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Songs And Other Things
by Tom Verlaine

Tom Verlaine reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 68 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.0 out of 10
based on 16 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 1 vote
Read user comments
Rate this album

'Songs' (one of two April 2006 releases) is the former Television frontman's first vocal release in sixteen years. Television's Fred Smith guests.

LABEL: Thrill Jockey
RELEASE DATE: 25 April 2006
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Indie, Rock

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...

80
All Music Guide
Typically cryptic and loaded with tasty guitar, Songs and Other Things is an excellent return for Tom Verlaine.
Read Full Review
80
Tiny Mix Tapes
Tom Verlaine has delivered yet another beautiful creation to us.
Read Full Review
80
Uncut
The best tracks... are almost as good as Television's monumental Marquee Moon. [May 2006, p.100]
80
PopMatters
The most impressive thing about Songs and Other Things is that Verlaine’s singing has actually gotten stronger with time.
Read Full Review
70
Under The Radar
Songs is the stronger effort, tight and focused where ['Around'] is sketchy. [#13, p.89]
70
The Wire
At first Songs And Other Things sounds simple to the point of throwaway, but gradually gives up its secrets after a number of plays. [#266, p.67]
70
Mojo
Business as usual. [May 2006, p.104]
66
Pitchfork
Songs' best moments occur when Verlaine complicates the pop formula with serious tension.
Read Full Review
60
musicOMH.com
The dynamic has more in common with Verlaine's best (known) work, even if the drama isn't as fully realised.
Read Full Review
60
Billboard
Those looking for "Marquee Moon"-style guitar heroics will be disappointed.
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60
New Musical Express
It doesn't seem the product of so revered an artist. [29 Apr 2006, p.37]
60
Q Magazine
Mixes his distinctive whinny toothlessly low. [May 2006, p.131]
60
The Guardian
Most of the 14 songs work as moments or hooks rather than as complete creations, suggesting the Verlaine coffee commercial may yet be upon us.
Read Full Review
50
Prefix Magazine
Songs and Other Things' mid-tempo pop feels tossed-off, like Verlaine couldn't have been bothered to do more between walking the dog and a few dart games.
Read Full Review
40
Delusions of Adequacy
Whilst Songs and Other Things may still attract loyal aficionados of Verlaine’s idiosyncratic solo work, it’s certainly unlikely to win over any sceptics.
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33
Stylus Magazine
Fans of Verlaine's Television-era storytelling will be disappointed to hear him so simultaneously unchanged and unforthcoming.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 1 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

CHARLES M gave it an8:
A. C.D. that repays repeated listening, some times irritating, occasionally sloppy but never boring. A welcome return from near oblivion for one of musics few originals. And nice to hear Tom looking for new sounds, moving forward, away from Marquee Moon, and Foxhole and Words from the Front and Call Mr Lee and into the more thoughtful, paced territory of a man in late middle age. I sure hope that he lives up to his promise to continue recording now that he has picked up on his career and that he makes some money out of it this time around

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