New Moon
by The Men
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
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  1. Mojo
    Apr 10, 2013
    60
    Tracks like Half Angel Half Light suggest the passion remains fully intact. [May 2013, p.96]
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  2. Q Magazine
    Mar 12, 2013
    60
    The first few tracks feel like a positive transformation into sharper songcraft, but when New Moon latter half descends to the noisemongery of yore, right down to Freaky's flat-out Dinosaur Jr.-ism, one does have to ask: will the real Men please stand up? [Apr 2013, p.107]
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  3. NOW Magazine
    Mar 7, 2013
    60
    While the album could’ve benefited from the trim of a song or two, it successfully avoids the dreaded career stagnation.
  5. CMJ
    Mar 6, 2013
    60
    Smoothing an epochal shift with a sonic mix of new and old isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Arguably, the band did the same thing when it cast aside the spacey sounds of Leave Home for the alt-leaning Open Your Heart. But on New Moon, the transition is rocky, more of a cop-out than a compromise.
  6. Dusted Magazine
    Mar 4, 2013
    60
    New Moon contains a handful of good songs, just like The Men’s prior two albums for Sacred Bones. The main difference here is that the stellar tracks aren’t embedded amongst thrilling instrumentals.
  7. Uncut
    Mar 1, 2013
    60
    Cohesion, The Men have clearly decided, is not their bag. [Apr 2013, p.73]
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  8. The Line of Best Fit
    Mar 6, 2013
    55
    New Moon is at times quite captivating and as rowdy as you need it to be, but its weaker moments consistently outshine its brighter ones, leaving the listener with an album half-full of both indelible sonic fury and equally forgettable missteps.
  9. Alternative Press
    Mar 1, 2013
    50
    The high points find the Men melding their overmodulated past with their new melodic obsessions. The low points render the band mere pretenders to outfits like Guided By Voices and Spoon. [Apr 2013, p.90]
  10. Drowned In Sound
    Mar 1, 2013
    40
    With some clear-minded editing, a workable pair of EPs could have been forged from New Moon. As it is, the cumulative effect of lumping so many competing ideas together is a mess. A frustratingly muddled mess.
  11. Slant Magazine
    Mar 1, 2013
    40
    Whenever the Men establish any semblance of momentum, they quickly squander it.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. tsentz
    Mar 5, 2013
    9
    Very solid album. Another great one from this band. It's a shame so many are being extremely harsh since it's not as "heavy" as their previousVery solid album. Another great one from this band. It's a shame so many are being extremely harsh since it's not as "heavy" as their previous efforts. I think its good for a band to try new things. If every album sounded the same that would be boring.… Full Review »
  2. ek11sx
    Mar 7, 2013
    9
    The Men have developed into a band that does what it wants when it wants. New Moon is a great mix of classic rock, folk, and The Men'sThe Men have developed into a band that does what it wants when it wants. New Moon is a great mix of classic rock, folk, and The Men's trademark dirty punk noise. Solid all the way through.… Full Review »
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