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Boys And Girls In America - The Hold Steady
Boys And Girls In America Image
Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 36 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 98 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: The Brooklyn-based rockers move to emo label Vagrant for this John Agnello-produced release.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 36
  3. Negative: 1 out of 36
  1. Uncut
    100
    Finn's writing is sharper than ever, the various narratives driven less by the wordy exposition of yore than acute observation, devastating detail, by turns exclamatory, epigrammatic and grainily authentic.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    60
    At most, half the songs on this album are capable of successfully fusing Finn's compelling narratives with rather less than impressive instrumentation for an effect that's worth some merit. Unfortunately, it just doesn't 'hold' for the remainder.
  3. Playlouder
    20
    Though loquacious, 'Boys and Girls in America' is a record full of maddening stream of consciousness lyrics that amble without direction, and narratives with no real stories or purpose.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 71
  3. Negative: 4 out of 71
  1. Brian
    10
    Unbelievable album, such a fun album to listen to. Finn just seems like a likable character with these stories.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. KevinC
    5
    Sounds like one of those dreadfully overdone Bruce Springsteen productions that glorify mundane lifelessness with no trace of a sense of humor.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. scalvin
    3
    generic at best....OK but not worthy of the hype.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 71 User Reviews

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