August by Cake
by Guided by Voices
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
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  1. Under The Radar
    Apr 12, 2017
    80
    August By Cake is Robert Pollard's 100th album, and a double album to boot. Not only that but a great double album.
  2. Uncut
    Apr 6, 2017
    80
    It's Pollard in excelsis. [May 2017, p.32]
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  3. AllMusic
    Apr 6, 2017
    80
    This is Guided by Voices sounding free and wild, and it's ultimately more satisfying than any of the "classic lineup" GbV reunion efforts that appeared between 2012 and 2014.
  5. The A.V. Club
    Apr 7, 2017
    75
    The music barely hangs together at times, but the potential for the roller-coaster to go flying off the tracks is, as always, part of the fun.
  6. Pitchfork
    Apr 11, 2017
    71
    After over 30 years in pursuit of the perfect song, Pollard has finally started to recognize the album for everything it can be.
  7. PopMatters
    Apr 7, 2017
    70
    As scattered as August by Cake sometimes feels, its openness is also fertile ground for the different sides of Pollard’s music.
  8. Q Magazine
    Apr 12, 2017
    60
    A daunting 32 tracks and some typically uneven quality control. However, there's a renewed freshness here. [Jun 2017, p.106]
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  9. Drowned In Sound
    Apr 12, 2017
    60
    Pollard hasn’t delivered an all-enticing album in a while, and with all of its hidden gems, August By Cake suffers from having too many songs that just aren’t fulfilling enough.
  10. Exclaim
    Apr 6, 2017
    60
    August By Cake gets interesting when tracks like "Warm Up to Religion" and "What Begins on New Year's Day" tap into the melancholy that's occasionally haunted Pollard's melodies. Aside from those tracks, though, he shows little interest in the tinkering that made his earlier work so interesting.
  11. Pretty Much Amazing
    Apr 6, 2017
    58
    The main pitfall of this record is its pacing. Bob’s best moments are lightning fast, like the 28 tracks in 41 minutes Alien Lanes. By contrast, this record is 32 tracks in 71 minutes. Its top moments are when it is moving the fastest.
  12. Mojo
    Apr 6, 2017
    40
    Too much of this double album plods. [May 2017, p.98]
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. friendhead68
    May 11, 2017
    10
    great album, full of memorable hooks but very complex and covering many styles. Pollard's still at it and wisely leads this collective ofgreat album, full of memorable hooks but very complex and covering many styles. Pollard's still at it and wisely leads this collective of creative r'n'r workers… Full Review »
  2. Oscar-1823
    Apr 6, 2018
    7
    A decent album, with some great tracks with some filler. This album has a good variety of tracks between each of the members in differentA decent album, with some great tracks with some filler. This album has a good variety of tracks between each of the members in different styles and themes, which can be a rarity within this GBV line-up. With this being Pollard's first double album, their can be tracks expected to be hit and miss in accordance with Pollard's quantity over quality rule, but this is definately one of the most interesting releases from the band for a while.… Full Review »
  3. XRayLexx
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    Fantastic double album from the mighty Guided By Voices. 100th album by Robert Pollard and one of his best. Varied. Interesting. Poppy.Fantastic double album from the mighty Guided By Voices. 100th album by Robert Pollard and one of his best. Varied. Interesting. Poppy. Challenging. Rocky. Essential.… Full Review »
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