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Burn The Maps
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Burn The Maps Image
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 31 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the first studio disc in four years for the Irish quartet, who are massively popular in their native country.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Austin Chronicle
    89
    Jaysus lads, get out the oven mitts – this one smokes.
  2. Billboard
    80
    Far and away the group's most determined work of its 15-year career.
  3. Planet
    80
    Meticulous recording, layered songwriting, and a little bit of "special effects" turns a bunch of good songs into a great album. [#9, p.70]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. AllMusic
    80
    Burn the Maps is an elemental journey that tugs at the heart and sticks around in the mind.
  5. Blender
    70
    Maps... swap[s] the band's trademark dreariness for the U2-style arena-rock sweep that makes their live shows... so exciting. [Mar 2005, p.140]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. PopMatters
    60
    While nearly any song on Burn the Maps works effectively, the album as a whole can't quite maintain its momentum with such structural repetition.
  7. Magnet
    40
    Once a means to subvert pop/rock formula, the band's abruptly shifting dynamics have themselves become formulaic. [#67, p.97]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 17 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 2 out of 25
  1. Ger
    Feb 26, 2005
    10
    Pure brilliance, a fantastic album!
  2. MarekI
    Mar 29, 2005
    10
    Just more then great album!
  4. Hein
    May 3, 2006
    10
    Very Good!
  5. JohnP
    Jan 4, 2006
    9
    The best album I've come across in a long while.
  6. LouisF
    Jun 14, 2005
    8
    The first 3 tracks reveal a unique melodic identity and a sense of progression and intensity, thanks to the great production and Glen The first 3 tracks reveal a unique melodic identity and a sense of progression and intensity, thanks to the great production and Glen Hansard's presence. But track 4 comes as a pain in the ears with its agressing chords and deliberate minimalism. The other 2 bad tracks are Fake (a cheap arena rocker trying to hide itself under unconventional breaks and shifts) and Underglass (which just doesn't sound right and is awkwardly placed). It's too bad, because these three songs break the flow, Trying and Sideways Down being two excellent pieces placed between very average tracks. Happily, the last 4 tracks are all very interesting experiments or successful appliances of convention. In short, this record with tracks 4, 6 and 7 removed would've made for a beautiful, sincere and fluid listening. Skip the bad ones and it's so much better.… Expand
  7. Ricko
    Jan 4, 2012
    7
    As an album not bad, but as a follow up to For The Birds very disappointing. It does have some great moments but too many weak ones, somethingAs an album not bad, but as a follow up to For The Birds very disappointing. It does have some great moments but too many weak ones, something that could never have been said of the bands previous 3 albums… Collapse
  8. ut
    May 5, 2005
    1
    Absolutely horrible album.

See all 25 User Reviews