more satisfying and less elusive. [Jul 2003, p.112]
Blender
Somehow the emotions bleed through, raw as hell. [#17, p.132]
Splendid
AmAnSet gives us dance music that's perfect to sit down and listen to, opening an imaginary club in our heads.
Read Full Review >Delusions of Adequacy
Anyone who’s familiar with The American Analog Set knows what to expect and won’t be disappointed by this album.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
Promise Of Love is chock-full of pretty, melancholic music. In other words money well spent.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
It's the simple beauty that overwhelms here. [Sep 2003, p.98]
Uncut
While nothing new, a hypnotic hum and gently insistent melody sees them through. [Aug 2003, p.102]
The Wire
Initially sounds nothing special but gradually crawls into your subconscious and sets up home. [#233, p.72]
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Promise Of Love has a leftover-ish feel, especially coming on the heels of the accessible, eclectic Know By Heart, but the Texas lounge-rock group remains pleasantly listenable.
Read Full Review >Spin
A little rockier, a little slower, and a little less transporting. [Jul 2003, p.110]
All Music Guide
The changes are so minute and the record so unassuming and melody free that it is really hard to care about the band anymore.
Read Full Review >Junkmedia
And though the album is full of promising leads and sharp-witted initiative, it's hard to shake the feeling that this album is a collection of unfinished ideas, presented with no pretensions to the contrary.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle
Promise never runs out of steam or succumbs to laziness, but it's never as engaging as it should be, either.
Read Full Review >Dusted Magazine
Promise Of Love would be a good joint, by indie rock standards, if the passive-aggressive everyschmuck ex-girlfriend mixed-tape staples on the latter half didn’t suck so badly.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Daniel F gave it a10:
Subtle, shimmering, and breathtakingly gorgeuos chillout reflection music.
cuss daddy gave it a 9:
it's such a jam...back to their roots, see? you think you do, but you don't...you really don't.
Julie W gave it a 10:
AmAnSet has somehow topped their amazing full length "know by heart", I have no idea how they did it. Promis of love is so extremely lush and softly inviting, yet poppy and satisfying. Andrew kenny's voice is stronger and sexier than its ever been, its like hes standing only feet away from you. Perfect summer time jams, a must for any kid who considers themselves an indie lover.
adam g gave it a 10:
This is by far their best album to date. The songs are just perfect. Andrew Kenney's vocals are angel-like and the rhythm is tighter than ever. I highly recommend this.
Nick S gave it a 6:
This album is kind of a throwback. It goes back more to from our living room to yours and the fun of watching fireworks than off of Updatez EP or Know by Heart. After hearing the song These Days and the single track from promise of love (hard to find) i thought I figured out where this album was going, but I was wrong, and I'm disappointed. I'm only giving it 6 out of 10 because I'm a big fan, and I really like the song Hard to Find.
