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Before The Dawn Heals Us Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 56 Ratings

  • Summary: The French electronica outfit (now down to a single member, Anthony Gonzalez) return with a follow-up to their much-loved 2003 breakthrough, 'Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts.'

Top Track

Teen Angst
How fast we burn? How fast we cry? Simple we live Simple we die Somehow we learn Somehow we cry How fast we burn? How fast we die? I hear the... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    [A] sublime soundtrack to dancing in the moonlight. [21 Jan 2005, p.88]
  2. Under The Radar
    90
    The inclusion of organic instruments really takes M83's keyboard-based material to the next level. [#8, p.107]
  3. This is a mammoth collusion of synth gasps and distorted swirls, darker and more urban than its meadow-bound predecessor.
  4. Like 2003’s Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, Before the Dawn is commendable for its almost obsessive attention to detail that has produced a collection of gorgeously layered and dense songs without ever sounding laboured.
  5. There are several songs on the release that are easily among the best that the group has ever done, but by the time the 15 tracks and well over an hour run length are over, the release feels a bit on the long side and many of the shorter tracks simply feel like sketches that weren't fully fleshed-out.
  6. Admittedly, there are some notable missteps, but nothing as to suggest irrevocable damage to the album's sheen.
  7. Alternative Press
    40
    Although M83's ambitions are often great, there is a problem here: Before The Dawn often drags its feet. [Mar 2005, p.138]

See all 27 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Oct 16, 2013
    10
    best album everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
  2. melbourne
    Jan 27, 2005
    10
    great album with great sound. im impressed. the added vocals to anthony's already dreamy sound makes it enjoyable. get it, you wont regret
  3. android
    Oct 7, 2006
    10
    awesome stuff.
  4. ShabarO
    Jan 20, 2005
    9
    Explosion of emotions under a sky of sparkling sounds. Gonzalez has here found a great maturity in the production and there is no doubt that Explosion of emotions under a sky of sparkling sounds. Gonzalez has here found a great maturity in the production and there is no doubt that this album is a major classic. The references to the early shoegazer pioneers ,even still there, are no longer priorities. Even this early in the year , this album should succeed to stay in the top 10 for the year or else I can't wait to hear what else 2005 has to offer. I think that it is worth mentionning that long-term friend and collaborator of Gonzalez , Feist, has released a majestic record worth the attention. 9 is the rating but only because we want to leave room for improving. Expand
  5. Mark
    Jan 29, 2005
    9
    A little Pink Floyd with some Air and some Dead cities in between and you have a nice follow up.
  6. teds.
    Jan 23, 2005
    9
    An awesome mix of shoegaze and space rock. Best electronic music ever since Air's 10.000 Hz Legend.
  7. tom
    Jan 28, 2005
    5
    I personally can't seem to give the credit to them. They are so heavily influenced by My Bloody Valentine that it would be quite unfair I personally can't seem to give the credit to them. They are so heavily influenced by My Bloody Valentine that it would be quite unfair to praise them for just taking other's ideas to electronics and releasing it. Sorry, it's either hook or crook and I must say this is the latter of the two. Expand

See all 17 User Reviews