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Dongs of Sevotion - Smog
Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
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  1. Pitchfork
    93
    Every track on Dongs of Sevotion is chock-full of some of the most poignant, disconcerting lyrics you should ever have to hear.
  2. Nude As The News
    90
    An album of stark beauty and utter honesty.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    As his musical repertoire has expanded from minimalist folk to occasionally playful pop, so has his tolerance for the foibles of the flesh. 'Dongs Of Sevotion', from its silly title to its intermittent flashes of tenderness and humour, is the proof.
  4. Sonicnet
    80
    Continues the musical evolution that was evident on last year's Knock Knock, with a collection that goes beyond Smog's standard home-alone-in-the-basement-with-a-four track-and-a-weird-mood aesthetic.
  5. All Music Guide
    80
    A remarkably spare and focused collection?
  6. Q Magazine
    80
    Back in the real world, fans of the disconnected Callahan know what to expect. They're a loyal breed who puzzle over his dryly funny lyrics and file the CDs next to Mark Eitzel and Nick Cave... His best yet.
  7. Ink Blot Magazine
    80
    At first listen, this album is downbeat minimalism à la Leonard Cohen, but it actually covers a lot of ground.
  8. The A.V. Club
    80
    Recording with a small band that includes John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea And Cake) on drums, Jeff Parker (Tortoise, Isotope 217) on guitar, and Matt Lux (Isotope 217) on bass, Callahan has created a surprisingly accessible and enjoyable pastiche of what makes him tick.
  9. Billboard
    70
    Callahan's songs occasionally lapse into banal rhyming patterns, but more often than not he masters the metaphor.
  10. CDNow
    70
    Callahan has a gift for expressing complex human issues -- death, depression, retribution, separation -- through uncomplicated language.
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User Reviews

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User Score
9.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. LeonardoF
    10
    Lyrically and melodically brilliant.
  2. KevinK
    9
    "Dongs of Sevotion" succeeds, despite its annoying title. Most fans of smog or (smog), will enjoy this release, as it combines some of the finer elements of "Knock Knock" and "Red Apple Falls". Lyrically, Bill Callahan is at his best with sardonic gems like "Dress Sexy At My Funeral" and "Permanent Smile". In short, fans of melody, cunning lyrics, or (smog) in general will find this album an enjoyable addition to their library.… Full Review »
  3. RyanC
    9
    If the last track here doesnt make you stop what you are doing and feel a shiver, then you are possibly not human
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