Hospice
by The Antlers
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 157 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 143 out of 157
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 157
  3. Negative: 13 out of 157

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  1. jotaeseche
    Dec 31, 2014
    10
    It's more than a bunch of songs; it's a complete work of art, a story, a life, a new and aural experience. Few albums had such impact in my life so as to change it significantly: Hospice is one of them. It's simply magic.
  2. Pastry_AAA
    May 22, 2011
    2
    basically it goes like this

    Song 1... Prologue... is the prologue Song 2... Kettering... girl is in hospital because a guy beat her up with a bone... she's really sad and quiet but her nurse decides to take care of her because its his job Song 3... Atrophy... he does surgery to take the bullets out of her body and puts them inside of himself... it makes him so sad that he gives    basically it goes like this

    Song 1... Prologue... is the prologue

    Song 2... Kettering... girl is in hospital because a guy beat her up with a bone... she's really sad and quiet but her nurse decides to take care of her because its his job

    Song 3... Atrophy... he does surgery to take the bullets out of her body and puts them inside of himself... it makes him so sad that he gives her "a trophy" for making him so sad...

    Song 4... Bear... while he is performing surgery he finds out that there is actually a live bear inside her stomach as well, he gets into an argument with the bear about whether they're too old or not old at all

    Thirteen... while he is doing surgery there is a little woman inside where the bear was and it sings a song to him asking to pull her out also

    Two... I dunno what this song is about really but i think he's talking about her past and then the doctor tells him he has to stop trying to help her because there is way too much **** inside her... the bear has grown angry and it breaks all the light bulbs and glass rains down from the ceiling...

    Shiva... she takes off a ring and puts it on his finger and it turns him into Shiva, from the Final Fantasy series, but as he's transforming the "sensation is shivers" because he's ice elemental and it's real cold

    Wake... spoiler alert... he wakes up and it was all a dream... but then a helicopter comes outside his window and she's inside of it but he ties the rope around his neck... and dies

    Epilogue... they both die and they are buried together but they are still alive and she is screaming so much that he can't sleep    … Expand
  3. Where
    Jun 27, 2012
    0
    Any album that can deliver such intense emotions to the listener deserves a 10/10. Never heard anything more emotionally affecting than Hospice by The Antlers.
  4. NathanielT
    Nov 6, 2009
    10
    Sometimes I struggle not to cry when listening to this. Perhaps I'm not so cynical after all, or perhaps this is just incredibly powerful?
  5. DarrenV
    Aug 20, 2009
    9
    Stunningly emotional.
  6. ChrisG
    Aug 20, 2009
    9
    Short on singles, but a profoundly moving and beautiful album with a capital "A." Taken as a set, Hospice is a moving and delicate piece of art. Album of the year so far.
  7. wouldwebealive
    Aug 31, 2009
    9
    First album in months that i find myself repeating over and over again.
  8. alexg
    Aug 30, 2009
    10
    Best album since Radiohead s In Rainbows!
  9. JohnO.
    Apr 13, 2010
    10
    This is one of the best albums I have ever heard.. Brings me to tears. What a great band.
  10. bobj
    Aug 19, 2009
    10
    Best album of 2009.
  11. BillyC.
    Aug 21, 2009
    10
    Easily the best album of 2009 thus far.
  12. pauld
    Aug 25, 2009
    10
    Absolutely stunning album! Better than anything I've heard in years..... a cinch for album of 2009. What a talented band!!!
  13. JamesP.
    Aug 29, 2009
    10
    Currently halfway through this album, and I don't need to finish it to already know 10/10 passion and feeling went straight into this album, followed up with a great sound.
  14. DavidS
    Aug 30, 2009
    10
    I get shivers every time I listen to this album. It is full of emotions, and worth a listen.
  15. Bman
    Sep 1, 2009
    10
    Heartbreaking. Some of the best lyrics I've heard in a while and one of the best albums I've heard this year. Highlights are Atrophy, Bear, Thirteen and Shiva. Gets better every time you listen to it, although first impressions aren't too bad, either.
  16. GoliathR
    Nov 16, 2009
    10
    I can count on my fingers the number of records I can sit down and listen to all the way through repeatedly. Hospice is one of them. Easily my favorite album of 2009. 10 is deserved.
  17. Cribb.
    Nov 5, 2009
    9
    Great album, one of the years best. Full of emotion, raw and powerful. Fantastic for a debut and highly recommended.
  18. charliem
    Nov 5, 2009
    10
    Hands down, favorite album of the decade. No joke. Unbelievably powerful.
  19. jr
    Oct 23, 2009
    10
    We've all been there - illness, mortality, the hospital. Antlers provides an artful portrait.
  20. brenk
    Oct 25, 2009
    10
    I keep listening to this on my ipod, over and over. Its haunting.
  21. SatreN
    Oct 29, 2009
    10
    One of the most powerful and tragic albums I have ever heard, it has this broad scope of melancholy emotions that just brings you to your knees. I think this has to be one of best albums of this decade.
  22. BrianM
    Oct 9, 2009
    10
    On first listen I was only somewhat impressed with album. The real power is in the emotional delivery of the vocals and the weighty lyrics. Death, sickness and loss never felt so beautiful and cathartic. This is probably one of my favorites for the year and certainly has the emotional depth that is missing in most music today.
  23. Davis
    Aug 18, 2009
    10
    Nothing this year comes close to being as powerful as Hospice. Best disc of the year.
  24. a.nony-mous
    Aug 21, 2009
    10
    It's quite a feat to make music that goes from subdued to grandiose without making it sound pretentious. this album is able to walk that line perfectly, drawing a surprisingly wide range of emotions out of the listener. if you like music of this genre, this is definitely one of the top albums of 2009.
  25. PeterK
    Aug 20, 2009
    8
    I've been listening to this for a couple of weeks now and it is very good, particularly when the singer lets fly. Some of the more quiescent moments could have been edited down, but that's quibbling.
  26. KeithW
    Aug 31, 2009
    10
    Breathtaking, touching yet not overdone at all. The singer makes this record one that many can empathise with.
  27. Flubs
    Sep 2, 2009
    8
    Yup, definitely one of the highlights of 2009.
  28. MatheusB.
    Oct 11, 2009
    9
    This album really reaches in and delivers a personal experience that you will be willing to repeat. First listened to it while trying to sleep and kept listening for a whole week. The songs have this calm flow-like feeling so that you don't bother which track you're at while listening to the entire album and keepsyou wondering. My fav. album of 2009 til now.
  29. AdrianC
    Nov 27, 2009
    9
    The union of his clearly and calm voice with the melodies and the history behind the lyrics just gets through all my senses!! After hearing 5 times in a road this album i love it more every time... simply one of this years best albums!!
  30. StephenW.
    Aug 18, 2009
    10
    Amazing.
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best Album of 2009
24
#24 Most Discussed Album of 2009
35
#35 Most Shared Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Delusions of Adequacy
    90
    This quintet of musicians are making a name for themselves and with Hospice, they have remarkably made one of 2009’s best albums.
    Read full review
  2. Lost At Sea
    100
    Hospice sits squarely in this camp, a heartbreaking aural experience that hits us on a deeper level.
    Read full review
  3. NOW Magazine
    80
    Hospice isn’t uplifting or hopeful; it explores themes of dejection through delicate, beautiful sounds.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »