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Love in the Modern Age Image
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The 12th full-length release for the singer-songwriter was influenced by 1980s pop/rock and was self-produced.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Apr 13, 2018
    80
    It's not perfect (Hugs and Kisses is something of a misfire) but it certainly stands alongside the best of what Rouse has done before.
  2. Apr 12, 2018
    80
    Overall, it’s less of a curiosity than it might look on paper; not so much a departure as it is a confidently mapped-out alternative route.
  3. Apr 12, 2018
    80
    The overall production aesthetic is slick and appealingly moody, with the hint of a smile to reveal just how much fun Rouse is having dabbling in this sonic milieu. It's a welcome break after the heaviness of his previous outing and, with his smart pop songwriting and clear vocal delivery, the veteran singer takes quite easily to the role of new romantic bard.
  4. Uncut
    Apr 12, 2018
    60
    He's been inspired by the Blue Nile and Prefab Sprout, but in truth the synthetic textures and drum machines bring to mind a more downbeat Bruce Hornsby. [May 2018, p.33]
  5. Q Magazine
    May 11, 2018
    60
    There's nothing here to quicken the pulse, but like an uneventful beach holiday it's the perfect place to pause and refresh. [Jun 2018, p.114]
  6. Mojo
    Apr 23, 2018
    60
    Most of the songs are observations from an emotional distance. [Jun 2018, p.96]
  7. 50
    It’s inoffensive, unobtrusive, innocuous and difficult to hate. But it’s also hard to get excited about as these songs quietly fade into the background like the music of the generally forgotten acts of the ’80s Rouse tries to emulate.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Jun 6, 2018
    8
    Not his best work, as i had a hard time to get used to the "synth" rhythms.
    Nevertheless, in the end, we are left with another solid album,
    Not his best work, as i had a hard time to get used to the "synth" rhythms.
    Nevertheless, in the end, we are left with another solid album, with the songwriting at it´s best :)
    Personal favorites: "Women and the wind" and "Ordinary People, ordinary lives"
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  2. Jun 5, 2018
    6
    Nice try Josh but this has to go down as a disappointment, with the more pastiche feel to the music the songs had to be absolutely top draw toNice try Josh but this has to go down as a disappointment, with the more pastiche feel to the music the songs had to be absolutely top draw to pull this all off (think back to the Alex Cameron album for a recent example of this type of retro escapade working successfully). Josh has always been an 'easy listen', this album might just be too easy for its own good. Expand