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Cease To Begin
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Cease To Begin Image
Metascore
78

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

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 48 Ratings

  • Summary: The Seattle band's follow-up to their debut album.

Top Track

No One's Gonna Love You
It's looking like a limb torn off Or altogether just taken apart We're reeling through an endless fall We are the ever-living ghost of what once... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. The A.V. Club
    91
    Cease To Begin, doesn't deviate much from its excellent 2006 debut, "Everything All The Time," the record's relaxed, understated grace is distinctively Southern in its lack of self-consciousness.
  2. Lost At Sea
    87
    The natural maturation of Ben Bridwell's vocals and songwriting, bolstered by an increase in creative control, has yeilded what is easily one of 2007's best albums in Cease to Begin.
  3. Q Magazine
    80
    From the anthem-like 'Ode To LRC to the sanguine finale of 'Window Blues,' this is beautifully paced and utterly beguiling. [Dec 2007, p.112]
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  4. Spin
    80
    Each sound lingers, and each stretched-out moment is welcome. [Nov 2007, p.114]
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  5. Blender
    80
    Even the loudest moments reverberate with warmth. Bridwell sounds determined to build a new world for himself, one gorgeous ballad at a time.
  6. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    There's much beauty in the modest moments: the gentle, dreamy guitars in the ballad 'Detlef Schrempf,' the Uncle Tupelo–ish tumble of 'The General Specific,' and the instrumental interlude of 'Lamb on the Lam (In the City),' which sounds like the Cure lost in the Appalachia.
  7. Village Voice
    40
    With 10 tracks adding up to a mere 34 minutes, this follow-up is much more wan and insubstantial than its predecessor.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. GarthE
    Oct 17, 2007
    10
    An excellent 2nd effort from a solid seminal alt-rock band(of horses..ha). "Is There a Ghost" and "Ode to the LRC" are the albums definitive An excellent 2nd effort from a solid seminal alt-rock band(of horses..ha). "Is There a Ghost" and "Ode to the LRC" are the albums definitive rockers being the first 2 tracks. Tracks 3/4 bring a mellowing of the album to slight pop with beautiful guitar work. Later into the album with a week track 5 the album takes a turn for a southern blues feel. Just an excellent album. No loss with an earlier founding member (guitarist) going off in a different direction and a move from Seattle to the Carolina's. A standard for top 10 of the year, sophmore #1 of the year.… Expand
  2. JoseG.
    Oct 18, 2007
    10
    As much as I liked "Everything All The Time", "Cease to Begin" is even better. Highly recommended.
  4. BrandoHoover
    Aug 4, 2015
    10
    One of the very few albums where I like every single song on the album. Even most of my favorite albums have songs I don't like- this album isOne of the very few albums where I like every single song on the album. Even most of my favorite albums have songs I don't like- this album is not one of those.… Expand
  5. calebr.
    Oct 23, 2007
    9
    Just as great as the first.
  6. OlavJ
    Oct 30, 2007
    8
    As mentioned before, the tracks could have been longer but still, I think Cease To Begin is a worthy record and a nice follow up to their previous.
  7. PaulF
    Oct 22, 2007
    8
    Cease to Begin is a solid record. It doesn't have the epic songs from their first album, but it does have a warmth that runs through it. Cease to Begin is a solid record. It doesn't have the epic songs from their first album, but it does have a warmth that runs through it. Its more cohesive, but also a shorter listen. Some of the songs seem rushed to get to the end. It would have been interesting to see this band distance themselves from the 3to4 minute song format... Songs like Is There A Ghost and No One's Gonna Love You could have been longer, which would have benefited the songs. You know this band, if they chose to, could write beautiful 8, 10, 12 minute masterpieces if they wanted to.… Expand
  8. NickA
    Oct 19, 2007
    2
    I don't like talking trash, but this album is simply not very good. i would say: over-produced and uninspired fare

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Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Best Album of 2007