Ceremonials
by Florence + the Machine
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Nov 1, 2011
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 585 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 541 out of 585
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 585
  3. Negative: 31 out of 585
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  1. marktron
    Nov 15, 2011
    4
    Instead of a nuanced, eclectic collection of songs similar to Lungs, Florence has decided that every second of Ceremonials must sound exactly like biggest moments of Dog Days are Over and Cosmic Love. What happens is that all of the songs start to blur together in their big drum, harp, and choir sameness. Highlights include Only If For A Night, Breaking Down and What the Water Gave Me. TheInstead of a nuanced, eclectic collection of songs similar to Lungs, Florence has decided that every second of Ceremonials must sound exactly like biggest moments of Dog Days are Over and Cosmic Love. What happens is that all of the songs start to blur together in their big drum, harp, and choir sameness. Highlights include Only If For A Night, Breaking Down and What the Water Gave Me. The rest of the songs are essentially re-writes of those tracks except the failed Adele-esque adult contemporary of Lover To Lover or the embarrassing kid's Halloween movie level of spookiness of Seven Devil's.… Expand
  2. hydrawithears
    Nov 1, 2011
    4
    There is plenty to like about Ceremonials, the second album by Florence and the Machine, one of the most successful acts to emerge in recent years, but sadly there is also much to hate. Welch did not change the winning formula (and why should she?): dramatic vocals, massive drums, harps, strings, etc. are again present. Itâ
  3. Esteban
    Apr 19, 2012
    5
    The term 'samey' hasn't been trundled out since the last four Oasis albums, but it perfectly fits here. Don't get me wrong, I like FATM, they sound good. This album however just feels like the cuts from the first album that weren't good enough. Download "Shake It Out", forget the rest. Definitely over-rated.
  4. Evic21
    Sep 13, 2015
    6
    In all honesty, this album is too long and over produced. I understand that she is trying to re-invent her sound album by album, but I think she needs more focus in order for her to really make an album resonate with the listener. In all, the vocals, production and lyrics are just way too much to just listen to straight through.

Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Most Discussed Album of 2011
12
#12 Most Shared Album of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Oct 9, 2012
    67
    Ceremonials is gorgeous head-to-toe, making grand statements with heavy syntax, but paradoxically, it's light as air.
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  2. Delusions of Adequacy
    Mar 22, 2012
    60
    It's this robust fervor and subject matter that fire up and lift up many of the songs on Ceremonials, but the constant exhortation comes at a price. Listener fatigue sets in as the relentless, up-tempo pace and sharply exclamatory vocal tone overwhelms over the course of the album.
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  3. Mojo
    Jan 10, 2012
    60
    For all the florid curlicues and crescendos, Welch's second album is light on true beauty, real idiosyncrasy. [Dec. 2011, p.94]
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