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...

100

Mojo

A musical odyssey across a real and imagined landscape of mountains and cities, dreams and memories. [May 2005, p.95]

100

The Guardian

The air of two songwriters on rare form, confidently challenging each other to greater heights, is inescapable.

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100

Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

Robert's songs more tuneful in their maturity, Grant's more atmospheric, they punch 'em all up to make a stronger impression than on their comeback album.

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100

Stylus Magazine

Finally--a Go-Betweens album with the clarinet solos, harmonies, programmed drums, and splendor this band needs. Oceans Apart really sounds bright yellow and bright orange.

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Entertainment Weekly

They remain one of rock's most pleasurable hand-me-down discoveries. [29 Apr 2005, p.148]

Dot Music

The quintessential much-loved cult band, they’ve yet to make an album their fans didn’t adore, but the good news is that “Oceans Apart” is one of their finest.

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Spin

Though it's more of a mash-up of two solo EPs than an album, we're just lucky these guys still bump into each other. [May 2005, p.105]

ShakingThrough.net

If 2000's The Friends of Rachel Worth was a tentative warm-up and 2002's Bright Yellow, Bright Orange a encouraging but inconsistent workout, Oceans Apart is the sound of two artists hitting a self-assured and motivated stride.

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Uncut

The band sounds re-energised by an idea of the city, the marketplace, pop ambition. [May 2005, p.102]

Q Magazine

There are songs here that count among the best they've made. [May 2005, p.119]

All Music Guide

With its imagination, startling creativity, and sheer pop soul, Oceans Apart is the first great Go-Betweens' record of the 21st century.

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Blender

The album is wonderfully cohesive. [May 2005, p.119]

Dusted Magazine

Oceans Apart is the album that fans have been waiting for, the one that brings back the flawless production of their early releases and the cynical/idealistic tradeoff in Forster and McLennan’s songwriting.

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Junkmedia

[A] sonic sheen (and the punchy rhythm section) gives the songs an immediacy that the previous reunion records have lacked.

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Lost At Sea

This is it, folks - this is the Go-Betweens album you’ve been waiting since the joyous news of their reunion. Oceans Apart captures the lushness of their earlier works, the separate-yet-complementary songwriting beauty of Forster and McLennan and their ability to paint the doldrums in charming pastels.

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Magnet

Their best record since reuniting. [#68, p.95]

Pitchfork

Yet as awkward as they sometimes sound, the Go-Betweens are still writing consistently gorgeous pop songs, and Oceans Apart proves they aren't content simply pleasing their most die-hard fans; they're back to making albums that, in a better world, appeal to everyone.

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Alternative Press

Full of beautifully manicured pop that's often atmospheric and always dramatic, though it certainly wouldn't have hurt to toss in a few truly memorable choruses. [Jun 2005, p.164]

No Ripcord

As far as the songs go, there’s not a bad apple in the bunch. And some, like Lavender and its wonderful one-note melody, or No Reason to Cry and its breezy vocals, are really terrific. But oooooh, the cheese in that sound.

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Village Voice

McLennan's guitar enlivens even Forster's sketchier contributions ("Mountains Near Dellray" is a complete enigma); his own writing is harder to get behind.

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Rolling Stone

Newcomers will hear a seductively pretty indie-pop record, while their still-ballooning cult can marvel at the sound of their iridescent melodies turning autumn-gold.

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Austin Chronicle

Oceans laps upbeat and crisp, like winter in the Hamptons, a sleigh ride to 16 Lovers Lane.

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cokemachineglow

The strategy is the same: start with a basic, inoffensive and unambitious melody, repeat it over and over again, toss on a few scatting horns (between three and five notes only, please, and let’s keep dissonance to a minimum) and whatever other trinkets are in the studio, and voila! An instantly forgettable pop breeze.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 39 User Votes

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

Peter B gave it a7:
Some great songs (Grant's in particular) let down by horrible sound quality - limited and compressed. Newer copies sound less distorted but still grim. Shame.

Glenn D gave it a6:
Top class tunes let down by poor lyrics. Which s odd, given their reputation. Perfect example - Lavender

Dusty L gave it a9:
It's now been reissued and remastered so the sound is better - clearer, warmer and no distortion. Goes from a previous steady 7 rating to a glorious 9! There's only one bad song ('This Night's for you') the rest are good to great.

Tyler X gave it a6:
Finally got around to listening to one of their reunion albums. I wasn't thrilled or disappointed with Oceans Apart because I knew it wouldn't be as good as the songs collected on Bellavista Terrace. Here Comes a City would be better if it was split into different songs - the music excites and the lryics seem to depress. Finding You has a good match with its lyrics and music - it just not that great - might grow on me. Born to a Family is one of my favorites, but it is a little shallow and simple, I think it could have been more. No Reason to Cry is very good, but I've never been to Lisbon or stayed in a black hotel. Boundary Rider is alright, sounds like Americana alt-country. Darlinghurst Nights - this song isn't good. I think they might have been going for a improvisational jazz-like track punched up with some rock n roll, but it just doesn't sound good. And the lyrics are perhaps too self indulgent, but it fits in with beats-go-rock feel. Lavender - forgettable. The Statue - odd vocal mix. This Night's for You has a decent chorus. The Mountains Near Dellray, and the album fades out. I was eager to listen to the first 'side' again, but utimately if I get this album it will just sit idle behind their eighties albums.

James R gave it a10:
Don't listen to David M, this is the best cd of the year so far. Not a dud on the whole cd, just a stellar group of songs.

David M gave it a6:
Not bad...but plays it oh so safe, even for pop. Good for neutral moments when you don't care what you're listening too, but hardly something you'll turn to for inspiration. Simple in concept and execution and seriously overrated considering the many fine, superior albums it's presently rated higher than on megacritic.

mike s gave it a9:
A very solid effort, i enjoyed the the cd the whole way through

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Oceans Apart

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