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Let's Build A Fire
by
Let's Build A Fire Image
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the third album for the James Baluyut-led indie rockers.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Lost At Sea
    90
    With its mind-blowing dynamics and wounded memories, bandaged up in affecting, mature lyrics that dissect relationships with a therapist's perspective, the wisdom of hindsight and an artist's touch, Let's Build A Fire is almost flawless.
  2. Stylus Magazine
    83
    One of the better American rock albums of this year.
  3. AllMusic
    80
    This is by far +/-'s most mature work to date.
  4. Drowned In Sound
    70
    [An] inventive, if uneven collection.
  5. Under The Radar
    70
    [It] comes across as a mix-tape of unreleased songs by your favorite bands. [#15]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Delusions of Adequacy
    70
    One of the most accessible, pleasant releases of 2006.
  7. cokemachineglow
    57
    +/- have abandoned their bipolarity, which I was willing to call “complexity” or “potential” until just now, for a straightforward record that yields none of the possible benefits of a straightforward record.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. AndyD
    Dec 26, 2006
    9
    great record. ignore the clueless morons at pitchfork and cokemachineglow. unlike them, you should actually listen to the record. i agree great record. ignore the clueless morons at pitchfork and cokemachineglow. unlike them, you should actually listen to the record. i agree with sally f that holding patterns is definitely their best release, but let's build a fire is great nonetheless. the important thing is to love is a powerful song. a classic.… Expand
  2. ChristianR
    Jan 28, 2007
    9
    Really great record..much more organic and a bit mellower than their previous work but to great result.s The songs on Let's Build are Really great record..much more organic and a bit mellower than their previous work but to great result.s The songs on Let's Build are catchy, lyrically engaging (dare I say meaningful) and depsite decriptors by others like "pleasant", this is just as subtly subversive as the rest of their catalog and therefore moreso than most other records. Though it may not on the surface seem to tap into the national zeitgeist, can you name a band that makes simultaneously think, feel and bob your head and dance to a song in 7?… Expand
  4. ChrisG
    Dec 15, 2006
    8
    Good, somewhat quirky dream pop...nice stuff...melodic....and a grower.
  5. SallyF
    Dec 11, 2006
    7
    You get the feeling Patrick Ramos and (esp.) James Baluyut are tired of conventional pop song structure when you hear this. While a few songs You get the feeling Patrick Ramos and (esp.) James Baluyut are tired of conventional pop song structure when you hear this. While a few songs made me want to come back for more, as a whole this seemed hollow. Still the best thing they released was theHolding Patterns EP...i miss versus.… Expand
  6. Andy
    Dec 12, 2006
    7
    It's grown on me a lot since the first listen, this is one that creeps up on you. It still doesn't match the dynamic sound of You It's grown on me a lot since the first listen, this is one that creeps up on you. It still doesn't match the dynamic sound of You Are Here and they're EP. Go see these guys live, the drummer is outstanding.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Shared Album of 2006

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