Half Smiles Of The Decomposed - Guided by Voices
User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16

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  1. JohnH
    Sep 2, 2004
    9
    It ain't Alien Lanes, but it sure is great. A grower like all GbV's best albums.
  2. anderton
    Aug 25, 2004
    10
    Bittersweet masterpiece.
  3. eric
    Aug 25, 2004
    10
    10 as any GBV song is
  4. JorgeC
    Aug 25, 2004
    10
    Robert Pollard is from another planet.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Billboard
    70
    The album isn't a certified classic like earlier GBV favorites "Alien Lanes" and "Under the Bushes, Under the Stars," but it does have a healthy dollop of Pollard's trademark effortless pop perfection.
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  2. PopMatters
    80
    In essence Half Smiles of the Decomposed is more overloaded with ideas and styles than any other recent Guided by Voices album, yet the songs still hold together cohesively and the album actually gains in depth from the variety.
    Read full review
  3. Filter
    82
    It's ultimately a pop album, reflective and thoughtful, and these songs are just that: songs. [#12, p.97]
See all critic reviews »