Detrola - His Name Is Alive
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Spellbinding and eclectic with the ability to be both eerie and gentle, Detrola is the best of the best of what His Name Is Alive has to offer.
  2. It's probably the best thing Defever's ever done.
  3. At 38 minutes, the album never lets up, never bores and constantly introduces new and interesting sounds to tantalize your brain. [#13, p.92]
  4. 80
    Pure pop strangeness, thankfully, getting even stranger. [Mar 2006, p.113]
  5. Detrola is slightly more subdued than some of His Name Is Alive's previous albums, but it's still a reminder of how much their beautiful, strange, oddly moving music has been missed.
  6. An exciting and often unexpected listen.
  7. There's an impressive array of styles here, though you're left with one singular impression: deep loneliness. [17 Feb 2006, p.79]
  8. It's sometimes an odd fit, but the friction sparked from these mismatched traits lends Detrola an eccentric charm. [Apr 2006, p.222]
  9. Defever can still write great, melancholic pop songs.
  10. 60
    There are some great moments. [Nov 2006, p.101]
  11. 60
    Detrola, while still unpredictable, manages a certain unity. [#71, p.99]
  12. The biggest problem with the record is how often His Name Is Alive scrap[e] the bottom of this gentle pop vibe, diminishing the early efforts by continuously revisiting the same ground.
  13. 40
    A turbid affiar. [Nov 2006, p.114]
  14. A disappointingly amateurish performance.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. JonathanA
    9
    This is my favorite '06 album. It's fresh, intriguing, moving, brilliant - yes, the best work Defever's ever done. I love the imagery of the lyrics and the intimate production and the gripping indie/funk/jazz style. I have owned it from near its release early last year, and it is still as interesting as when I listened to it the very first time. Wonderful. Full Review »
  2. ChrisT
    9
    amazing sound + not a bad song + like nothing i've heard of late + the fact that I saw them last night = i am in love with this album right now. brilliant compositions and moods. Full Review »
  3. attaboy
    8
    I wasn't expecting too much (due mainly to the impotent music that has typofied Seattle of late), but these dudes really have their finger on the sound they want. The press reviews can tell you about the bands who inspired Band of Horses, and from this layman's point of view, it really works. Full Review »