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No Ripcord

Dignity and Shame is just another day in the world-weary lovelorn characters that Bachmann has so vividly brought to life for the past five years with his Crooked Fingers entourage.

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Lost At Sea

As with other Crooked Fingers albums, Bachmann’s stories really command most of our attention here, and they serve to elevate his songs beyond just being clever pastiches of pop music.

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Spin

These songs are both sturdier and more complex. [Mar 2005, p.92]

ShakingThrough.net

Rather than leaning on his appealingly gruff Neil Diamond pipes to articulate personal stories of drunkenness and hardscrabble redemption, Bachmann takes a more imaginative approach here.

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Billboard

His voice has thankfully improved from record to record; like grain alcohol, it's gruff and eye-opening, well-suited for Crooked Fingers' pop-folk tangents.

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Dusted Magazine

A dramatic, often fascinating work, it inspires repeated and careful listening, and stands alongside the best of Bachmann’s work.

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Alternative Press

An engaging disc. [Mar 2005, p.122]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

An album to stand with his Archers best.

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Junkmedia

It's easily the artist's most cohesive, polished work.

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PopMatters

If Bachmann officially solidified his place in modern song with Red Devil Dawn, then Dignity and Shame lodges that place in cement for posterity.

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Stylus Magazine

His pieces match open, lovely music with lyrics depicting people in struggle.... Individual songs take on various moods, but the album never dips fully to the bleak.

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Splendid

Dignity and Shame is sparse and vulnerable, showcasing nothing but Bachmann's bittersweet musings and his deep growl of a voice. It is by no means a unique album, but it's an effective one.

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Urb

Finds [Bachmann] in a maudlin mood. [Apr 2005, p.108]

Under The Radar

Another solid release to add to Bachmann's catalogue. [#9]

Austin Chronicle

While the concept fails to stand up over the album's narrative arc, the songwriting is solid as ever, and Bachmann and [Lara] Meyerratken's combined voices will soothe even the angriest beast.

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Pitchfork

Regrettably, no other song here has a lyric nearly as compelling as "Andalucia"-- a major flaw for what is essentially a pedal steel-enhanced singer/songwriter album.

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Rolling Stone

Bachmann employs his band sparingly as he rambles on in his trademark croak and empties the ashtray of his brain.

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Uncut

The strident approach... doesn't quite work. [Jul 2005, p.100]

All Music Guide

It wants terribly to be an important record, but its songs are merely good.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

Absolutely the least offensive record you will probably not hear this year.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.3 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes

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

zack gave it a10:
i love this album. the best of the crooked fingers. this is a definate buy especially if you like indie rock with a little twist to it. i also recogmend neutral milk hotel, the mountain goats, and the shins if you like this kind of music.

B P gave it a10:
Took a chance from the used bin, and now I feel like I've discovered gold! I can't stop listening to this great disc!

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
A beautifully crafted album of bitersweet love stories.

e. b. gave it a9:
I've been listening to this album non-stop ever since I got it and that was an advanced copy two months ago.

B. gave it a9:
Bachman moves in a decidedly different direction on the followe up to Red Devil Dawn. The pop hooks are more plentiful as is the occasional rock out. Nonetheless, this is vintage crooked fingers; heartfelt, poignent lyrics telling tales of bachmann's white trash heroes. Only this time, there seems to be a bit more hope than in the past.

Chris K gave it a9:
If you enjoyed the sounds of Red Devil Dawn but maybe if the album was a little more uplifting, you would probably enjoy this gem.

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