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Give Up Your Dreams
by
Give Up Your Dreams Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the sixth full-length studio release for the New Zealand six-piece band.
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Give Up Your Dreams
Give up your dreams Give up your dreams Give up your dreams Give up your dreams We've been stuck together In awkward situations Sitting at the back... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. The Guardian
    Aug 20, 2015
    80
    Ironically, giving up their dreams has seen Phoenix Foundation trimming off some of the cosmic fat and becoming more focused--worldwide success could be in the offing.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    Aug 3, 2015
    80
    The Wellington five-piece’s sixth album is a fabulous meld of power-pop, electronica and US West Coast harmony that swings through techno-country on 'Prawn', and even dabbles in soulful house on 'Celestial Bodies'.
  3. Q Magazine
    Aug 3, 2015
    80
    A nice career reboot, in short, which doesn't torch everything they've achieved in 15 years together. [Sep 2015, p.114]
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  4. Mojo
    Aug 3, 2015
    80
    Songs and melody remain paramount in this irresistible Technicolor world. [Sep 2015, p.88]
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  5. Uncut
    Aug 3, 2015
    70
    Upbeat, uptempo and clearly a lot of fun to make, Give Up Your Dreams is a funny and infectious record. [Sep 2015, p.80]
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  6. musicOMH.com
    Aug 12, 2015
    70
    It’s all rather wonderful nonsense--playful, engaging and not always entirely successful.
  7. Clash Music
    Aug 6, 2015
    70
    In choosing to move down a more percussive path, the Phoenix Foundation set themselves a challenge quite different than those they had previously faced. 80-minute double albums are usually tough to follow, but they've chosen to reconnect with the spirit of the band rather than try to top 'Fandango' in a self-conscious manner, and in doing so have redefined themselves.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. kama-lay-on
    Aug 7, 2015
    6
    I disagree that the album weaves together as nicely as some have commented. However, I did think that the majority of the tracks wereI disagree that the album weaves together as nicely as some have commented. However, I did think that the majority of the tracks were individually very well composed, but disrupted by some that seemed out of place.

    Stand out song -- "Jason"    … Expand
  2. AnonJ
    Aug 12, 2015
    5
    Doesn't seem to make much sense, and even the cover looked cheap. Of course people would have various unrealistic "dreams" when they wereDoesn't seem to make much sense, and even the cover looked cheap. Of course people would have various unrealistic "dreams" when they were younger but as time progresses we constantly refine our visions and they get closer and closer to a version feasible in reality and you carry it out with reasonable fidelity + sense of fulfillment. Maybe you might not exactly call them "dreams" by then but it's not that much off either. This kind of title sounds clever but it conveys little substance.… Expand

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