• Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: Aug 23, 2005
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    An excellent new-school Neil Young for the Garden State generation. [26 Aug 2005, p.61]
  2. Melding big, weary Fleetwood Mac-esque emotion to stretched-out arrangements, both electronic and folk, the Canadian singer/songwriter's power lies in his dedication to his own individuality.
  3. That's ultimately the sticking point with Infiniheart: VanGaalen's songs tend toward folly, yet it's impossible to discount his commitment to the material.
  4. Contains some of this year's most original and moving songwriting, and displays a breathtaking virtuosity and inventiveness on the part of its creator.
  5. Alternative Press
    100
    As edgy as singer-songwriter pop gets. [Oct 2005, p.158]
  6. Infiniheart is too bright, too beautiful, and almost too good to be believed.
  7. Rife with contrast and irony, Infiniheart plays like a series of short stories or films, somehow interwoven to a common conclusion.
  8. Between his willingness to experiment and a bountiful arsenal at his disposal, a spectacular range of dreamlike moods and sounds are created across Infiniheart's sixty-five minutes.
  9. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    [An] impressive lo-fi debut. [27 Aug 2005, p.74]
  10. Paste Magazine
    80
    VanGaalen stuffs these frequently breathtaking songs with death and paranoid visions of dystopias and bad dreams. [Oct/Nov 2005, p.125]
  11. Under The Radar
    80
    These are really, really beautiful songs. [#11, p.116]
  12. With 16 thoroughly-developed tracks, clocking in at a little under an hour, Infiniheart is a tedious listen. Though its moments of faltering are few, it's a lot to digest.
  13. Magnet
    80
    At an hour long, Infiniheart occasionally feels infinite, but moments of perfection make VanGaalen's meanderings seem a necessary part of the whole appealing coincidence. [#69, p.110]

Awards & Rankings

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- 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. JereW
    Jul 18, 2006
    9
    I like him better than Sufjan (they are often compared for reasons unknown to me). His second effort will do much better!
  2. T-WiLL
    Oct 19, 2005
    8
    The single "Clinically Dead" will linger in your mind for years. The rest of teh album is a grower. If given the time, a rewarding listen.
  3. matta
    Oct 10, 2005
    9
    Very impressive lo-fi album. All the tracks work pretty flawlessly together but I would be interested to see what some studio production Very impressive lo-fi album. All the tracks work pretty flawlessly together but I would be interested to see what some studio production would do to his sound. Still, stunning first proper debut and one of the year's ten best. Full Review »