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Love Songs For Patriots
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Love Songs For Patriots Image
Metascore
82

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

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

  • Summary: 'Love Songs' is the first new studio album in ten years for a reunited Mark Eitzel & co.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Drowned In Sound
    100
    'Mercury' from 1993 is widely regarded as AMC's finest moment, albeit their flawed masterpiece. This new album is right up there with it, and 1990's 'Everclear', too.
  2. Splendid
    90
    There is no shortage of understated brilliance on Love Songs for Patriots.
  3. Spin
    83
    [Eitzel's] best album of closing-time kvetch since 1993's Mercury. [Dec 2004, p.124]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Blender
    80
    Eitzel sounds like he's finally emerging from the murk. [Nov 2004, p.128]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. cokemachineglow
    79
    Little of the album fails to impress in its striking melodic strength or its lyrical intelligence---which shouldn’t surprise Eitzel’s long-time fans. But the album does have one recurring flaw: overextension of its ideas.
  6. Lost At Sea
    70
    Love Songs for Patriots sounds just as one would expect an aged AMC to sound: with mature, yet loose arrangements with an edge but without balls back up Eitzel’s gloomy, brooding voice, taking wry bitterness to familiar but novel highs and lows.
  7. Delusions of Adequacy
    50
    So if you can make it to track six - the lush “Only Love Can Set You Free” - Love Songs For Patriots becomes far more palatable from then on in.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. darkrazor
    Oct 26, 2004
    10
    It's slightly difficult. Mark Eitzel's run-on, rhymeless, occasionally semi-monotone vocal style and Vudi, with his drifting, It's slightly difficult. Mark Eitzel's run-on, rhymeless, occasionally semi-monotone vocal style and Vudi, with his drifting, non-top-40 structured guitars, can always be a challenge at first listen. But, wow, the lyrics and underlying melodies here are stronger than ever, and the production amazes throughout, with the essential mood of each song reflected and reinforced in the backing musical textures. Eitzel's dramatic voice, intelligence, insight and humor explode and enchant, reach into your heart and calm or move you, or smack you with passionate sarcasm to a sincere grin. It's truly incredible that, after 10 years, the band can mount a comeback with what I think is their best album ever. It's one of those rare releases you want to play again and again because you want to rediscover each song and take in "the whole" as a work of art each time. Absolutely no top 40 hits here. Zero. But not one bad song. It's a stunning painting or a complex and stirring novel to the ears.… Expand
  2. JohnC
    Feb 5, 2005
    10
    Umm ... what can I say? This is simply one of the best albums I have ever heard. It has one of the best songs ever, in Patriot's Heart. Umm ... what can I say? This is simply one of the best albums I have ever heard. It has one of the best songs ever, in Patriot's Heart. The album is so beautiful a gem that everyone should listen too.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Best Album of 2004

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