Last Summer - Eleanor Friedberger
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. dartagnan
    Jan 6, 2012
    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
  2. emmajean
    Oct 26, 2011
    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.… Collapse

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Mojo
    Jan 10, 2012
    80
    Wonky, wordy, connective - a Tapestry for the Williamsburg set.[Dec. 2011, p.93]
  2. The Guardian
    Jan 3, 2012
    80
    As a singer she remains as wayward as ever, her velvety voice, so urgent and melancholy in its expression, rendering even the most nakedly autobiographical lyrics here impenetrably opaque.
    Read full review
  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]
See all critic reviews »