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Less Than Human
by
Less Than Human Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest DFA artist to create a buzz in the music press is former Six Finger Satellite guitarist John Maclean, whose "Less Than Human" is his full-length debut as The Juan Maclean.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Overflows with ebullient beats that are both booming and bizarre. [29 Jul 2005, p.68]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Spin
    83
    It's a techno album, straight up. [Aug 2005, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    A record of sonic maturity and real beauty. [2 Jul 2005, p.64]
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  4. The Guardian
    80
    Less Than Human's only flaw is that it's too damn short.
  5. Q Magazine
    70
    Very New York and strongly redolent of the whole DFA/LCD sound. [Jul 2005, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Tiny Mix Tapes
    70
    Less Than Human is the sound of James Murphy transforming the songs of a guy who has spent a nauseating amount of time fiddling about with Kraftwerk-y synths into an album as enjoyable at home as it is on the dancefloor.
  7. Junkmedia
    60
    On songs like "In the Afternoon" and "Time is Running out," Maclean fails to add even a shred of feeling to his chilly IDM clones.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. jyotirmayad
    Aug 18, 2005
    10
    Simply awesome! One of the 10 Best CDs of 2005 so far.
  2. PaulS
    Sep 26, 2005
    9
    Accidentally heard this CD while shopping at Tower and picked it up as an impulse buy. It's a breath of fresh air compared to the rest Accidentally heard this CD while shopping at Tower and picked it up as an impulse buy. It's a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of the 2005 releases.… Expand
  4. TerrenceO
    Aug 24, 2005
    8
    While far from flawless, and to be honest not particularly interesting Less Than Human is tons of danceable fun. And thats all it aims for. While far from flawless, and to be honest not particularly interesting Less Than Human is tons of danceable fun. And thats all it aims for. Unlike many of his DFA labelmates The Juan Maclean aims for pure floor pounding dance party inducing euphoric fun, which is why this album is (at least on initial listen) less of a let down than many other DFA releases have been. All squigly synths, booming bass, catchy melodies and the occasional dead pan vocal Juan Maclean pretty much lived up to the hype and my expectations. Blast this on a saturday night in your loft with all your yuppie hipster friends like it was intended... I'll have to be content with listening to it on my head phones on my painfully long commute.… Collapse
  5. aland
    Aug 11, 2005
    6
    no cut on this album rises above "give me every little thing." worse, the rest of the tracks just sort of mush together and all i could think no cut on this album rises above "give me every little thing." worse, the rest of the tracks just sort of mush together and all i could think of when it was over was that it was totally unremarkable.… Expand
  6. BrianS
    Nov 8, 2005
    5
    Im not really understanding why this album is getting such good reviews. Apart from "Every Little Thing" there is little of interest to be Im not really understanding why this album is getting such good reviews. Apart from "Every Little Thing" there is little of interest to be heard. The female vocals sound like a lazy Miss Kitten. The beats are nothing special. Similar to the DFA Compilations it is very hit and miss, with LCD Soundsystem clearly being the only major talent on this label. And i was sooo excited when buying this :(… Expand
  7. WalterE
    Sep 14, 2005
    5
    Just one brilliant song. Then nothing follows...
  8. TimK
    Aug 20, 2005
    2
    This album stinks like a outhouse. Let's face it, even though we all want to love the synth, the sytnh sounds like poop.

See all 8 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best Album of 2005

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