Metascore
67 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. These B sides and studio ephemera, by turns folksy and noisy, demonstrate his appeal. [27 Oct 2006, p.73]
  2. This album works adequately, maybe exclusively, within the folds of Bright Eyes' self-contained space, and that's really not such a bad thing.
  3. Noise Floor is a smattering of moods and modes all tied together by Oberst's love-it-or-loathe-it voice.
  4. Each tune is utterly lovely in its own right, but--my God--are they depressing. [7 Oct 2006, p.39]
  5. Half of the fun of this collection is watching Oberst working out his dead ends. [#15]
  6. On the whole, Noise Floor is a fascinating concoction of delights that documents the rise of one of underground USA's most prestigious talents.
  7. 70
    This orderly collection of messy leftovers suits his disheveled talents. [Nov 2006, p.137]
  8. This captures a less self-conscious Oberst, which is often a better Oberst.
  9. Several of these [tracks] match Oberst's best work.
  10. It has some nice tracks, some experiments and more than a few keepers, and, yes, it's almost exclusively a fan-only proposition.
  11. While the album isn't arranged chronologically, listening to it as such reveals the series of intuitive leaps between lo-fi bedroom folk that emphasized monotonous gloom and cacophonous samples to comparatively laid-back country biased toward majestic arrangements and electronic beats.
  12. 60
    Sometimes enthralling, sometimes throwaway. [Nov 2006, p.120]
  13. A set of modestly sparkling gems. [Dec 2006, p.147]
  14. Part of the problem is that faced with a performer as low-fi and minimal as Conor Oberst in the first place, many of the unfinished demos presented here, such as I Will Be Grateful This Day and Seashell Tale, sound much, much too thin.
  15. It may not be the best introduction to the band, but it's a must-have for hardcore fans of Conor Oberst's vocal discordance and stripped-down musical tantrums.
  16. The songs on Noise Floor don't rank with his best, but there's a reckless spirit to the endeavor that's alluring, and representative of his music overall.
  17. 50
    There's a lot of Conor the Character Actor in these folk-rock set pieces. [Nov 2006, p.96]
  18. Noise Floor presents a mixed bag that will enthrall hardcore Conorites but leave others frequently reaching for the skip button.
  19. It shows little of Oberst's usual dramatic flair.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. drewc
    9
    these are b-sides??? there are a couple duds (mainly the earliest stuff) but i think very few artists can create non-album tracks this good. his song writing amazes me! Full Review »
  2. JeremyF
    6
    Not his best, but a few fantastic songs. um... yeah, Kevin. Bryan Adams is a great example. And Isobel Campbell... two in one year. Both exceptional.
  3. JosephPieinthesky
    5
    Mediocre at best.Not too many quality songs on there, but still easy on the ears