The Cost
by The Frames
  • Record Label: Anti
  • Release Date: Feb 20, 2007
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15

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  1. mareki
    Feb 23, 2007
    10
    Just another great album of Frames!
  2. ag
    Mar 1, 2007
    8
    not their best but sure as hell not anything as half-baked and insincere as coldplay. matt d. below is just plain lazy in his comparisons.
  3. GerD
    Mar 13, 2007
    10
    An amazing album that requires several repeated spins to fully appreciate.
  4. MatthewP.
    Feb 26, 2008
    10
    A fine album! Glen hansards voice echoes a sadness that only a few artists can match. If you're after an arena band, this is not it! This is real people singing about real problems! Real music!
  5. davidh
    Mar 2, 2007
    8
    The Cost is beautifully written, produced, and performed. Yes it's sad and slow--the tempo rarely breaks pace--but the emotion and dynamics of the performances create the peaks and valleys. Great album. One of their best.
  6. tim
    Feb 21, 2007
    10
    Spin magazine go back to kissing My Chemical Romance, AFI's and Taking Back Sunday's ass. The Frames a ripoff of U2? Maybe you should go back to your failing rock careers before to rag on the best live band in the world
  7. timmyd
    Feb 22, 2007
    9
    maybe not as visceral as their previous efforts but still a load better than most stadium rock pap out there. sit down coldplay, retire u2, glen hansard and his men bring intelligence and passion to a stunning effort on the always reliable anti- records.
  8. ToddH.
    Sep 17, 2008
    8
    Uneven, but with several stand-out songs, most especially People Get Ready, which deserves far more international airplay than it has received.
  9. Ricko
    Jan 4, 2012
    7
    having been a massive frames fan for a decade before this was released, this was a big disappointment. There are at least 3 weak tracks on this - unheard of on previous frames efforts. The inclusion of People Get Ready boosts the albums score. Too many crossover songs from the Swell Season album as well. Feels like Glen spread himself too thin across the 2 projects he was working on aroundhaving been a massive frames fan for a decade before this was released, this was a big disappointment. There are at least 3 weak tracks on this - unheard of on previous frames efforts. The inclusion of People Get Ready boosts the albums score. Too many crossover songs from the Swell Season album as well. Feels like Glen spread himself too thin across the 2 projects he was working on around this time. The fact that there hasn't been a Frames album (Strict Joy is not a Frames album no matter what anyone says) since this suggests that the band realised there creative force has waned.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 29
  3. Negative: 3 out of 29
  1. Alternative Press
    60
    It's a bit unfortunate that the Irishmen decided to keep their songwriting and musical prowess stagnant. [Mar 2007, p.143]
  2. Magnet
    60
    Pleasant if unspectacular. [#74, p.96]
  3. NOW Magazine
    80
    Singer Glen Hansard moves from quiet introspection to earnest Jeremy Enigk-like wailing and back again, all the while reminding you just how rewarding a listen The Cost is.
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