• Record Label: 4AD
  • Release Date: Apr 21, 2009
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 33
  3. Negative: 4 out of 33

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  1. TimE
    Apr 23, 2009
    10
    This bands catalog of music has been flawless thus far and this new masterpiece is no exception. Band of the decade. Sheer brilliance in every note. It wont get better than this all year. Pure Bliss.
  2. dephot
    Apr 22, 2009
    9
    My Maudlin Career finds Camera Obscura at their peak. Full control over their best of times/worst of times dynamic wrapped in infectious melodies and nectar infused vocals. The songwriting is a logical next move from their breakthrough "Let's Get out of this Country" from 2006. Tracyanne Campbell has written some gems here. "James" "French Navy" & My Maudlin Career" are great places My Maudlin Career finds Camera Obscura at their peak. Full control over their best of times/worst of times dynamic wrapped in infectious melodies and nectar infused vocals. The songwriting is a logical next move from their breakthrough "Let's Get out of this Country" from 2006. Tracyanne Campbell has written some gems here. "James" "French Navy" & My Maudlin Career" are great places to start. Great album. Expand
  3. matta
    Apr 22, 2009
    9
    So glad that this album is doing well on here. My favorite of the year thus far.
  4. smithsgirl
    May 19, 2009
    9
    This is a great album, make no mistake, yet it doesn't quite reach the dizzying and beautiful heights of Underachievers or Let's Get Out. Nor quite have the immediacy of those two albums. Still if it's the album which gives them their deserved and long overdue breakthrough, I'm not complaining. If My Maudlin Career is your first foray into Camera Obscura, check out This is a great album, make no mistake, yet it doesn't quite reach the dizzying and beautiful heights of Underachievers or Let's Get Out. Nor quite have the immediacy of those two albums. Still if it's the album which gives them their deserved and long overdue breakthrough, I'm not complaining. If My Maudlin Career is your first foray into Camera Obscura, check out their earlier stuff, it will delight you even more. Expand
  5. JamesB
    Jul 16, 2009
    9
    Pure unbridled bliss! So melodic, so beautifully sad, so absolutely awesome!
  6. Feb 14, 2013
    8
    This is the album that exposed me to Camera Obscura, and I must admit, I love some these tracks on this album. The opener "French Navy" is one of the best indie pop openers I've ever heard. The vocals are gentle and cute in the most harmonic way. The whole record sounds like this girl that has just discovered love and can't get enough of it. All In All, the lyrics are very joyous and theThis is the album that exposed me to Camera Obscura, and I must admit, I love some these tracks on this album. The opener "French Navy" is one of the best indie pop openers I've ever heard. The vocals are gentle and cute in the most harmonic way. The whole record sounds like this girl that has just discovered love and can't get enough of it. All In All, the lyrics are very joyous and the production very crisp. Camera Obscura are a great indie pop band, and indie pop's not really my forte. Expand
  7. Aug 11, 2018
    7
    Though "French Navy" is my only real favorite of the album, I'd still use this as background music like during shopping and the such. I still love their overall sound, their imagery, and the feeling the music inspires.

Awards & Rankings

Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. If My Maudlin Career falls a tiny bit short of "Let's Get Out of This Country," and it does, it's only because that album was so wonderful.
  2. It's the musical equivalent of the death of Bambi's mother: exquisitely rendered, but, once experienced for the first time, you need to steel yourself for subsequent visits.
  3. My Maudlin Career is the kind of record that exists to reward those both mad, and sad, in love.