- Record Label: Labrador
- Release Date: Jan 25, 2011
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Mar 8, 2011We could go on about how great this compilation really is until the cows come home, the Thurston Moore sampling 'Heaven's On Fire' possibly explaining why such documents as Passive Aggressive are essentially vital in rock and roll's present transitional phase.
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Mar 8, 2011While there are a few selection missteps overall, the first disc in particular makes for a great initiation to the Radio Dept.'s previous work. And that there is the opportunity to re-introduce this long undervalued band is something to cheer in itself.
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UncutMar 8, 2011This 2Cd singles set shows them to be capable of more mainstream, dreamy pop. [Feb 2011, p.96]
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Mar 8, 2011Radio Dept. caught flak for being derivative early in their career, but Passive Aggressive posits that they may have sounded like a lot of different bands during their run so far, but they've always just been themselves: an overlooked band deserving of more attention than the little they've received. This comp should fix that.
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Mar 8, 2011It wasn't necessarily all that great of a stylistic distance to traverse, but it's certainly been a pleasurable journey. And while there are quite a few extant non-album cuts that might have found space on a more slavishly inclusive comp, what is included here is pretty close to perfect.
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Mar 8, 2011For those seduced by that album's gorgeous dream pop, Passive Aggressive serves as a comprehensive refresher course in the Swedish band's satisfying back catalogue.
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Mar 8, 2011If Clinging to a Scheme was the sound of a band emerging from a long, beautiful slumber, then Passive Aggressive is further reward for long-time fans who had been patiently waiting the whole time. And considering that the indie-pop world is still crushed out on vintage-leaning bands, the double album is sure to earn the band more new fans.
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Mar 8, 2011The peaks are good, obviously; but they're just peaks. And the dips are experimental fun but together they sound like curios. Still, the unfortunate sequencing aside, Passive Aggressive is a great compilation-especially so for those uninitiated with the band.