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Stylus Magazine

With Phantom Punch Sondre Lerche finally makes good on the promise of his talent; he’s mastered and polished his intuitive gift for melody and arrangement and rightly applied it to his most natural musical inclinations.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Phantom Punch's palette contains dollops of everyone from The Clash to The Sea And Cake to name-your-favorite-shoegaze-band, but most of all, the album's freewheeling energy brings to mind Supergrass' finest moments.

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Sputnikmusic

A masterpiece of edgy, pop-infused rock composed with intelligence.

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Urb

This time the focus is on tight songwriting, sudden chagnes and an edgy velocity that's never too dense. [Jan/Feb 2006, p.79]

Filter

Lerche croons and swoons between styles like a prophet of postmodern pomp.

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Prefix Magazine

On its own merits, Phantom Punch is an assured, absurdly tuneful record, and one of the best of the year thus far.

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Entertainment Weekly

Phantom Punch may not pack the razzle-dazzle of Duper, but it just might help this gifted performer cement his rep for smartly crafted alt-pop.

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Hartford Courant

It hits hard without sacrificing any of Lerche's classic pop appeal.

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All Music Guide

It lays down incontrovertible proof that Sondre Lerche can make a convincing and exciting straight-ahead modern rock record.

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Boston Globe

Unlike previous efforts at stylistic hop-scotch, "Phantom Punch" is Lerche's most comfortable album since "Faces Down."

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Magnet

Sounds like somebody has exited the coffeehouse with a strong jolt of caffeine. [#74, p.101]

Under The Radar

Lerche has turned himself more rock than indie. [#16, p.93]

Alternative Press

The most sophistcated punk-pop you'll ever hear. [Mar 2007, p.136]

Pitchfork

While Lerche remains a promising young songwriter, Phantom Punch doesn't quite fulfill that promise.

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cokemachineglow

Phantom Punch is a good album, but not a great one, and certainly not the Career Record that Duper Sessions almost was.

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PopMatters

For all the progress the record represents, Punch is a schizophrenic release.

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Paste Magazine

His grittiest, least-ethereal long-player to date. [Feb 2007, p.58]

Spin

Though the hooks and melodies are spread a little thin... Lerche still has a convincing charm in his lighter, acoustic moments. [Feb 2007, p.84]

Rolling Stone

Thoroughly enjoyable though it is, Phantom Punchalso feels a little lightweight.

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Billboard

Lerche seems headed in a promising musical direction, but not all the songs here pack the expected punch. [10 Feb 2007]

The Guardian

Mostly what's missing is a dash of original thinking: without it, the album struggles to rise above the ordinary.

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Austin Chronicle

Punch buries its best shots behind too much guitar and gratuitous arrangements.

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NOW Magazine

Phantom Punch is a wobbly ride through tracks that, for the most part, hiss and snarl with the leather-jacket swagger of his garagey backing band while Lerche either nervously essays a pseudo-rock "growl" over top or reverts to his customary loungey warble, both of which sound equally absurd.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes

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

Rafael Z gave it a10:
inustice. this singer rox a lot. cheers!

Anna L gave it a10:
Admittedly, the songs are much, much better when you are hearing them live, but Sondre Lerche can sing his Norwegian arse off. I would very highly recommend this album.

Fábio P gave it a9:
Great CD, but less than his predecessor: Duper Sessions

Ludo M gave it a10:
This is one of the reasons I'm proud to be Norwegian! This guy is THE best performer together with his band or solo on stage - live or studio... I love it :) Gimme me more, much more!!!

chris l gave it a10:
i love how sondre lerche can willingly change his sound from album to album. phantom punch, clearly a conscious effort to prove his "inner-rockingness," doesn't disappoint with great tracks like "say it all," "john, let me go," and the title track.

Einar K gave it a1:
Not too good :) Two way dialouge, best ever!!!

mike s. gave it a9:
Album of the year so far and I wouldn't be surprise if it makes a lot of critics top ten an amazing album!!!! His personal best Sondre is more aggressive on this album and rocks out harder than one would expect. Great pop melodies and glossy production. The songwriting is excellent as well, an album in which all other indie album of 2007 should be judged against, sondre lerche has set a very high bar for other artists to be able to top this new release.

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