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Laughter's Fifth
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Laughter's Fifth Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

  • Summary: Yes, this is indeed the fifth full-length for the band led by Sam Jayne.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. No Ripcord
    100
    One of the best rock albums of the past twenty-five years.
  2. AllMusic
    90
    It's personal, it's cryptic, it's hilarious -- it's Laughter's Fifth, and Sam Jayne is definitely some kind of genius.
  3. Prefix Magazine
    80
    Refreshingly, Love as Laughter doesn’t take itself too seriously: this is smart rock completely devoid of pretentiousness.
  4. Alternative Press
    80
    Jayne shrouds his more subversive content in Laughter's Fifth's tambourine-tapping, upbeat numbers. [May 2005, p.164]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Pitchfork
    78
    The virtually quirk-free Laughter's Fifth settles nearly its entire weight onto Jayne's songwriting shoulders. Fortunately, however, it's a load Jayne sounds as if he was born to tote, and here he delivers what is undoubtedly his tightest, most satisfying batch of songs to date.
  6. Neumu.net
    70
    Laughter's Fifth finds Jayne tracking back to a groovier, sillier time in rock 'n' roll, peeling back the rough riffs and celebrating the peace-and-love beat.
  7. PopMatters
    50
    Comes across as kinda dull.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. limejello
    Jun 22, 2005
    10
    How do you spell "wuu-hoooooo!" You will wear out this album and go back for more Woo-HOOOOOOOO!
  2. stefanlockdown
    May 14, 2005
    9
    best of their career and one of the best records of the year. stands up to any recent output by peers like built to spill, the shins or best of their career and one of the best records of the year. stands up to any recent output by peers like built to spill, the shins or modest mouse. fans of those bands will not be disappointed. highly recommended!… Expand
  4. joshfajitas
    May 17, 2005
    9
    this album rocks. i had never heard of these guys, but this grabbed upon the first listen. definitely worth picking up.
  5. admiralsnackbar
    Jun 5, 2005
    9
    I heard the first track at a friend's house and thought I'd finally heard a Modest Mouse song I liked, but as the songs kept I heard the first track at a friend's house and thought I'd finally heard a Modest Mouse song I liked, but as the songs kept coming, the identity of this band just continued to grow more and more singular. By the time "Canal Street," was drawing to an end, I was ready to mortgage my house to buy the CD for myself if I had to. I haven't heard drums sound this good since the 70's, I haven't heard lyrics this fun ( or, occassionally, compelling ) since GBV broke up, and I haven't gushed this much over a new ( to me ) band in a long time. The album sounds like a real rock band, and it kicks way more ass than the 76 metascore belies. It is imperfect, but so was Transformer, y'know?… Expand
  6. matta
    Jul 8, 2005
    8
    Solid, dirty, indie rock sound, and In Amber and Dirty Lives are classics. Nothing ground-breaking here, but that's obviously not what Solid, dirty, indie rock sound, and In Amber and Dirty Lives are classics. Nothing ground-breaking here, but that's obviously not what they were going for. Great stuff.… Collapse
  7. Andy
    Aug 16, 2006
    4
    Maybe I don't get it...but I this album is boring and lacks originality.