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Last Summer - Eleanor Friedberger
Last Summer Image
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: The Fiery Furnaces member makes her solo debut of emotionally-moving experimental pop.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Sputnikmusic
    Jul 11, 2011
    100
    It straddles that difficult line between accessible and adventurous, making for a fine stopgap between Fiery Furnaces records and an excellent summer album regardless of the year.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Jul 12, 2011
    83
    On Last Summer, Friedberger shows that her compositional voice is equally compelling when she's freed from her brother's watchful eye.
  3. Q Magazine
    Dec 22, 2011
    40
    The highlights are outweighed by tracks such as Glitter Gold Year, a half-formed sketch of jabbing bass and meandering riffs. [Jan. 2012 p. 120]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. dartagnan
    10
    I love this album I love Eleanor's voice and delivery I didn't buy this album when it first came out because I couldn't make head nor tails out of the reviews I read They seemed to be positive without actually being positive if that makes any sense at all Bought it because I noticed it on several end of year lists So happy I did!! An extremely pleasant way to spend forty minutes! Catchy melodies interesting stories wonderful rhythms Perhaps to a certain extent the fact that it is low key prevented reviewers from feeling the gush necessary to giving it a sparkling review I have no such qualms It's like a garment one purchases that fits so well both physically and psychically one can't imagine how one had lived without it My only complaint would be that a few tracks seem to end to quickly I wish they had been given a little more instrumental workout especially the closing track "Early Earthquake" or maybe I just hate for the cd to end… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. emmajean
    9
    This is the Pauls Boutique of the 2011. This album is not getting nearly enough attention, but over time I think it will garner more praise. Its goodness is subtle. The songs are amazing, the production is smart, warm without being too slick. Its got a real 70's vibe without trying to be overtly retro. The music and lyrics are perfectly matched. A perfect balance between the ironic and the earnest. Its a coherent album that plays very much as an album, but yet has the obvious singles (Roosevelt Island, My Mistakes). Eleanor makes indie funk and AM GOLD without it being ironic. That's pretty amazing, and the songs are narrative, not stories per se, but interesting enough for you to want ot listen and make out the lyrics.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Music-Defined
    8
    I enjoyed this a lot more than anything I've heard by Fiery Furnaces. It's got more of a pop feel, and far less experimental. She's got a good voice and interesting lyrics. That's all I need. Check out my full review at http://wp.me/p1ufV5-9M… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

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