User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
SVIIB Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 35 Ratings

  • Summary: Alejandra Deheza and Benjamin Curtis were working on the Brooklyn band's fourth (and now final) album when Curtis died from lymphoma in December 2013.
Buy Now
Buy on
  • Record Label: Vagrant
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Indie Electronic, Dream Pop
  • More Details and Credits »

Top Track

Open Your Eyes
Open your eyes, love All alone Open your eyes, love Weeping I know that she was wrong but life is moving on, so Get it together, ‘cause now anger... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Feb 29, 2016
    100
    If this is to be the band’s swansong, they’ve left behind something timeless and quite beautiful.
  2. Feb 4, 2016
    85
    SVIIB is an utterly beautiful piece of work that is all about finding joy and hope in even the darkest of times. Supported by bold synth pop tunes in their own right, it's a record that you're unlikely to forget.
  3. Mojo
    Feb 3, 2016
    80
    It's an artful and lyrically dense synth-pop LP. [Mar 2016, p.96]
  4. Feb 24, 2016
    80
    It ends School of Seven Bells in moving form and suggests a new and vital start for Deheza.
  5. Feb 12, 2016
    80
    Packed with brilliance, ambition and warmth, SVIIB may be the full stop on the band’s work together, but it’s an album that will stand as the perfect goodbye.
  6. Feb 17, 2016
    60
    The more down-the-middle SVIIB shows that these postscripts aren’t always special, but we’re grateful for the closing chapter nonetheless.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Mar 1, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Awesome album. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!................................................................ Expand
  2. Mar 1, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great work! I love the sound, very melodic.............................................................................................................................................. Expand
  3. Jul 20, 2016
    10
    This album is a nearly flawless snapshot of two soul mates trying their best to understand one another, with their moments of joy and personalThis album is a nearly flawless snapshot of two soul mates trying their best to understand one another, with their moments of joy and personal intimacy colored with the irony of grief and loss. These pop songs have a certain candor and beauty to them, and although instantly catchy, they it will only be understood and appreciated by some -- probably because really understanding and emphathizing requires having experienced the sort of urgency and intensity in your own relationships.. A remarkable achievment that testifies to the depth of the love between two people, and how remarkable and uncommon it was in this world. Expand
  4. Jan 28, 2017
    9
    This album's a masterpiece, songs are great, but they're so underrated :( / Esse álbum é uma obra prima, as canções são ótimas, uma pena nãoThis album's a masterpiece, songs are great, but they're so underrated :( / Esse álbum é uma obra prima, as canções são ótimas, uma pena não serem tão conhecidos :(
    1. Ablaze 9/10
    2. On My Heart 10/10
    3. Open Your Eyes 10/10 (the best one for me/ a melhor na minha opinião)
    4. A Thousand Times More 9/10
    5. Elias 8/10
    6. Signals 10/10
    7. Music Takes Me 10/10
    8. Confusion 9/10
    9. This Is Our Time 10/10
    Expand
  5. Feb 27, 2016
    7
    Channeling the Cocteau Twins, School of Seven Bells have made an extremely pleasant album with SVIIB. The dreamy aesthetic alone is worth aChanneling the Cocteau Twins, School of Seven Bells have made an extremely pleasant album with SVIIB. The dreamy aesthetic alone is worth a few listens and fans of the genre will certainly come back to the swirling synths and hazy production. The songwriting isn't fantastic, but it's still pretty solid, with some memorable choruses. The album wears thin by the end, however, as the sound is not enough to cover for the average songwriting. A very enjoyable album all the same, however.

    70/100
    Expand
  6. Feb 29, 2016
    6
    SVIIB is without doubt a grief album, but it is executed with so much joy, beauty and sincerity that sometimes the listener forgets about it.SVIIB is without doubt a grief album, but it is executed with so much joy, beauty and sincerity that sometimes the listener forgets about it. The problem is that this work is full of the same indie pop cliches that have put School Of Seven Bells behind their contemporary synthpop acts. As a final album, SVIIB brings its message, although its music is too constrained by common places.

    Best Tracks: Ablaze; On My Heart: This Is Our Time
    Expand
  7. Feb 27, 2016
    0
    a lesser version of Bat For Lashes. Don't bother. The music has some nice tones and beats, but her vocals are inferior and the music getsa lesser version of Bat For Lashes. Don't bother. The music has some nice tones and beats, but her vocals are inferior and the music gets repetitive and the lyrical content is lacking. Expand

See all 10 User Reviews