- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Obviously, a host of issues--from downtime to headlines--compelled Walla to make this record, and his effort shows. What's missing is a compelling reason to listen.
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Too often these songs sound like Death Cab B-sides, like the 'I Will Follow You Into The Dark'-mining 'A Bird Is A Song.'
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While at times angrier and more energetic than Death Cab for Cutie, many songs could be (and are) B-sides of "Plans" or "Transatlanticism."
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Field Manual is, on the whole, pretty solid and the vocals, on the whole, are pretty terrible. In other words, the album sounds exactly like a solo record by a guitarist/producer.
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On the whole, Field Manual is a solid record.
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Add Walla to the list of producers who should stay producers: Field Manual sounds great, but it isn't always worth listening to.
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Alternative PressIt's nice Walla's doing his own thing, but it's also clear from Field Manual that in terms of his main band, credit has always been given where credit was due. [Mar 2008, p.141]
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Field Manual rests slight vocals atop memorable instrumentation, with surprisingly unshimmery production. [Feb 2008, p.98]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 6 out of 9
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Mixed: 2 out of 9
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Negative: 1 out of 9
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RyanFeb 8, 2008Sounds like it could be a Death Cab outtake album.
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JohnS.Feb 7, 2008I can't stop listening to this.