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The Last Romance Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

  • Summary: The Scottish duo of Aidan Moffett and Malcolm Middleton return with a sixth studio album.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. It is astonishing that after a 10-year long affair Arab Strap can make a record as compelling as this.
  2. Ten tracks equal one very explicit diary entry of lust – for life, as much as intimacy – nearly every single line worthy of another song cycle.
  3. Filter
    82
    We come to this band expected to be thrown down the Trainspotting toilet, and this is exactly where The Last Romance takes us. [#19, p.90]
  4. Magnet
    80
    Arab Strap's most affecting album yet. [#71, p.86]
  5. The Last Romance, for all its disgusted veneer and inner conflict, both reads like a cogent statement and plays like a finely tuned instrument.
  6. It's feverish, unbalanced, disturbing, and for the most part captivating.
  7. Things improve considerably when the pair abandons the preening street-cred game; Moffat and Middleton seem finally to realize that if they're going to make a love record they might as well not half-ass it.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. dougieM
    Oct 25, 2006
    9
    Shame this is their last original album. Starting with the biting "Stink" and ending with the uplifting "there's no Ending" this is Shame this is their last original album. Starting with the biting "Stink" and ending with the uplifting "there's no Ending" this is classic Strap. Over half of the album is the group at their best. The rest doesn't fall far short of the mark either. A career high!! Expand
  2. matta
    Feb 22, 2006
    8
    This is Arab Strap's best album yet, but it still isn't incredible. Some solid songs are here, including "Stink" "If There's This is Arab Strap's best album yet, but it still isn't incredible. Some solid songs are here, including "Stink" "If There's No Hope For Us" "Speed-Date" and "Dream Sequence," but even this album, as good as it is, still isn't up to par with Malcolm Middleton's solo stuff. Moffet has some interesting lyrics, but I still think that Middleton should seek a permanent solo career. Expand
  3. Simon
    Mar 30, 2006
    7
    Agree with Matt. Arab Strap's best work lies within this album, but there's still some filler on it. I have the feeling Agree with Matt. Arab Strap's best work lies within this album, but there's still some filler on it. I have the feeling they'll get it right one day, though. Expand
  4. DavidM
    Apr 18, 2006
    6
    There's little here that's poor, which is the only way to account for its near 80 metacritic rating, but even less that's There's little here that's poor, which is the only way to account for its near 80 metacritic rating, but even less that's truly exciting...sometimes I feel the whole album is just setup for the excellent brass lines that close the last song. Collapse