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Love Is Simple Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

  • Summary: The third album for the NY-based experimental rock group.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. There is so much to go back to, beyond cheap thrills and catchy, yet dimensionless, hooks. An album for the ages.
  2. Suspending cynicism for a moment, this is their strongest release to date.
  3. The Wire
    80
    Although the hard-hearted and selfconsciously cool may dismiss them as the avant folk scene's answer to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, that's no reason to deny one's self the joyous singalong harmonies of 'Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead." [Oct 2007, p.71]
  4. The results are not only boot-in-the-ass surprising, but also the best thing the band has done to date.
  5. There’s some exceptional songwriting here.
  6. In the end Love Is Simple is less than the sum of its parts. Its balls-out rock is fun but hopelessly overloaded (like, how many vocal tracks do these songs really need?) while its softer sections sound like brief intermissions before the guitars pick up again, making them relatively limp.
  7. Uncut
    40
    Many of their songs go on for weeks, doing little but reiterating banal refrains, badly confusing hypnotic with merely repetitious. [Nov 2007, p.96]

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. MattD.
    Nov 19, 2007
    10
    I crank this album up all the time.
  2. JasonS.
    Oct 7, 2007
    10
    Akron/Family's output is so varied, that it is difficult to say which of their releases is "best." Nevertheless, I believe 'Love is Akron/Family's output is so varied, that it is difficult to say which of their releases is "best." Nevertheless, I believe 'Love is Simple' showcases Akron/Family at their most focused and proficient point yet. Brilliant album, and my favorite release of the year. Expand
  3. WesselK.
    Oct 2, 2007
    9
    Joy joy joy!!! This new album by my favorite freefolkers, bursts with creativity and free spirit. It's a lot different from their Joy joy joy!!! This new album by my favorite freefolkers, bursts with creativity and free spirit. It's a lot different from their previous records, the sound is very open and mood is very uplifting. This new coat suits them well! Collapse
  4. Tyler
    Oct 8, 2007
    9
    I can't stop listening to this. It's hard to not let the hippie-acid-love trip intoxicate you. My favorite record of this year.
  5. kde
    Oct 8, 2007
    9
    It's a bit of a departure from Meek Warrior (thankfully) but one in which they capitalize on their strengths - live music. They've It's a bit of a departure from Meek Warrior (thankfully) but one in which they capitalize on their strengths - live music. They've made a great attempt to capture their live sound on several tracks and with great success. It's a superb listen, one of the better listens this year. Expand
  6. MaxA.
    Dec 12, 2007
    0
    The most pretentious record of the year. Load and obnoxious band.