Hello Sadness
by Los Campesinos!
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
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  1. No Ripcord
    Jan 3, 2012
    90
    Mature, reflective, elegant and just that little bit haunting, but ultimately and most importantly of all, brilliant.
  2. Q Magazine
    Dec 15, 2011
    80
    It's focused, punchy and beautifully poetic. [Dec. 2011 p. 129]
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  3. cokemachineglow
    Dec 5, 2011
    67
    It still is either very sincere or very sarcastic, or both, though these are two qualities which have always been both a justification for liking them and just as easily a reason why not, meanwhile not offering any amnesty or middle ground.
  5. NOW Magazine
    Dec 2, 2011
    60
    Gareth's voice has gone from excited and jubilant to pained and miserable -– an uncanny cross between Robert Smith and Conor Oberst.
  6. Uncut
    Nov 23, 2011
    80
    The band strike a neat balance between chunky Pavement guitar scrawl and sombre orchestrals. [Dec 2011, p.89]
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  7. Filter
    Nov 22, 2011
    36
    Whereas previous albums took a massive leap into noise and danger, this disappoints.
  8. Rolling Stone
    Nov 22, 2011
    70
    His romantic failure makes for fine songs.
  9. Prefix Magazine
    Nov 21, 2011
    50
    Hello Sadness offers the lumbering and deflated version of Los Campesinos!, hiding away their most alluring energy in favor of glum inactivity.
  10. Sputnikmusic
    Nov 18, 2011
    80
    There are instrumental bridges on this album that seem, blissfully, to go on forever, leading perfectly into the next song.
  11. New Musical Express (NME)
    Nov 17, 2011
    70
    The kids of the LC! still bristle with a fundamental melodic vibrancy, and the hand-in-hand maturing of music-writer Tom Campesinos! into the realms of Sonic Youth thrashes, cranky synthetics and handclaps, harmonium, violin and bar-room piano gives the record a gravitas to counterpoint Gareth's lyrical anguish.
  12. Drowned In Sound
    Nov 17, 2011
    70
    It's a solid performance, by far their most coherent yet, but missing some of the flair of previous bouts.
  13. Consequence
    Nov 17, 2011
    80
    Hello Sadness is a thrilling success for the most part. Los Campesinos! have tightened up their sound but haven't lost any of the musical elements that made them successful in the first place.
  14. CMJ
    Nov 17, 2011
    80
    They haven't lost a bit of the cheeky lyrics and determined instrumentals that made them who they were; they've just tweaked it all to suit who they are now.
  15. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Nov 16, 2011
    86
    The honesty behind Hello Sadness is remarkable and incredibly appealing.
  16. AllMusic
    Nov 16, 2011
    80
    They may never make a record as unhinged and beautiful as Hold on Now, Youngster..., but if they keep making records as tough and exciting as Hello Sadness, Los Campesinos! will always be worth keeping up with.
  17. Beats Per Minute
    Nov 16, 2011
    81
    [It offers] up some of the most melodramatic songs Los Campesinos! have recorded to date.
  18. Pitchfork
    Nov 16, 2011
    80
    Hello Sadness is their fourth straight great album.
  19. The Boston Phoenix
    Nov 16, 2011
    75
    Musically, the septet are as colorful as ever, only more resonant and with fewer xylophones--plus a newfound emphasis on rhythmic muscle.
  20. Paste Magazine
    Nov 15, 2011
    83
    With the familiar bounce and sardonic lyrics--and the development of the band's capabilities to produce tamer, deeper, more mellow fare--it's been worth the wait.
  21. Under The Radar
    Nov 15, 2011
    50
    The rest of Hello Sadness, however, finds the band drifting into less familiar territory, with mixed results. [Oct 2011, p.101]
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  22. The A.V. Club
    Nov 15, 2011
    67
    Unfortunately, Hello Sadness too often mistakes gloominess for maturity.
  23. PopMatters
    Nov 15, 2011
    60
    Ergo, Los Campesinos! had a very strong EP's worth of material on Hello Sadness, as five or six of the songs make a mark; the rest is largely filler on an album stretched out to a 40 minute runtime.
  24. The New York Times
    Nov 14, 2011
    70
    All those words compete for room uncomfortably sometimes.
  25. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Nov 14, 2011
    80
    Hello Sadness hits harder than any indie rock record in recent memory because it doesn't really sound like the gentrified indie rock I've grown so frustratingly familiar with.
  26. Alternative Press
    Nov 11, 2011
    80
    His band match his pain note-for-note for a brutal but rewarding listen. [Dec 2011, p.119]
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  27. The Guardian
    Nov 10, 2011
    60
    Written while reeling from the scorpion sting of heartbreak, Gareth Campesinos' lyrics to his band's fourth album are navel-gazing in the extreme.
  28. musicOMH.com
    Nov 10, 2011
    80
    Lyrically, gone is the amusing petulance, and in its place are tales that tug on the heart strings by creating patchwork mind pictures with words. And when Los Campesinos! hit that sweet spot, the results are stunning.
  29. BBC Music
    Nov 10, 2011
    80
    Maturity and sonic streamlining hasn't removed the essence of what gave them their cult following.
  30. Clash Music
    Nov 10, 2011
    60
    The best moments remain the songs where the band moves as a unit, conjuring a sense of hope and elation, rather than falling back on tired, shouty punk cliches.
  31. Spin
    Nov 10, 2011
    80
    Los Campesinos! can't stop adorning their odes to existential grief with snappy handclaps, but the Welsh septet are still showing signs of growth on this third album.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. SilverMan
    Jun 18, 2012
    8
    It's an impressive (but sad, as the title says) album. It starts with a bit of a hope, like something's going to work, but songs like the mainIt's an impressive (but sad, as the title says) album. It starts with a bit of a hope, like something's going to work, but songs like the main titled song and Life Is A Long Time shows that nothing is good (like a misunderstood love). It's poetic, sometimes too sad, and despite of this album sounds very personal, it has wonderful tracks.… Full Review »
  2. jph3000
    Jan 8, 2012
    8
    Songs about sadness over cheerful guitar beats. It takes a few listens to really get into the songs because the music not as catchy as theirSongs about sadness over cheerful guitar beats. It takes a few listens to really get into the songs because the music not as catchy as their other albums, I guess to prevent the contrast from being too much.… Full Review »
  3. ibechbe
    Nov 30, 2011
    10
    At first I thought that some of the tracks were filler tracks, but after multiple listens I've decided it is only because certain other songsAt first I thought that some of the tracks were filler tracks, but after multiple listens I've decided it is only because certain other songs are so strong on the album. While there are songs that people will undoubtedly pick out of the album to listen to more than others, a straight through listen of the album is exceptionally pleasing. There are never songs that distract from the overall experience other than to "wow" you. The lead singer has grown tremendously since Hold On Now, Youngster. While he used to have a much brighter sound, his vocals have matured and darkened as have his lyrics. I loved the first album but because of how bright it was, I could only take so many listens before I got a headache. It's hard to compare to the other albums as it is much different, but after multiple listens through I can safely say this is their best album yet.… Full Review »
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