• Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: May 24, 2005
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 32
  2. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. It's easy to boggle at but less easy to love, since there's nowhere to hang your critical hat for longer than about three bars at a time.
  2. While Face The Truth rarely presents a side of its creator that has not already been seen, loved, and cried over, it's a passable, even better-than-average album.
  3. If it's not a leap in the right direction, it's at least a big step.
  4. Alternative Press
    60
    May be the weirdest record Malkmus has made since Pavement's Wowee Zowee. [Jul 2005, p.174]
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    50
    Does a new generation of music lovers really need a third solo album from [Malkmus] which includes songs that house guitar wig-outs and last up to eight minutes? Not really. [28 May 2005, p.64]
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 36
  2. Negative: 1 out of 36
  1. Serdil
    Dec 7, 2009
    9
    If not too modest to say, one of the best indie-rock albums of the decade. such beautiful sound, experimental atmosphere and songwriting. not If not too modest to say, one of the best indie-rock albums of the decade. such beautiful sound, experimental atmosphere and songwriting. not only can the progress be easily observed in his solo career, but also so much added up to pavement era. the album cant fit into any structures or boundaries, hence we call it "indie-rock" but it is erratic (in a good way) even in his own genre. it seems his relationship with the instrument has come to a very mature yet energetic state. he sounds more cynical as he's been there, done that. in the meantime, despite not being screamy-shouty, you can sense a refined and more deconstructive aggression. a note, the whole album should be listened in a stereo soundsystem with a distance between speakers. you'll get the difference. Full Review »
  2. PeterK.
    Jan 23, 2008
    7
    The hooks could be larger, but they're still large and I enjoy his aesthetic (distorted guitars, screwed up lyrics, and blips and bleeps The hooks could be larger, but they're still large and I enjoy his aesthetic (distorted guitars, screwed up lyrics, and blips and bleeps a plenty.) Full Review »
  3. AndrewE
    Jan 28, 2007
    10
    In a weird way, I like this more than slanted and enchanted. I can't go crazy critical right now, but, certainly, the critics are In a weird way, I like this more than slanted and enchanted. I can't go crazy critical right now, but, certainly, the critics are reaching too far. This is the best solo album for sure. Full Review »