From A Compound Eye
by Robert Pollard
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Jan 24, 2006
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Austin Chronicle
    40
    While Pollard's nothing if not prolific, if ever he needed an editor to cut some passages and refocus others, it's here on From a Compound Eye.
  2. Neumu.net
    55
    An abundance of morose, meandering material in search of a hook.
  3. Village Voice
    50
    That Eye is neither great nor terrible and often very good can be attributed to one part talent and two parts luck. But the fact remains that Pollard is far too willing to leave all the heavy lifting to the listeners.
  5. Uncut
    60
    As ever: endlessly clever, utterly inessential. [Feb 2006, p.81]
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  6. Blender
    60
    As double albums go, it's a hell of an EP. [Mar 2006, p.114]
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  7. Q Magazine
    60
    Pollard's ear for a pop hook remains unswerving. [Mar 2006, p.109]
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  8. Alternative Press
    60
    Contains all the usual suspects: a few great songs, a few throwaways, a bunch of head-scratching song titles and indie rock's best take on the Who. [Mar 2006, p.124]
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  9. Paste Magazine
    60
    Entrenched fans will be pleased to have another wing to explore in his ever-expanding mansion of song. [Feb/Mar 2006, p.110]
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  10. Billboard
    60
    "Compound Eye" is difficult as a complete listen but works well in smaller chunks. [28 Jan 2006]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. aaron
    May 5, 2006
    8
    great album, although i would strongly reccommend the "fiction man" album first, if you havent heard it... same production style, but that great album, although i would strongly reccommend the "fiction man" album first, if you havent heard it... same production style, but that album is built more around immediately gratifying hooks. this one will definitely take a bit longer to sink in, not just because its a 70+ minute disc, but most of the songs themselves are pretty strange... for various reasons: production, more mid-song change-ups, more complex hooks...etc.etc.etc.… Full Review »
  2. BrianM
    Feb 20, 2006
    7
    7.5 really. Like most of Pollard's albums, this one will take some time to digest, and even then, not all of the hidden gems will be 7.5 really. Like most of Pollard's albums, this one will take some time to digest, and even then, not all of the hidden gems will be evident until many months or years later. That's the general feeling I get from the album. With every spin, I find something else to appreciate. It's not a masterpiece, but one of his strongest solo albums. The only downside is the legnth of the album.… Full Review »
  3. JohnL
    Feb 20, 2006
    10
    Created from cold corpse and surgeon...American Superdream Wow!
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