Metascore
68 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. This disc has been rendered with creativity and panache, and it features hooky songwriting so compelling that it's easy to listen to the mere 35 minutes of material (divided into 11 three-minute long, radio-friendly songs) on a continuous loop.
  2. 90
    A surprisingly mature effort. [#71, p.112]
  3. The Sounds pick up where White Rose Movement faded out, with their melange of sussed Scandi cool, new wave pop pout, and Killers-style synth mayhem.
  4. 70
    Compared to 2003's Living In America, the disco-punk is less explicitly Blondie-biting and actually noticeably more weary, but no less propulsive and vamping. [Mar 2006, p.119]
  5. Yes, the Sounds' music starts to blur together, but what a blur.
  6. If you continually dig out your Go-Gos and 80s-era Blondie records to bask in the lip gloss-smacking sound, Dying To Say This To You is the modern recoat for you.
  7. 67
    It's like being trapped in the dressing room at Express for an hour. [Apr 2006, p.91]
  8. Their newfound nods to pop music... overshadow the expected balls-out rockers. [Apr 2006, p.220]
  9. Maja Ivarsson's throaty, bittersweet delivery gives the whole thing some welcome bite, but there's very little going on below the glossy surface.
  10. No matter what happens on any given song (and fortunately there are far more hits than misses here), the Sounds have the advantage of having [Maja] Ivarsson at the mic.
  11. Repetitive riffs and chord progressions spoil the good times. [24 Mar 2006, p.71]
  12. Often sounds like stale glam-pop fandom. [23 Mar 2006, p.67]
  13. This stuff is often pretty infectious in spite of itself--you know, "so bad it's good." [Apr/May 2006, p.118]
  14. Slick and propulsive, the quintet needs a little meat on their songs to help elevate their slavish '80s enthusiasm into something a little more memorable.
  15. They’re not trying to pass this off as original, and it’s not by any means. But it is clearly catchy as hell, if almost annoyingly so.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. DYING TO SAY THIS TO YOU has some good songs, but some I didn't really like. It could have been a bit better.
  2. johns
    9
    one of the best albums i heard in a while. almost as good as 'the organ'. the album screams fun and cos i am a 80's child this is my kind of thing. highly recommended. Full Review »
  3. gernickk
    9
    some songs actually brought a tear to my eyes, i was that happy!! it sags a little toward the end but overall it's the most fun you can cram in 35 minutes i've heard in a long time! i just wanted to turn it up louder and louder, so will you! Full Review »