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Dragonslayer
by
Dragonslayer Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 66 Ratings

  • Summary: The third album for the Spencer Krug-led project is its first with newest member Mark Nicol.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Drowned In Sound
    100
    Whatever all this means, Dragonslayer is an album to get your teeth into. As on the final chorus, it's: "a bigger kind of kill". You need this.
  2. Delusions of Adequacy
    90
    It’s another astounding album from a great band and one that we should get much, much more music from for many years to come.
  3. cokemachineglow
    84
    Dragonslayer is a shockingly good record, but it’s no surprise that things ended up this way.
  4. NOW Magazine
    80
    His tendency to cram a million ideas into every song gets toned down, too, but fans of that aesthetic shouldn’t worry; the songs are as intricate and delightfully off-kilter as ever.
  5. Rolling Stone
    70
    Epic? Extremely. Awesome? Monstrously.
  6. The Boston Phoenix
    63
    This, their third album is as ambitious as its predecessors but mutes the joy in favor of a more serious tone and tighter focus--well, as tight as an album with a 10-minute number called 'Dragon's Lair' can be. The results are mixed.
  7. Billboard
    60
    Nonsensical lyrics about butterflies and name-changing lovers on tracks like 'You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)' and 'Apollo And The Buffalo And Anna Anna Anna Oh!,' could serve as a distraction, but the songs are saved by beautifully frantic instrumentals.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. JoseC
    Jun 23, 2009
    10
    The best album that I have heard this year.
  2. FredR
    Jun 23, 2009
    10
    Best album I've heard in 2009 so far.
  4. KurtC
    Dec 6, 2009
    10
    Exceptional album. This one really surprised me and continues to give me goose bumps while I'll rock out to it. One of the only albums I Exceptional album. This one really surprised me and continues to give me goose bumps while I'll rock out to it. One of the only albums I own with a perfect rating of 100. A must-by and my #1 album of 2009; it also placed at #4 for the decade behind My Morning Jacket, Wilco, and Fleet Foxes to give you some reference for what I'm in to.… Expand
  5. GW
    Jun 29, 2009
    10
    A great band which normally spins in some other ethereal orbit, deciding to swoop in like a blazing comet into a closer, more accessible A great band which normally spins in some other ethereal orbit, deciding to swoop in like a blazing comet into a closer, more accessible orbit..all the better so more of the world can see their unique brand of spectacular, complex, off-kilter progressive pop.… Collapse
  6. ES
    Aug 26, 2009
    10
    This album through and through is the best of 2009. You go on ahead (trumpet trumpet II) is undoubtedly my favorite song. At first i liked This album through and through is the best of 2009. You go on ahead (trumpet trumpet II) is undoubtedly my favorite song. At first i liked silver moons the most, but after a couple listens i realized just how epic it is. On par with Shut Up I am Dreaming.… Expand
  7. StianS
    Sep 12, 2009
    10
    This album is amazing and it's getting even better for each listening, even after two months!
  8. MS.
    Aug 13, 2009
    7
    'Bowiesque' without the pretentiousness of previous albums. There are some solid tracks on here.

See all 21 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

73
#73 Best Album of 2009
63
#63 Most Discussed Album of 2009

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