Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 8
  2. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. This is nourishing pop music at its most immediate best.
  2. It's a well-thought out and solidly executed effort by an artist who hasn't allowed himself to become set in his ways.
  3. If the tech-savvy "By(e) Now" feels like a leftover from the more experimental debut, Statistics sophomore full-length has enough real songs to qualify it as an anomaly.
  4. Rolling Stone
    60
    [His] approach sometimes leaves the songs shapeless, but sad, atmospheric tracks such as "Begging to Be Heard" recall some of New Wave's most seductive aspects without getting too fancy. [11 Aug 2005, p.75]
  5. To be sure, there is nothing on Often Lie that is revolutionary - for the most part Dalley delivers straight ahead power pop.
  6. Often Lie, even in its brevity, loses a lot of steam after the opening tracks.
  7. Paste Magazine
    40
    Hopefully next time he'll challenge himself to expand his palette and realize more of his considerable potential. [Oct/Nov 2005, p.138]
  8. Words fail ("I'm dying to be living"). They fail early ("You could say we're changing formats" on opener "Final Broadcast"). They fail often ("Through our cell phones we shout"; "Who are you holding when you're sleeping next to me?"; "Ignorance was so blissful"). They fail spectacularly ("This distance is getting tough"), and best of all they're posted.
User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. saraj
    Sep 10, 2005
    10
    this album is great. i borrowed it from a friend an she will never get it back. it reminds me of so many bands all mixed beautifully this album is great. i borrowed it from a friend an she will never get it back. it reminds me of so many bands all mixed beautifully together. my fav is the 4th track. Full Review »
  2. John
    Aug 18, 2005
    8
    although this may lack the creativity of the previous statistics album . It is still a cd any saddle creek lover should buy. This man is although this may lack the creativity of the previous statistics album . It is still a cd any saddle creek lover should buy. This man is really talented and a music genious Full Review »