User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 39 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 36 out of 39
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Mixed: 3 out of 39
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Negative: 0 out of 39
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Aug 6, 2011I wouldn't say its each songwriter's best material, but its a wonderful contribution. I'd say Conor Oberst makes the biggest splashes here. "Map of the World" ranks among his best with Bright Eyes and solo.
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Jan 8, 2011
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KathyF.Feb 3, 2010Listen to it a lot! Gets deeper with each listen! Cranky critics...boo!
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ZachM.Dec 6, 2009Almost every song sounds like a piece of pure beautiful music. The message of the album is also genius, the only problem is there is a couple of songs that are not that great but it's definitely an album to own.
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marksNov 19, 2009Even though it could use a little more monster at times - maybe volume two will be Rock Monster - this one will stand the test of time.
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DesB.Nov 15, 2009I love this album. It's the first that has truly captivated my heart and mind in quite some time. I am grateful for that.
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AshBNov 5, 2009There really are some stand out tracks on this record. Tezmecal and Dear God are the best two tracks. The only thing letting this album down is that it is possibly too long. I mean, 15 tracks?
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KayleighBNov 4, 2009
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johnhOct 24, 2009Too many songs, and some of them belong on solo albums but when you throw out the chaff you have a beautiful and inspiring body of work. When they harmonize (not just in singing but in writing for the group) they just soar...Listen to 'Say Please'...just beautiful.
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DanielBOct 23, 2009Amazing album by some of folk and indie rock's finest musicians. "Say Please" and "Ahead of the Curve" are well worth getting but I recommend just buying the whole album. 85
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AHOct 22, 2009I've listened through it almost everyday for the past two weeks...i think it is a great mix of melancholy and upbeat tunes. I picked it up because I'm a MMJ fan, so my biased opinion would want to hear more Jim James. Great album though, listen to the whole thing.
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DerrickHOct 20, 2009Amazing album.
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G.TOct 17, 2009Great album, great harmonies, great songwriting.
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scottwOct 15, 2009Great, but Conor Oberst and M. Ward really overshadow everyone and drag it down to murky, mid tempo rock, like the new Son Volt album. Needed more Jim James and certainly more of the magnificent guitar work Mike Mogis is known for.
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jbOct 1, 2009The music on this collaboration breathes. It is not a sterile sounding studio album. It is not polished and it is not perfect. And that is why it shines. Sometimes you can hear four individuals and often you hear one ,beautifully crafted, harmonic voice.
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KurtCSep 28, 2009Refreshingly great album. Lots of nice hooks and melodies that linger and bring you back. A must for any fan of MMJ, Bright Eyes, or M. Ward. They all do a superb job of working together to craft some really excellent songs based on everyone's strengths. This has entered very near the top of the list for my favorite album of the year so far.
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DanielHSep 26, 2009
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mihaelvSep 25, 2009One of the best albums of the year so far.
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DavidSSep 24, 2009Nice album... You hear the individual members sounds in the songs yet it somehow takes on a different feel, as it should.
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KeithWSep 23, 2009Interesting lyrics, wispy sound track.
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JasonRSep 23, 2009The Jim James and M. Ward songs are better than Conor's but the best songs are the ones where they split up the vocal duties more evenly such as the album's opener, Dear God.
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BradPSep 23, 2009This album works for me. Beautifully produced, it really allows each artist to do what they do in a different way. It sounds like they really enjoyed what they each heard. It has a slower middle section, and that is a plus in my book - I am not a fan of Pitchfork reviews!
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Awards & Rankings
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Spread over 15 tracks, the combination wears thin at several points, and several songs feel more like their creator's solo work than a composite product. Monsters of Folk has moments on undeniable beauty, though, and when the musicians pitch their voices atop one another--as they do to notable effect on the gorgeous "Slow Down Jo"-the benefits of teamwork are more than clear.
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It's more jaunty nouveau Traveling Wilburys than folk rock summit as Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, My Morning Jacket's Jim James and M Ward join forces.
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With all four players clearly bringing out the best in each other, one hopes that Monsters of Folk makes for more than just a one-off side project.