Celebration, Florida
by The Felice Brothers
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
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  1. Entertainment Weekly
    May 6, 2011
    91
    The folk-rockers magnificently expand their musical palette, finding space for punch horns, Floyd-ian sonic weirdness and even Audrey Hepburn samples. [13 May 2011, p. 63]
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  2. The A.V. Club
    May 10, 2011
    83
    Celebration, Florida is the band's full-on Tom Waits apocalypse record, finding signs of our imminent destruction in-what else?-our most banal diversions.
  3. Q Magazine
    Jun 21, 2011
    80
    The Felice Brothers return bigger, better and full of surprises on their fourth UK release. [July 2011, p. 120]
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  5. Mojo
    Jun 21, 2011
    80
    Peripatetic post-Americana quintet release their Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. [July 2011, p. 104]
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  6. AllMusic
    May 16, 2011
    80
    Celebration, Florida is a brave step forward for the Felice Brothers, but one taken with care and confidence, and it's a powerful achievement from a talented and genuinely important band.
  7. Uncut
    May 13, 2011
    80
    Inventive, playful and utterly engrossing, Celebration, Florida has much to revel in. [Jun 2011, p.92]
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  8. The Guardian
    May 12, 2011
    80
    Even when not wholly successful, the sonic experiments are so unexpected and vibrant that it's faintly disappointing when the second half of the album reverts to type.
  9. Spin
    May 10, 2011
    80
    Plenty of bands try to re-create Bob Dylan's mid-'60s apex, but Celebration, Florida sounds like it's conjuring Dylan's mid-'70s Rolling Thunder Revue period.
  10. PopMatters
    Jun 10, 2011
    70
    The Felice Brothers are not what they used to be. The band has grown, and not all of the growing pains are pretty. Some of the tracks on the new album, such as the dirge "Dallas" and the plodding "River Jordan", could use some of Simone's energetic drumming.
  11. BBC Music
    May 25, 2011
    70
    An engaging diversion down a road which might be worth investigating further.
  12. Filter
    May 16, 2011
    62
    While the experiment sometimes fails (see: car-chase chugger "Honda Civic"), closer "River of Jordan" nearly drowns it all out.
  13. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 2, 2011
    60
    You can't help but think that The Felice Brothers were stuck in a Catch-22 regarding the development of their sound; damned if they did, damned if they didn't. On the strength of this offering it's clear that while the mix isn't quite there yet, the approach being taken is worth pursuing.
  14. Pitchfork
    May 11, 2011
    57
    Celebration, Florida doesn't simply reflect the hubbub of America as the Felice Brothers see it. The album becomes a part of the spectacle, which is surely not what the band intended.
  15. Under The Radar
    Jun 8, 2011
    30
    The new sounds end up grating against the vocals, which will always sound whiskey-soaked, and playing against the band's strengths. [May 2011, p.88]
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

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. givemeyoureyes
    May 11, 2011
    10
    This album is an incredible achievement. I have not been this entertained by music in awhile. Don't get me wrong, there have been some greatThis album is an incredible achievement. I have not been this entertained by music in awhile. Don't get me wrong, there have been some great albums recently (Helplessness Blues comes to mind), but I enjoyed every track on this album, never knowing what to expect next. Great music!… Full Review »
  2. music33
    Sep 2, 2012
    10
    A great Album. They have expanded their sound to include digital effects and a more modern approach while maintaining that Band/Dylan hybridA great Album. They have expanded their sound to include digital effects and a more modern approach while maintaining that Band/Dylan hybrid that has formed the basis of their sound. The music is still complex and chaotic and the subject matter is quirky and interesting. Even better live. Just buy it!… Full Review »
  3. cdhoffman
    May 26, 2012
    7
    This is definitely a great album. After seeing these guys for the very first time, I bought this CD. The drum machine sometimes seems to beThis is definitely a great album. After seeing these guys for the very first time, I bought this CD. The drum machine sometimes seems to be more of a crutch than a springboard to me. However, I do believe they are carving out some sort of new musical territory with this album in an Ok Computer way, breaking free of their own existing boundaries, and creating something new from an original formula.… Full Review »
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