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Songs in A&E
by
Songs in A&E Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 31 Ratings

  • Summary: Jason Pierce nearly died of pneumonia halfway through writing the group's sixth album.

Top Track

Sitting On Fire
baby i'm sitting on fire there's an old flame still burns in my heart when we're together the fire burns bright but the old flame ignites when we... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
  1. The A.V. Club
    100
    Songs In A&E is Pierce's best work since "Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space"--easily his most personal.
  2. No Ripcord
    90
    I’m gonna go way out on a limb and say that this is their best album yet.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Just when you think he's taken a turn for the cliche, even an allusion to drug use--"I've got a hurricane in my veins," he sings on 'Soul on Fire'--crescendos ino a string-laden little gem. [13 June 2008, p.70]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Under The Radar
    80
    The songs are punctuated with numbered “Harmony” pieces, small intermissions that, along with the orchestration on the songs themselves, reveal Pierce’s growing skill as an arranger. [Summer 2008]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Dusted Magazine
    80
    The album may not set the world on fire like "Ladies and Gentlemen," but it stands as the best Spiritualized album since that milestone, and a worthy successor.
  6. Hartford Courant
    70
    Pierce hasn't totally rejected quick tempos and piled-high productions, but in the context of the album, the livelier songs are actually the least effective.
  7. Dot Music
    30
    The lumbering, ponderous nature of both music and vocals elsewhere makes you wonder if much of Songs In A&E wasn't actually recorded in hospital.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. dadateyont
    Apr 11, 2011
    10
    This album is incredible, so raw and moving. One of my favorites. Maybe his best, people will hate that I said that but oh well. Why do theseThis album is incredible, so raw and moving. One of my favorites. Maybe his best, people will hate that I said that but oh well. Why do these reviews have to be 150 characters long now?… Expand
  2. SK.
    Jun 2, 2008
    10
    I don't know how to explain it but from the first listen that album brought tears to my eyes.
  4. Viks
    Oct 4, 2008
    10
    Best album of the year. That's sure!
  5. Luke
    Jun 27, 2008
    9
    Best album of the year so far.
  6. [Anonymous]
    Nov 22, 2008
    9
    Great album, one of their best.
  7. JonL
    Jul 5, 2008
    9
    Even if it's a tad fragmented, it's still a triumphant blast out of the darkness from Pierce, and it's familiar without Even if it's a tad fragmented, it's still a triumphant blast out of the darkness from Pierce, and it's familiar without feeling dull. Way better than Amazing Grace.… Expand
  8. cameron326
    Aug 1, 2011
    3
    I'm a big fan of some of their earlier work. This album may have been written at a tough time, but at least half the songs here sound like heI'm a big fan of some of their earlier work. This album may have been written at a tough time, but at least half the songs here sound like he just wrote down the first melody that popped into his head adn sound like they took all of 3 minutes to compose. Sadly, this band hasn't done anything of note since 2001's Let it come Down (and even that couldn't hold a candle to LAGWAFIS and LGM). I think, nostalgia, aside most fans of this once astonishing band would agree if they're being honest.… Expand

See all 12 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

84
#84 Most Shared Album of 2008

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