So Divided
by ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 45
  3. Negative: 7 out of 45

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  1. RockyP
    Nov 17, 2006
    5
    What happened? I didn't agree with a lot of the reviews for Worlds Apart because it is one of my favorites. On So Divided I think the critis are too nice. I have no desire to put the top down & drive fast with this one.
  2. DaleS
    Nov 21, 2006
    6
    I originally started listening to ...Trail of Dead after hearing 'Another Morning Stoner' which was one of the most original tracks I'd heard in a long time. I was similarly impressed when I dug back in their catalogue pre-'Source Tags and Codes' to find that they were even louder and more wall-of-sound in their previous releases. With 'Worlds Apart' it I originally started listening to ...Trail of Dead after hearing 'Another Morning Stoner' which was one of the most original tracks I'd heard in a long time. I was similarly impressed when I dug back in their catalogue pre-'Source Tags and Codes' to find that they were even louder and more wall-of-sound in their previous releases. With 'Worlds Apart' it seemed like a step to the side with the retention of furious drumming but with an added degree of melody and orchestration. While it worked then, 'So Divided' seems to have dropped the furious-anger-and-vengeance-to-all sound while dropping the harmony and musicalities of 'Worlds Apart.' It's certainly not a bad album, but I expected a lot more. A lot of the tracks sound rambling without actually reaching a conclusion. As someone who thoroughly enjoys Mogwai, Isis and other post-rock/punk outings, I was still let down. I feel divided between wanting to hear an explosive riff and the band eeking out a great melodic line. Unfortunately, 'So Divided' finds neither and sinks into generic rock far too often. This is a review completed after 3 listens, so maybe I should take a backseat and give the album a few more listens before drawing any final conclusions.… Expand
  3. BobbyK
    Mar 19, 2007
    4
    A huge disappointment. Source Tags and Codes was perhaps their defining album, but I think that it made them want to try to push their boundaries even further. While Worlds Apart wasn't particularly great, it at least was fairly consistent and had some memorable moments. This album, on the other hand, finds Trail of Dead trying to be overly creative, making all the flourishes they A huge disappointment. Source Tags and Codes was perhaps their defining album, but I think that it made them want to try to push their boundaries even further. While Worlds Apart wasn't particularly great, it at least was fairly consistent and had some memorable moments. This album, on the other hand, finds Trail of Dead trying to be overly creative, making all the flourishes they add to their music sound excessive. It just seems like they're trying too hard to make something totally new, when in fact all they really need to do is expand on the stuff they made in works like Sources Tags and Elena's Tomb. "Wasted State of Mind" and "Eighth Day Hell" are really the only two tracks worth listening to, and even the latter sounds like a Beatles song with ultra-exaggerated British-accented vocals.… Expand
  4. Dan(nirv)
    Nov 13, 2006
    4
    I loved Worlds Apart, but I did not enjoy this album. It's really not the kind of quality I know Trail of Dead can pull off. Unfortunate.

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    [It] depends less on the band’s gear-smashing antics than on their sense of tunecraft, which isn’t as highly developed.
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  2. NOW Magazine
    60
    While they may never reach the heights of their Source Tags & Codes, the band can still push boundaries.
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  3. Village Voice
    60
    As with most things Trail of Dead, it's bloated where it thinks it's profound.
    Read full review
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