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100

Junkmedia

Although Lost and Safe would be a crowning achievement for any band, The Books show no sign of running out of beautiful musical ideas to convey.

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Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

But though this may be pretension, it's also delight, strange and humorous verbally and aurally.

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Prefix Magazine

The addition of vocals may initially turn off some, but in time the new style melds with the old, much in the same way that what has come before sits comfortably next to what is yet to come throughout this forty-two minute album.

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All Music Guide

From the songwriting to the production to the performance, the whole package that the Books present with Lost and Safe works wonderfully and makes for a very rewarding listen.

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Urb

They posses a talent for identifying the raw, emotive aspects of sound and speech in random statements and simple chord progressions. [Apr 2005, p.101]

Almost Cool

There are times where the release feels like a transitional effort, yet it also contains some of the best songs that they've ever done.

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Lost At Sea

Here more than ever, the songs come before the samples; while the samples and sounds still accompany everything, they are now more like a third band member than leading player. This gives The Books a newfound depth of subtlety.

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ShakingThrough.net

Lost and Safe is an expression of two artists who are neither lost nor playing it safe.

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cokemachineglow

Lost and Safe removes much of the chaotic elements of its predecessors, substituting a more focused, and therefore cohesive approach to their cut-and-paste style.

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Billboard

The more cohesive undercurrents of "Lost and Safe" might display a formidable sense of growth for the band, but hardcore fans of the band's past work might be a little taken aback by the album's more direct approach. Nevertheless, these guys remain at the bleeding edge of pop innovation, even if it is more hummable than you'd expect.

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Playlouder

The Books make the incongruous harmonious, the silly sensitive and the complex easy to understand. 'Lost And Safe' will sweep you up into an aural world where, for once, beauty and humour co-exist.

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Dusted Magazine

Not entirely dissimilar to their previous efforts, but it features the duo tweaking their sound in subtle ways that make for an affecting, if not drastic, tangent.

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The Wire

This decidedly literate songcraft has a range of ancestors, including Talking Heads, Sparks and David Grubbs, but three albums along, The Books are nailing down a distinctive soundworld of their own. [#254, p.54]

No Ripcord

There's such an embarrassment of riches in Lost and Safe.

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Stylus Magazine

The Books have toned down the weird, smoothed down the edges, and created their most homogenous record yet. Lucky for us, the homogenous version of The Books is still probably ten times more interesting than your favorite band at their most creative.

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Q Magazine

Three albums in the air of quirky, mad-scientific investigation is now a constant. [May 2005, p.121]

Tiny Mix Tapes

Though the experience of these songs are much easier to digest than their previous releases, Nick and Paul are still creatively pushing themselves with this album.

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Pitchfork

Most of Lost and Safe is pleasant enough but not much more.

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Uncut

Lost And Safe is a move songwards, and though this promises greater coherence, it's at the expense of some of the group's wayward charm. [May 2005, p.97]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Ethan Z gave it a9:
Challenging and interesting, with several moments of stunning loveliness. Zamuto's voice, accompanying and harmonizing with samples, ties them into the fabric of the music, helping ensure it doesn't sound like cut and paste, but like a complex tapestry of sound. "Headpone music", in the best sense of the term.

S nilsen gave it a9:
Could be The Books best yet. If you liked the previous two and cna hear the genius then you shouldn't hesitate, they do take it up and over a notch.

kevin w gave it a10:
this is amazing music.... i am glad he sings in this one. it adds a new layer... plus its all so fucking deep, and the music is so technical, love it.

matt a gave it a5:
honestly, not impressed. "Cut and Paste" really is the perfect description for this music-totally disjointed and lacking both melody and harmony. My assessment of the album may be a little unfair because I was expecting something like the Notwist or Mouse on Mars but got something totally different (and completely inferior). Gets a few points for some neat electronic stuff and a few good tracks, but as whole, disappointing

trickykd gave it a10:
A gem of a record... Ballsy, abrasive and overwhelmingly adictive...

alicia b gave it a10:
such pretty music.

Adam H gave it an8:
It's hard for me to comment on the relative merits of the different Books recordings -- I love them all for different reasons. What amazes me is how much I groove on Lost and Safe despite the un-surprise of it. This is not a novelty album, or one of passing interest, but a recording to listen to over a number of years (or so I think after a few weeks).

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