Emerald City
by John Vanderslice
  • Record Label: Barsuk
  • Release Date: Jul 24, 2007
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Pitchfork
    62
    While Vanderslice's observations and commentary sounded fresh and fierce two years ago, the same essential message run through similarly sounding songs this time around rings hollow.
  2. cokemachineglow
    68
    The problem is that Vanderslice’s lyrical scope remains too broad to enable a cohesive or definitive conceptual statement, and his music too tightly defined and predictable to be considered a departure.
  3. Slant Magazine
    100
    Both on a song-for-song basis and as singular cohesive work, Emerald City demonstrates Vanderslice's masterful control of craft at every structural level and his unrivaled ability to make the political personal.
  5. AllMusic
    80
    The production is still huge and full, although audiophiles may be disturbed by the overdriven acoustic guitars on certain songs that give an unnerving sensation of blown speaker cones. It's a forgivable stylistic decision, and doesn't detract much from the overall solidarity of the disc.
  6. Tiny Mix Tapes
    80
    Throughout Emerald City, Vanderslice uses his celebrated producing talent to control feedback and mold it into an instrument as vital as the guitar and piano that are so central to his music.
  7. Paste Magazine
    70
    Emerald City is vividly imagined yet subtle in tone, with conflicted character sketches unfolding around somber synth melodies, creaky electronic effects, and fuzzy acoustic guitar strums.
  8. Filter
    70
    when given the space, the music is alternately compelling and peaceful; unfortunately, the words get in the way.
  9. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    John Vanderslice's sixth full-length, Emerald City, doesn't disappoint.
  10. Stylus Magazine
    75
    The album, like most of Vanderslice’s albums, meanders along like a pleasant afternoon: it is all fair weather and blithe breezes, fairly consistent in both tone and tempo.
  11. Billboard
    80
    The air of uncertainty and doubt he creates is what continually makes his music so intriguing.
  12. PopMatters
    90
    The entirety of Emerald City seeks to elevate to the personal and the timeless, and top to bottom it is a success.
  13. Under The Radar
    80
    Emerald City finds Vanderslice further along his yellow brick road to occupying a truely unique place in indie rock. [Summer 2007, p.77]
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  14. Spin
    80
    Emerald City may be his most unsettling work yet. [Aug 2007, p. 110]
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  15. Q Magazine
    60
    His sixth album has a political slant, but the message is subtler than his controversial 2000 ditty, 'Bill Gates Must Die.'
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Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best Album of 2007

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 3 out of 22
  1. KevinC.
    Sep 24, 2007
    10
    Pitchfork got it way wrong this time. David Raposa sounds like high school reviewer who just discovered you can look up lyrics on Google. Pitchfork got it way wrong this time. David Raposa sounds like high school reviewer who just discovered you can look up lyrics on Google. Even if he's right about the lyrical content, it's beside the point. Furthermore, if Vanderslice IS still stuck on 9/11, why is that a fault? If Raposa was not as affected, then just admit that up-front and get a less biased reviewer. All that to say, give this disc a shot. Play it through a few times. Emerald City is easily one of the best albums of the year.… Full Review »
  2. AllanC.
    Sep 21, 2007
    10
    Great sound and loved it from top to bottom.
  3. MarkG
    Sep 18, 2007
    9
    Great record.
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