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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Dark Night Of The Soul
EMAILPRINTby Danger Mouse And Sparklehorse
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 10 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Self-released
Release Date: 02 June 2009
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock, Indie
Summary
Originally, the album was to be released with a book of photographs by director David Lynch and vocals by such artists as The Flaming Lips, Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys, Jason Lytle, the Strokes' Julian Casablancas, Frank Black, Iggy Pop, the Shins' James Mercer, Suzanne Vega, Vic Chestnut, The Cardigans' Nina Persson, and David Lynch.
Also On The Web: Official Album Site Official Artist Site (Danger Mouse) Official Artist Site (Sparklehorse)
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...
PopMatters
Few contemporary pop albums have spoken to the human condition so eloquently, and given the listener so much pleasure in the process, than Dark Night of the Soul.
Read Full Review >Lost At Sea
It's a shame if Dark Night of the Soul ends up relegated to a cult souvenir; it's truly exceptional as music.
Read Full Review >Slant Magazine
Albums like this are a reminder that we've perhaps lost something in the digital age. If it's true that we're the ones fumbling in the dark with rain falling over our heads, Dark Night is, at the very least, one bright ray of hope.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
Dark Night is a well-sequenced and unique album that ingeniously balances its contributors' strengths with the overall theme of the work--self-examination, often under stark circumstances, in the interest of understanding one's own existence.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
It's engrossing and organic in a way other all-star drive-by projects rarely are.
Read Full Review >No Ripcord
As it stands, there is a lot to like here and a lot to digest. One advantage to having so many vocalists is that each song can be separated and dealt with accordingly, giving the record the sort of film soundtrack feel I think the principle authors were aiming for. Other than that, this unburdens Sparklehorse fans slightly of the wait between albums by providing a mainly interesting and, at times, genuinely moving distraction.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
For all the celebrity firepower, however, Dark Night Of The Soul never quite adds up to more than a handful of great moments. [Aug 2009, p.111]
Uncut
Dark Night Of The Soul will probably be remembered more for the stunt with the blank CD-Rs than for the music intended to be burnt onto them.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
Most of the songs play like invertebrate retreads of Flaming Lips and Grandaddy-styled pomp. [Summer 2009, p.65]
Dusted Magazine
It’s a project with too many authors and not enough personality, too many ideas and not enough meaning.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
[Anonymous] gave it a6:
Generally good songs with little lasting power.
V T gave it a9:
Quite unique and just great!
danny s. gave it a9:
This is a beautiful combination of efforts grounded by Lynch, SH & DM... exactly what you would hope for from this crew.
Kory M. gave it a10:
Simply, one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. It will be a d@mn shame if this piece of art never sees the light of day. NPR has had a stream up for at least a month...listen while you can.
Felipe R. gave it a10:
Awesome album!
Slobodan R. gave it a9:
Beautiful.
