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Elan Vital
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Elan Vital Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

  • Summary: Guitarist Nathan Thelen is out, and keyboardist Leona Marrs is in, for the third LP from the Andrea Zollo-fronted band.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. Alternative Press
    100
    Elan Vital is easily the band's most adventurous disc to date. [Jun 2006, p.178]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. AllMusic
    90
    There aren't many post-punk influenced bands around that sound as original and as removed from their influences as Pretty Girls Make Graves. There also aren't many that could write an album jammed with so many memorable songs.
  3. Billboard
    80
    This is the thinking person's dance music with lyrical content to match.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    It's the sound of the band mutating from the exciting, mysterious person in the club to the partner you pee in front of and take shopping for carpets. [15 Apr 2006, p.35]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Neumu.net
    65
    It is, at one time or another, twee reggae, hipster rock-ism, synth-pop balladry, post-Interpol gothickry. It's an inconsistency that's both noble and annoying.
  6. Delusions of Adequacy
    60
    These initial songs are noteworthy by any measure; the remainder of the album, then, is a bit of a let-down, especially on first listen.
  7. Q Magazine
    20
    An excruciating listen. [May 2006, p.129]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. AlexandriaC
    May 3, 2007
    10
    andrea is a very talented singer, and will continue to portray this, even though the band has split. this deserves a 10.
  2. dasmith
    Jun 13, 2006
    10
    There best yet.....I like pyrite pedestal and selling the wind the best I think.....
  4. richardd
    Apr 28, 2006
    9
    i think pgmg have really pushed themselves and matured their sound. the writing is excellent and they are sonically more complex. all this i think pgmg have really pushed themselves and matured their sound. the writing is excellent and they are sonically more complex. all this and the songs will get stuck in your head for days!… Expand
  5. williamo
    Apr 13, 2006
    8
    I love them, what a good move! Really good mix of post-punk and art-rock! In the top for this year, for sure!
  6. Tom
    May 12, 2006
    7
    it's not surprising that q magazine bashed this record - this is the magazine that gave the kooks' album four stars, so that just it's not surprising that q magazine bashed this record - this is the magazine that gave the kooks' album four stars, so that just underlines their total irrelevance. as for the album itself, it's on a par with new romance, but nowhere near as good as their debut, good health. i guess i just prefer their old, energetic sound. still a great live band, though.… Collapse
  7. AaronQ
    Apr 28, 2006
    6
    Definitely more interesting than "The New Romance," but that doesn't mean as good. "Good Heatlh" really is where it's at.
  8. greenbean
    May 9, 2006
    0
    unoriginal music that inevitably gives a headache.

See all 11 User Reviews

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