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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Album Of The Year
Universal acclaim
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 18 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Saddle Creek
Release Date: 10 August 2004
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
The Good Life is a side project for Cursive's Tim Kasher, and this third full-length release (following the 'Lovers Need Lawyers' EP) finds him joined by Stefanie Drootin, Ryan Fox and Roger Lewis.
Also By This Artist: Help Wanted Nights
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Cursive: The Ugly Organ
Also On The Web: Saddle Creek Records
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...
Alternative Press
Like most good thematic albums, or films or books, for that matter, it's hard to put the pieces together on Album Of The Year, and just when you think you've got the narrative unraveled, you'll rediscover another lost passage or double entendre. [Sep 2004, p.122]
New Musical Express
Album of the year? It's definitely a contender. [7 Aug 2004, p.49]
All Music Guide
The attention to detail in the production, the punchy melodies, and the sympathetic performances by the group -- along with Kasher's writing that is nothing less than gripping and often head-shakingly brilliant -- make this record an indispensable artifact for anyone who likes indie rock with a real emotional punch.
Read Full Review >Filter
Boldly, magnificently, unabashedly sappy. [#12, p.104]
Delusions of Adequacy
May be his most mature, fully realized offering to date, though not necessarily his most thrilling.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
The songs are instantly welcoming, flickering with enough hope and tenacity to outlast Kasher's heartbreak.
Read Full Review >Junkmedia
[Kasher's] ability to toss off seemingly effortless melodic hooks makes one wonder just what kind of water is in Saddle Creek.
Read Full Review >Blender
Listening to these tales of failing relationships feels like eavesdropping, but it's irresistible. [Sep 2004, p.136]
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Album Of The Year isn't as compact or viscerally exciting as the EP that preceded it, mainly because it's not as loud.
Read Full Review >Playlouder
Yes, there is a lot in the way of failing relationship therapy on here, but when it's done with such eloquence and downright elegance it'd be churlish to treat it with the disrespect more easily afforded to music's legions of professional disenchanteds.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
Allow me to offer some parting advice: just because a record expresses emotion doesn’t make it bad.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
Kasher... wrenches sad-eyed beauty out of slow indie-folk arrangements while eulogizing several affairs. [30 Sep 2004, p.188]
Under The Radar
Album Of The Year is able to sustain a listener for 53 minutes--not necessarily interest, and certainly not to inspire, but sustain. [#7]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.6 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Andy gave it a9:
One of those albums that needs to be heard all the way through to completely understand. The lyrics are probably the best you'll ever hear.
Ben D gave it a9:
An excellent album which is even is even better than Tim Kasher's other band, Cursive. Is it really the album of the year though? Not quite but it is definately up there. There should of been more upbeat songs like "Lovers Need Lawyers".
bianca gave it a10:
i fucking love it. they're music is the kind that you will listen to over and over and over and you still get anxious for that one part of the song. fuck i love them.
Coco E gave it a10:
I love the good life and this album is awsome!
Sara gave it a10:
lovahly
joey r gave it a10:
Tim kasher is the best lyrical man i have ever heard i cant wait to see him on there tour. cursive is also i very very good band. god i love those bands i dont know what to do with myself
jason l gave it a10:
this cd is one of the greatest i have heard in a long while Tim Kasher is amazing anyway. I could listen to this cd forever and not get tired of it. It's just that grand.
