The Alternative To Love
by Brendan Benson
  • Record Label: V2
  • Release Date: Mar 22, 2005
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13

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  1. katieb
    Jul 2, 2005
    9
    Go buy it now, a well crafted alternative, rock, pop(but how pop should be) album. Very good record, has some flaws (wasn't sure of Tchad Blake's mixing, but it gets better with more listens). Thought the songs sounded better when I heard them at an acoustic gig and they had more pace and the lyrics punched out. I was a bit disappointed when i heard the album initially. However Go buy it now, a well crafted alternative, rock, pop(but how pop should be) album. Very good record, has some flaws (wasn't sure of Tchad Blake's mixing, but it gets better with more listens). Thought the songs sounded better when I heard them at an acoustic gig and they had more pace and the lyrics punched out. I was a bit disappointed when i heard the album initially. However it still a great record, he just sets unbelievably high standards. Lapalco, and One Missippi exceed it, they sound effortless (more like live brendan benson) and have a better pace.… Expand
  2. sunkilmoon
    Mar 22, 2005
    7
    His previous two albums have been pure pop perfection, this however, fails to reach those heights despite providing some of the most infectious songs of 2005.
  3. BenB
    May 21, 2006
    9
    Just give it a few spins see if you can resist.
  4. GorillaRockn'bovs
    Mar 23, 2005
    8
    This album is great. He's grown as a producer and maintained a healthy songwriting ethic. I think we can expect him to continue to grow as a young, 35-year-old songwriter and performer.
  5. [Anonymous]
    Mar 25, 2005
    10
    One of the best pop albums i have ever heard.
  6. ClydeF
    Mar 28, 2005
    9
    A wonderful synthesis of One Mississippi and Lapalco that features Benson's most confident vocals yet.
  7. matta
    May 26, 2005
    7
    There are some really great tracks on here (Spit it Out, Cold Hands, What I'm Looking For) but there are also some severely underdeveloped songs that are just that much disappointing because of the obvious potential that they exhibit. Overall though, a fun album with some great tunes.

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Best Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. ShakingThrough.net
    70
    Doesn’t sport as many memorable tunes as 2002’s Lapalco.
    Read full review
  2. Under The Radar
    90
    The songs all sound cleaner and tighter than those off the critically praised Lapalco, but instead of over-produced banality you're left with pure pop perfection. [#9]
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    70
    The Alternative To Love to be a quality rock album that covers several genres in influence and doesn't deserve to be punished for not being as good as its predecessor.
    Read full review
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