User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 48
  2. Negative: 8 out of 48

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  1. NatM.
    Dec 11, 2008
    3
    Nothing terribly wrong with this album, but after a few listens really trying to get into it, there's nothing going for it either. I feel like there's really no heart to it. Airborne Toxic Event feel like a band going through the motions.
  2. BrianS
    Oct 2, 2008
    0
    A band that just does not "get it." They take themselves so seriously I can't help but be sort of embarrassed for them. This music is the definition of tacky. Everything about these guys just feels fake. From the overproduction to the wannabe "hipster" costumes, to the lyrics plagiarized straight out of the alterna-junk handbook. Yeah, they like a lot of bands that were cool to like A band that just does not "get it." They take themselves so seriously I can't help but be sort of embarrassed for them. This music is the definition of tacky. Everything about these guys just feels fake. From the overproduction to the wannabe "hipster" costumes, to the lyrics plagiarized straight out of the alterna-junk handbook. Yeah, they like a lot of bands that were cool to like over the last few years. That's clear because they've ineptly attempted to copy a lot of their sounds. But the end result is something I can't imagine anyone who actually likes the bands they're ripping off enjoying. Smells of "poser" from a mile away. Expand
  3. LawrenceG.
    Aug 12, 2008
    3
    Good lyrics, dull music.
  4. Devin
    Sep 26, 2008
    3
    I had never heard indie rock sound so hollow and soulless until I really gave this record a thorough spin. Not only is their music shockingly boring, they also apparently can't take criticism, as they sent a whiny page-long letter to pitchfork regarding their poor review. Out of all of the publications here, Pitchfork got it most correct: this band sucks in every possible way.
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. 60
    On the album’s best moments, he pours his hopeless longing into sweaty, inebriated celebrations of love’s boundless optimism.
  2. The Airborne Toxic Event is the sound of a band that’s not exactly sure what it wants to sound like, trying on different styles and approaches for size. It so happens that, more often that not, those approaches make for a good fit.
  3. The Airborne Toxic Event’s gift is two-fold -- they manage to take the little things, the day-to-day ellipses of modern romance and elevate them to a level of art.