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Mary's Voice Image
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: This is the third full-length release for the indie-pop band led by Julian Koster.
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  • Record Label: Merge
  • Genre(s): Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi, Experimental Rock, Neo-Psychedelia
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Sep 12, 2012
    80
    The contemplative Mary's Voice may win over listeners who couldn't stomach the unrefined energy of The Music Tapes' older work, with artistic integrity intact.
  2. Sep 13, 2012
    80
    It's like Koster has a wellspring of positive vibes that he channels into songs without engaging in schmaltz or clichés.
  3. Sep 19, 2012
    80
    It's an album wrought with nostalgia, fuzzy-tape hiss, and unbelievable musicianship that any fan of Koster will surely eat right up.
  4. Sep 12, 2012
    71
    A song or two here and there might falter a bit, but taken as a whole, Mary's Voice is a minor triumph.
  5. Sep 13, 2012
    70
    While Koster's childlike enthusiasm, meandering, impressionistic lyrics, and Anglophile steampunk posturing may be the very definition of twee (or tweed, in this sense), like Willy Wonka, it's hard not to admire his Luddite tenacity, especially in an age that prefers instant gratification to pure imagination.
  6. Sep 12, 2012
    60
    Koster's songwriting and arranging is growing by leaps and bounds, and Mary's Voice is his most assured batch of songs to date, it's just too bad that the production can't catch up or exude the same kind of progress and confidence.
  7. Under The Radar
    Nov 30, 2012
    45
    Impressive atmospherics, but could've been improved elsewhere. [Oct/Nov 2012, p.127]

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of
  2. Mixed: 0 out of
  3. Negative: 0 out of