Love And Distance
by The Helio Sequence
  • Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: Jun 8, 2004
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Magnet
    90
    Not only essential, Love And Distance is like nothing you've heard this year. [#64, p.95]
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  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    The Helio Sequence have a glorious oversize, and overstuffed, sound. [23 Jul 2004, p.78]
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  3. Spin
    83
    If you're going to crossbreed Built To Spill and the Flaming Lips, then you might as well have fun doing it. [Jul 2004, p.110]
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  5. Splendid
    80
    Their music is interesting, intelligent and exciting, and it'll make you smile really, really big.
  6. Alternative Press
    80
    [Weikel and Summers] positively push forward, blissing out with an educated northern soul and a highbrow glide-guitar jones that finds them creating their own space in time. [Aug 2004, p.106]
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  7. Delusions of Adequacy
    80
    What elevates the music of Love and Distance are the unexpected combinations that make this latest Sub Pop release a cut above the duo's former albums.
  8. PopMatters
    70
    For all of its pleasantness, however, Love and Distance is not a package that comes without a few significant pitfalls.
  9. Under The Radar
    70
    The album is so full of sound crashing, harmonizing and exploding it's like watching an epileptic lose it in a room filled with strobe lights. [#7]
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  10. Junkmedia
    60
    With more room to breathe, the textured synthesizers come to the fore, and it is their melodic decoration that ultimately provides the saving grace. But without the electronic textures, Love and Distance is just Bryan Adams with a hip producer and a great drummer.
  11. AllMusic
    50
    The tempos drag, the lyrics are nothing special, the electronics nothing much to care about. Instead of sounding like the teenage spawn of My Bloody Valentine and Mouse on Mars, now they sound like Radiohead's very earnest cousin.
  12. Pitchfork
    50
    Love and Distance is fucking cheesy.
  13. Stylus Magazine
    50
    An unpleasant change is clear in the first instant; Summers’ voice is pushed to the front of the mix, and the over-the-top choruses and limpid lyricism that comes through is enough to make you blush.
  14. Mojo
    40
    Repeated plays reveal a frustrating lack of memorable songs. [Nov 2004, p.102]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. ptownblazer
    Jun 12, 2011
    5
  2. scott
    Jul 22, 2005
    8
    Love and Distance, while not the best demonstration of song-writing in a traditional sense, is great for one simple reason--it is fresh. Love and Distance, while not the best demonstration of song-writing in a traditional sense, is great for one simple reason--it is fresh. Combining the "flickering" synth sounds of Postal service with affected harmonica and verby guitars. Most of the songs are strong but it is difficult to find a true "hit" on the album. The songs are optimistic and even the slower tempo tracks have a succint vitality. Love and Distance deserves a listen by everyone because one thing is certain: you're not going to hear anything just like it anywhere.… Full Review »
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