Ten Stories
by mewithoutYou
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
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  1. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Jul 20, 2012
    85
    While mewithoutYou is still as ambiguous as ever with their music, they've never been as creative and daring as they are on Ten Stories.
  2. PopMatters
    Jul 20, 2012
    80
    mewithoutYou managed to synthesize its various explorations into a richer sound, using the sort of palette necessary to adequately pummel the album's deep meditations while properly expressing the emotional potency they contain.
  3. Sputnikmusic
    Jul 20, 2012
    80
    Ten Stories is at ease with its ambiguity and style-shifting.
  5. Alternative Press
    Jul 20, 2012
    80
    Ten Stories should easily please any mewithoutYou fan, but this is by no means pandering....11 musically and lyrically engaging stories. [Jun 2012]
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User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. JeffMangum
    Nov 2, 2012
    10
    I hereby pronounce this album as the very best album there ever was, and I would know, for i wrote the second very best album there ever was,I hereby pronounce this album as the very best album there ever was, and I would know, for i wrote the second very best album there ever was, "On Avery Island". That's right plebeians! now stop groveling and listen to this album.… Full Review »
  2. MacsMusic
    Oct 31, 2018
    8
    Mewithoutyou is a pretty strange, little-known band. They are essentially a cross between a hardcore metal band, an easygoing AlternativeMewithoutyou is a pretty strange, little-known band. They are essentially a cross between a hardcore metal band, an easygoing Alternative band, and a folk group. Across Ten Stories, every side and style of the band is explored. The first track and "Fox's Dream" have aggressively-screamed, metal-esque vocals. This aggressive screaming pops up on several of the songs on this album. The second half of the first song is whispered, and has a folksy vibe. "Grist" has an Alternative-rock edge, with soft vocals and familiar music for the Alt-rock genre. Mewithoutyou mashes different speeds and styles together on this album, sometime even within the same song, and it makes it very bold and original. The majority of the songs on this album sound great, minus the first track. The music is mature, layered, ambitious, and varied.

    An equally important thing about Mewithoutyou is their lyrics. They have very poetic lyrics that often come across as strange. The lyrics are noticeably folksy on this album, centered around animals and natural surroundings on several songs. Mewtihoutyou's lyrics usually have a noticeable religious edge and theme. That edge can heard on this album, specifically on "Fox's Dream," but is far less overt and present than it is on Pale Horses or the band recently-released Untitled album. The lyrics on this album are occasionally overly-poetic and overly-intelligent, like on "Circles," but are very interesting for the most part. The lead singer's fascinating performance and delivery draws significant attention to the lyrics, and somehow makes them more interesting. The often-fascinating lyrics on most of Ten Stories gives the album a thick layer of depth and lore, and gives me a reason to keep coming back.

    The tracks that really fall short are the first and last tracks. The first doesn't sound great and the last falls short due to annoying receptivity and overly-smart lyrics that come across as pretentious.

    I could say a lot more about Ten Stories. It's a complex, complicated record, with poetic lyrics and constantly-changing music and vocals. Despite not-knowing several things about this record, I don't have a problem calling it great. The vocals on this album are really impressive, the music sounds great, and I love poetic, extremely-interesting lyrics. Ten Stories is flawed, but is also an extremely bold, admirably-ambitious album with strong lyrics, music, and vocals.    … Full Review »
  3. BrushedRed
    Jun 15, 2014
    8
    This album is awesome. I'm pretty partial when it comes to mewithoutyou. However, just a warning, this is a lot different than Catch for UsThis album is awesome. I'm pretty partial when it comes to mewithoutyou. However, just a warning, this is a lot different than Catch for Us the Foxes and Brother, Sister. I would've probably given this higher than an 8 had they not made those 2 albums prior to this one. There are few parts that are spoken-word, but for the majority of the album, they kinda went with a folk-ish theme. It works but it's not a Catch for Us the Foxes (the BEST album by them)… Full Review »
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