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Fear Is Excruciating But Therein Lies The Answer
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Fear Is Excruciating But Therein Lies The Answer Image
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

  • Summary: The third instrumental album for the rock project started by Isis members Bryant Clifford Meyer and Jeff Caxide is its first since Josh Graham left in 2008.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. PopMatters
    80
    It tops a fine collection that reveals the kind of production and songwriting progress that every band which treads water should aspire to.
  2. BBC Music
    80
    In its own right, The Fear... is an impressive piece of work. As inevitable as comparisons with their previous creations are, they shouldn’t detract from what is by anyone else’s standards a major achievement
  3. The Boston Phoenix
    63
    Red Sparowes can’t shake the post-rock stereotype--but occasionally they do point the way forward.
  4. Sputnikmusic
    60
    Fans of the genre will likely find it to be one of the better releases of the year. It seems that Red Sparowes, though, are missing a special part of their sound and it's holding them back from becoming the band they could be and indeed, may well be with a future release.
  5. Pitchfork
    52
    Without fail, The Fear rides that button down to a nub, going so far as to circle back on longer tracks to give the button another unnecessary push.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. ZimmyT.
    Apr 9, 2010
    10
    I don't listen to pompous garbage, so I'll just rate it based on the title. First? It's obviously real artsy and superior. I I don't listen to pompous garbage, so I'll just rate it based on the title. First? It's obviously real artsy and superior. I mean, Jesus, with a title like that, anything less than a conceptual album providing an allegory for all of history is just a let down. Also, I like how the title lets us know how philosophical and deep the band is. It really lets us know how they are the keepers of the secrets of the universe. I guess I'll just have to give this record a spin so I can figure out the meaning of life!… Expand
  2. TylerD.
    Apr 8, 2010
    9
    A truly great album. Their best work yet, with some of the most beautiful post-rock passages I've heard in a while. That guitar melody A truly great album. Their best work yet, with some of the most beautiful post-rock passages I've heard in a while. That guitar melody on Giving Birth to Imagined Saviors is just incredible.… Expand