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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Angels Of Destruction
by Marah
The Philadelphia/Brooklyn-based band returns with its latest studio album following a Christmas album in 2005.
| LABEL: |
Yep Roc |
| RELEASE DATE: |
08 January 2008 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Rock |
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...
88
The Phoenix
Their songs of experience suggest they spent some time exploring that darkness, only to have found the light on the other side.
83
The Onion (A.V. Club)
'Angels On A Passing Train' and the terrific rock-soul ballad 'Blue But Cool' don't have anything particularly interesting to say--the lyrics are all about salvation, redemption, and other big ideas Craig Finn repackages far more ingeniously--but they jump out of the speakers with just the right mix of conviction and craftsmanship.
80
The New York Times
In Rolling Stonesy stomps and skiffle bounces, easygoing vaudeville shuffles and driving rockabilly boogies the songs make allegorical visions sound like barroom banter.
80
Uncut
Angels Of Destruction sounds like one almighty road trip, barrelling along to piano. blustery guitars and the odd honk of E Street sax. [Feb 2008, p.86]
80
Magnet
Angels just rocks. [Winter 2008, p.108]
80
All Music Guide
Angels of Destruction! is an album that brims with joy, rage, and adventure, and deserves your attention.
80
Mojo
Angels Of Destruction continues a rich tradition forged in the bars of their hometowns. [Feb 2008, p.105]
80
Amazon.com
Smith adds subtle layers of piano to the formidable 'Wild West Love Song' and the bluesy, Zeppelin-like 'Jesus in the Temple.' But even more newsworthy, her jazzy stylings have rubbed off on the Bielankos.
80
Billboard
Marah manages to convey the manic energy that makes it such a great performer, and the result is its best album yet.
69
Pitchfork
Angels is a Marah album, which sort of sucks, but that 'Blue But Cool' and 'Santos De Madera' and the title track might still make you a little misty eyed and/or end up on a mixtape.
60
The Guardian
You'd need to have that pre-existing love for Serge and David Bielanko's music to draw anything much from their unremittingly competent seventh album proper.
60
New Musical Express
Tracks like ‘Angels On A Passing Train’, swoon with religious imagery and elevate in their choruses, nodding unashamedly to Dylan and Springsteen, while ‘Jesus In The Temple’ is a BRMC mosey into the sunset, delivered with adventurous gusto that’s matched by anything found here.
60
Q Magazine
Angels Of Destruction builds on the momentum of 2005's "If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry." [Feb 2008, p.99]
50
Slant Magazine
Overproduction, unfortunately, doesn't fully account for its flaws. Too many of the songs invoke heavy-handed spiritual imagery.
50
Spin
The subdued exception 'Blue but Cool' aside, the pretentious poetry and overwrought riffing induce numbness, not transcendence.
The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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