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Prefix Magazine

Tears of the Valedictorian is an incredibly dense record and may take several passes before you can even begin to peel away its layers. That sense of rigor, though, is what makes it so arresting.

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All Music Guide

One listen to Tears of the Valedictorian confirms the group's uncanny talent for creating manic, beautiful and upsetting songs that seem to exist wholly for themselves.

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Sputnikmusic

Tears of the Valedictorian is easily one of the best records of the year.

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Pitchfork

Tears of the Valedictorian is Frog Eyes' first substantial advance since 2003's The Golden River.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

Tears of the Valedictorian works on so many levels. It adds another hefty, colorful cornea to the Frog Eyes spazz gallery, for one. It also takes a step toward streamlining their sound, which may, in the wrong hands, be considered a faulty premise, but let me assure you, it isn’t; this recording is crystal-clear but far from diamond-decadence.

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Under The Radar

This album sees Frog Eyes as a band fully realized. [#17, p.85]

NOW Magazine

Tears Of The Valedictorian is the band in top form, with Spencer Krug binding meandering tales of post-postmodernist artistic anxiety with wiry keyboards that echo Mercer's morphing vocals.

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Stylus Magazine

It is simultaneously the most resplendent, accomplished record the band has made, with all kinds of songs... that retain the worst, most self-indulgent aspects of one of underground rock’s most consistently imperfect bands.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Tears Of The Valedictorian may be Frog Eyes' most accessible album, if only because Mercer sings as much as he yelps, and pulls back the reins on the band's thrashy, bashy art-folk long enough to let some melody creep in.

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Spin

Valedictorian frequently collides with bracing beauty, sometimes of the of the conventional sort, but more often like nothing else before it. [May 2007, p.85]

No Ripcord

Lovers of schizo-rock will have plenty to revel in.

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PopMatters

Before, the most crazed cacophony could impossibly capitulate into swooning grandeur, but now that disparity just isn’t so striking. The dynamic is still in play, but with the edges rounded off, any tension is diminished.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes

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

sean d gave it an8:
not as great as either the folded palm or the golden river but a very awesome record and they have an awesome consistant sound which i usually hate in bands but i love in this band

David V gave it a9:
My favorite this year. I am not giving it ten stars because there is a song that, if ommitted, would have made the album a lot better. Favorites: Bushels, "Stockades," Reform Your Countryside

Amortortak gave it a10:
The Krug/Bejar/Mercer triumvirate is the best thing going in indie rock these days. Sure this record can sound like a pointless squall of noise before you've figured it out, but that's kinda why it's so great...the rewards to figuring it out are considerable. I can't think of a better song than "Bushels".

Paul C gave it a2:
This album sounds like what would happen if you played three Bowie albums at once. I can't take much of it without wanting to make ch-ch-ch-changes to an album that is actually good.

Erik H gave it a9:
To Byron W: Spencer Krug is also in Frog Eyes, he just isn't the lead singer. Do your research. Short insult for nothing.

Matt K gave it a1:
This album, although unique, sounds like garbage - too many noises all at once. I just listened to it and I never want to listen to it again, hence the rating of 1. I gave it a point for being unique, but other than that it has nothing going for it.

Shaneequa J gave it a10:
It sounds messy at first, but after a few listens, Tears of the Valedictorian grows on you and becomes an amazing experience.

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