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Zero 7
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Half Smiles Of The Decomposed
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 16 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Matador
Release Date: 24 August 2004
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
After 20 years and over 20 albums, Dayton, Ohio's Guided By Voices (led throughout its duration by Robert Pollard) is calling it quits with this final release.
Also By This Artist: Earthquake Glue Isolation Drills Suitcase 2: American Superdream Wow Suitcase: Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft Universal Truths And Cycles
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Robert Pollard: From A Compound Eye Robert Pollard: Normal Happiness
Also On The Web: GbV @ Matador Official Artist Site
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...
cokemachineglow
As a pure, balls-out rock n' roll record, Half Smiles of the Decomposed is certianly on par with the likes of Isolation Drills and Universal Truths and Cycles.
Read Full Review >Filter
It's ultimately a pop album, reflective and thoughtful, and these songs are just that: songs. [#12, p.97]
PopMatters
In essence Half Smiles of the Decomposed is more overloaded with ideas and styles than any other recent Guided by Voices album, yet the songs still hold together cohesively and the album actually gains in depth from the variety.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
A more pop-oriented approach, with acoustic textures and melancholic tendencies that recall some of the band's finer work. [#7]
New Musical Express
The best Guided By Voices album yet. [28 Aug 2004, p.57]
ShakingThrough.net
True to form, there's a fair amount of unexploded duds mixed in with the direct hits.
Read Full Review >Delusions of Adequacy
Those whose expected Pollard to bow out in a blaze of lo-fi glory will be sorely disappointed, but true fans will recognize just how well the mid-fi approach suits Pollard.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
Like many of the band's best, it's packed to bursting with sometimes inscrutable pleasures. [16 Sep 2004, p.79]
Uncut
As a send-off... it's not quite the full parade. [Sep 2004, p.104]
All Music Guide
Even though Half Smiles of the Decomposed sounds great, the band plays with impressive skill, and it represents one of Pollard's most successful attempts to balance his low-fi musical impulses against the demands of proper record production, it lacks the ineffable fire and energy that has always set their best work apart.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
Though lacking in innovation, the final GBV album will please any longtime fan that prefers “Game of Pricks” to “Chicken Blows”. Pollard’s songwriting finally feels consistent, fully realized and commanding.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
The mediocre filler that rounds out Half Smiles' lineup is, sadly, par for the band's late-era course.
Read Full Review >Billboard
The album isn't a certified classic like earlier GBV favorites "Alien Lanes" and "Under the Bushes, Under the Stars," but it does have a healthy dollop of Pollard's trademark effortless pop perfection.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Finds GBV playing to their long-standing strengths. [Oct 2004, p.124]
Splendid
Half Smiles of the Decomposed isn't quite the guns-blazing finale I always imagined the last GBV album would be, but it never becomes a limp-wristed approximation of the band in any of its previous guises.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
Sounds like every other disc Matador has released by them. [Oct 2004, p.134]
Tiny Mix Tapes
A middle-of-the-road release that, because of the context of the band's end, is the most heartbreaking release of the year so far.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
Pollard does boost the voltage like before, but the album's apparent air of consideration is rare for GBV... This doesn't really improve the slipping hit-to-miss ratio GBV has produced for the past few albums, but it does set Half Smiles apart.
Read Full Review >Mojo
It's hardly a career-defining collection. [Sep 2004, p.98]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 16 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
aaron L gave it a7:
Overall this record has a darker, more introspective feel than most GbV stuff, and the more progressive-influenced songwriting feels out of character for the group. Easily this is the least essential GbV record, but at the same time it is so intrieguing - mostly because it's so different.
R A gave it an8:
It's not my favorite GVB album, but there are a few solid tracks. I'm not disappointed because Bob Pollard will continue to write songs and perform. Luck for us as we are in rock's nadir.
Lawrence P gave it a 7:
Average for these guys. A masterpiece for most bands.
Neil D gave it a 7:
Their weakest since Do The Collapse. Still there is some strong stuff on here. Especially the first five tracks and the final cut.
John H gave it a 9:
It ain't Alien Lanes, but it sure is great. A grower like all GbV's best albums.
mark f gave it a 7:
I'd probably give it a 7.5 if possible (Hey, MC, why isn't it possible? It can't be that hard!) I've enjoyed all the recent GBV albums. I enjoy the electric guitar sonics, mostly inspired by The Who, with Peter Gabriel takin' over vocals from Roger Daltrey on about 80-90% of the songs. What I like the best about this one are the acoustic jams which pop up more often than before. I will admit that this album "seemed" to have a little-bit-more filler than previously, but if you believe Dubya should be kicked out of D.C., then perhaps, those can be forgiven. As far as John R goes, I have no explanation, except maybe take a vacation and/or a chill-pill (or maybe change your politics!?!Apparently, you wanted to kick RP while you still had the chance.) This is a pretty-decent swan song, but too bad it wasn't epic. Of course, if it was, there'd be no reason to have a swan song!
c r gave it a 7:
it's growing on me...
