In an era of pop music full of insipid one hit wonders and autotuned abortions it's really refreshing to hear an album like Ceremonials. For anyone who's heard Lungs, it shouldn't be a surprise that this delivers in areas where other pop albums simply can't. Ceremonials, like Lungs before it, provides an interesting juxtaposition of glossy synths, natural instrumentation and organic drum patterns topped off by Florence's brilliant vocal delivery. However, the mood of Ceremonials is what sets it apart from its predecessor. Whilst Lungs was springlike and frequently jubilant, Ceremonials is more like its slightly more subdued autumnal counterpart. That's not to suggest that Ceremonials is at all joyless, far from it, but there are moments of frosty atmospherics in between Florence's blustery vocals.… Expand

I can honestly say that is album is the best album released in 2011. There is no contest. The sound is like nothing you have heard before, the vocals are breathtaking and the production is perfection. As much as I liked "Lungs" it does not compare to "Ceremonials". It is an experience, It cannot be explained! you have to live it to understand.

Ceremonials never deviates from Florence's fierce belting, which, while being one of her biggest assets, also tires quickly. There's nothing quite like Cosmic Love or Kiss with a Fist here, but rather twelve variations of Drumming Song and Dog Days Are Over. This is not to say that the songs sound the same or are bad (in fact, the first half of the album is phenomenal), but there certainly isn't much range.… Expand

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

Ceremonials is the second album released by Florence And The Machine, and I wasn't really sure what to expect after the absolutely amazing album Lungs! But my worries were put aside almost instantly with the 1st song on the album, 'Only If For A Night' I was glad to hear that Florence did not change her style of music. (Not that she had any reason to) The instrumentals are just beautiful on every song! It is seriously all about the drums in Florence World! And Florence isn't like all these other 'auto-tuned, never actually heard of real music' artists out there today. She is one of these rare musical artists today that makes you feel emotionally connected to the music. Ceremonials is the best album iv heard for a while! Beautifully put together, amazing voice, amazing musical instrumentals, and best of all quite haunting!… Expand

Above all this album is just so refreshing. It begins with twinkling piano melodies, sucks you right into hell with the brooding Seven Devils and then just when you think you have had enough it releases you. Didn't think it would be possible but i think this has actually beaten Lungs

Flo seems to think she has catchy choruses sussed - just bellow out the same line over and over. To be fair though this only really becomes irritating in the last 5 or 6 tracks, with the first half of the album almost reaching the brilliance of 'Lungs'. That's the main problem here - 'Ceremonials' was probably never going to live up to the high-standards set by 'Lungs' and the lack of diversity of 'Ceremonials', in comparison, may seem monotonous. Despite this, looking solely at 'Ceremonials', as we should, we have a very solid, well thought out album with some consistent production (or should that be over-production?) from the ever-amazing Paul Epworth. Highlights are "Breaking Down" (one of the two tracks Flo wrote on her own, truly highlighting her immense talent), "Shake It Out" and "Only If For A Night". Ultimately, you won't regret buying this album.… Expand

There is so much more to Ceremonials than most albums released in the last few years. The lyrics are so rich and the music is undeniably unique. Florence's unbelievable voice has some how managed to get better. Florence has really stayed true to herself and her Machine. The songs are cohesive, but all so unique. I am spellbound by Ceremonials.

"Ceremonials" is the complete opposite of Florence & The Machine's debut album "Lungs". The production is bigger, the lyrics are darker, and the sound is much more deeper than "Lungs". Each track delves deeper into your emotions and you can really relate to what Florence Welch is beautifully trying to say. All In All, Ceremonials is a powerful album. A

Once again, Florence + the Machine dishes out a rock-solid album. This one really shines with intensity, with almost every song being emotional and intense. "Heartlines", "What the Water Gave Me", and "No Light, No Light" really hit me hard, and they lift Florence + the Machine to new heights of artistry. If there is one thing that bugs me, is that they didn't deviate too far from what they're comfortable with. While the songs are superb, it seems like there could've been more - like they could've made this album even better. I also noticed that Florence's voice wasn't so heavily focused on as it was in "Lungs", which is a minor, but unfortunate, observation.… Expand

After finally managing to force myself to listen to Ceremonials for a third time, I can safely say my initial verdict was the correct one - Just about every song misses the mark on what it tries to achieve and they all suffer from the same problem of being over-produced and under delivered. In the end, a grand, sweeping sound throughout can't mask the half-baked lyrics and bad arrangement. Lungs was a masterpiece. This is utter crap.… Expand

Com certeza, o melhor álbum de 2011. Tanto os vocais, quanto as letras e melodias estão perfeitas. O álbum já começa em alto nível, com Only If For The Night, as próximas faixas só mostram mais o conteúdo do mesmo, tanto Shake It Out, quanto What The Water Game Me. Never Let Me Go é um dos destaques do álbum, e, após duas faixas boas de se ouvir, chegamos a uma das melhores musicas do ano, No Light, No Light. A sequência Seven Devils, Heartlines e Spectrum é de perder fôlego. E, após a musica menos boa do álbum, All This And Heaven Too, temos uma das melhores sequências do ano: Leave My Body, Remain Nameless e Starngeness And Cham. Ambas são ricas em vocais poderosos, letras tocantes e intrumentais poderosos. O álbum é encerrado com chave de ouro com Bedroom Hymns. As próximas faixas, versões de demo e acústicas, são agradáveis, porém descartáveis.… Expand

While Lungs was more eclectic (and appropriately body focused), Ceremonials dives into exploring the sometimes more elusive sacred aspects of experience, and ends up settling into a more cohesive sounding album. Listening to this album feels as serious and mysterious as the best of ceremonies, yet never as boring thanks to the percussive and epic anthems that call for us to sing aloud. "Thin Space" is a Celtic phrase used to describe places where the two worlds of spiritual and natural meet. Ceremonials is a thin space for me. Highlights are all the first 7 tracks together, and the last 2.… Expand

Undoubtedly ceremonials that Florence was a gift bestowed on us in 2011.
Florence sings with much more confidence, strength and softness, their vocals are divinely impeccable, making anyone listen to eventually become one of the legion of lovers of the art of Florence Welch and her band.
The band gained more prominence brightness.
Special mention to Shake It Out, a song that every time I hear it I feel my heart beat faster and radiates a joy in my face.
A great and beautiful work… Expand

One of the best albums of 2.011. Great vocals, great production, great lyrics, Florence Welch is one of best vocalist from the UK. The best song on the album is Breaking Down eve thouhg I think All This And Heaven Too is such a masterpiece. This kind of albums makes me realize that not everything is lost when it comes to creatition of music and being successful with a different album.

It's dark and grandiose, two things "Lungs" wasn't. It's a great improvement on the unstructured album that was "Lungs." Where "Lungs" found greatness in its imperfections, "Ceremonials" chooses to strive for perfection. It's a lofty goal, and "Ceremonials" is not perfect, but it is as close as possible. There is no moment as bright as 'Dog Days Are Over,' but "Ceremonials" makes up for this in the beauty of the anthem, 'Shake It Out.' Though heavy and sometimes overbearingly dark, it is an artistic and beautiful album, and possibly the best album of 2011.… Expand

Right, so Ceremonials... The first three songs are just insanely good. Instantly accessible Flo at it's best. BUT. If you actually give this album the chance it deserves then you may find that the rest is about as far from filler as it's possible to be. In particular No Light, No Light, Leave My Body, and Heartlines are unsung heroes here. This is very easily my album of 2011, and unbelievably better than Lungs. See her live if you haven't already.… Expand

Ceremonials represents a musical evolution from the previously released album "Lungs". It has more a dark sound to it (if you think of tracks like "Seven Devils" and "Only If For A Night"). The lyrics, as always are mystical and astonishing, indeed pure poetry. Many themes are spoken about in this album as spirituality, life and love. Florence has an unique voice that makes her stand out from the choir, you can hear in her singing influences by Stevie Nicks. She adds up a lot of drama to her singing which is, in my opinion, a great quality, since it intensifies the meaning of her lyrics. We definitely need more artists like Florence and the Machine.… Expand

Just as dark and haunting as it's predecessor - though it doesn't always live up to the standard of lungs, It still remains one of the greatest albums of the year, and far better than anything Adele has done.

A brilliant album!!!! I would say that the song "Never let me go" is one of the best song I've heard in a long time!!! I love Florence!!!The rest of the songs are great too:-)

I had high expectations for this album coming in and I'm glad to see they've been more than met. I have to agree with a lot of people that this is likely to be my favorite album of the year. It's the only reason I'd bother to write a gushing review of it. If you loved or even liked Lungs you will love this. It is bigger, badder, longer, darker and just all around greater. I can understand how this music isn't for everyone, but I think almost any fan of great singing can find some songs to like from this band. There's a great variety of sounds, but if you like heavy drums or harps especially you'll love this. Strangeness and Charm is my favorite song, but they are all quite stellar. Also, the deluxe edition has 20 songs and is an hour and a half long. That's a lot of great music. Enough said, at the very least give it a try.… Expand

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.

It's not easy as my scores get the highest, but flatly "Ceremonials" deserves a majestic acclamation. It's not just a mixture of different styles, but all these are just one body. No doubt folk influences forge a straight, clean and welcoming path. Miss Florence does not miss any details. There is no empty space in this album. Very continuous, filler and captivating. "Ceremonials" graduates with honours.… Expand

Florence has always been one of those beautiful acts that are always there on your iPod should you need something powerful to play in your ears, for me. This album, however, has made her so much more.

It's powerful, a power that exceeds even the near flawless 'Lungs'. It carries with it the haunting edge 'Lungs' also held, but plays on it in far more straight-forward ways, a hurricane in musical production and voice, though she equally explores softer melodies, wind instruments and sweeter singing, reminiscent to my 'Lungs' highlight, 'Blinding'.

This is not to mention the fact that Florence Welch is one of the best songwriters in recent memory, let alone singers. She's truly crafted herself a niche in music and still manages to feel like a breath of empowering, fresh air on every listen. It's thus far, for me, the quintessential album of 2011.… Expand

This may not be the absolute best album of 2011 but it definitely deserves to be a contender for that title. After such a strong debut album it looked like Florence Welch and her band wouldn't be able to beat it, but with Ceremonials they did. It is more consistent sounding then Lungs and even more outrageously beautiful and well orchestrated. This album is darker than Lungs for sure, but also more artistic and beautifully expressive. 10 out of 10!… Expand

Before buying 'Lungs', i bought 'Ceremonials.' When I first heard this album. I thought it was phenomenal. But after listening to 'Lungs', 'Ceremonials' became overshadowed by Flo's debut. The album is great, it really is. But, there is something missing that was constantly in Florence + The Machine's 'Lungs.' The album is more soulful. And it contains as much gloom as its predecessor. The first track, Only If For A Night, is the best track in the album. The lyrics are nothing we hadn't already seen on 'Lungs.' Shake It Out is an anthemic masterpiece. And Breaking Down has Florence's most pop-sounding production ever. The worst tracks on the album are the spooky Tim Burton film-esque Seven Devils, the boring and charmless Leave My Body and the tribal Heartlines. But, most of the album is great. The album incorporates new genres not explored in 'Lungs.' The disco-ish Spectrum is a prime example. Another one is Lover to Lover which sounds very jazz adult contemporary and not exactly indie pop or art rock, like most of Flo's work. But overall, the album is not quite the masterpiece of 'Lungs', but it is pretty darn close. It may be the most soulful approach we may ever hear from Florence + The Machine.… Expand

She got it again! With astonishing lyrics, and a calmer voice, Welch brings up again the power of Kate Bush in the 80s, and manages to do with brilliant musics. With the hit of this year, 'Shake It Out', and the tracks 'Never Let me Go', 'Heartlines' and 'Spectrum', we get from her a new person, a new concept, a new beatiful album!

I love every bit of this album. I don't even know where to begin. Florence's voice, the mind blowing lyrics, and the perfect music. Chris's drumming and Tom's harp has never been better. It's just perfect.