The Lion's Roar - First Aid Kit
Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Jan 24, 2012
    70
    For the most part, The Lion's Roar is a mesmerizing listen that--alongside recent releases from the likes of the Tallest Man on Earth and Anna Ternheim--suggests the Swedish folk scene is currently hitting something of a purple patch.
  2. Oct 9, 2012
    89
    The Lion's Roar lacks gravitas, but that will come with time and heartbreak. The soul, candor, and the way they sing "darling," that's the hard stuff, and it's scarcely sounded more gorgeous.
  3. Jan 19, 2012
    80
    The full band which appears on The Lion's Roar enjoys the rare achievement of being saccharine-free, and serves to highlight the sisters' brilliant captured-on-tape chemistry.
  4. As it is, The Lion's Roar is a quality release, but due to the stand out tracks being placed at the front and the end, the middle section feels weaker than it is, making the overall impression of the album suffer.
  5. Jan 25, 2012
    80
    First Aid Kit's lustrous new album revels in its passion.
  6. Jan 19, 2012
    80
    The Lion's Roar is full of rich textures that unfurl around Klara and Johanna's bittersweet harmonies.
  7. Jan 23, 2012
    80
    Some of the best parts of The Lion's Roar are when the Söderbergs harmonize together.
  8. 70
    It weaves a pleasingly expanded set of instruments and styles, all under the watchful eye of producer Mike Mogis.
  9. Jan 20, 2012
    70
    A gorgeous, gripping study of English and north American folk music that covers as many of the genre's quirks as it can, without crawling from cliché to catastrophe.
  10. Jan 31, 2012
    80
    The lyrics' heavy-hearted take on relationships is more evidence of an astonishing maturity at play. [Feb 2012, p.97]
  11. Jan 20, 2012
    80
    A beautiful album that proves that sometimes more is more.
  12. 80
    Who'd have thought the best Americana record of the year would come from two Swedish siblings?
  13. Mar 29, 2012
    80
    They save overt prettiness for the music.
  14. Jan 24, 2012
    84
    The Lion's Roar is a gorgeous record and a spectacular follow-up to their 2010 debut.
  15. Jan 24, 2012
    76
    For the sisters' part, their voices are steadier now, and richer.
  16. Jan 25, 2012
    70
    All in all, the long player establishes that even though the Söderbergs are definitely young, they are wise and mature for their years.
  17. Jan 19, 2012
    80
    The sisters harmonise like sisters should, the tunes soar as both country and Bright Eyes should and First Aid Kit is contending like contenders should. [Feb 2012, p. 104]
  18. Jan 24, 2012
    70
    The songs shuffle styles, but the voices transcend genre distinctions--you may not hear a more beautifully sung record this year.
  19. Feb 1, 2012
    70
    Mogis never allows the arrangements to pull focus from the Söderbergs' vocals.
  20. Feb 10, 2012
    80
    The resulting collection of campfire singalongs proving nothing short of magical.
  21. Jan 19, 2012
    80
    The Lion's Roar works because, like their country inspirations, there's a steely toughness to the despair, and their extraordinary harmonies make even the glummest sentiments soar.
  22. 80
    Blessed with clear, characterful voices, employed in beautifully modulated, bell-like harmonies, the Söderbergs find beauty in the bleakness of mortality and the cyclical nature of things.
  23. First Aid Kit sing harmonies so close you couldn't run a Band Aid between them.
  24. Jan 19, 2012
    60
    There's a nourishing warmth in their bittersweet laments.
  25. Feb 10, 2012
    70
    Vocals, sparse acoustic backings, gentle snare brushing, the occasional stab of a mellotron all create a very pristine listening experience.
  26. Jan 20, 2012
    80
    Klara and Johanna Soderberg have crafted a remarkably mature work. [Feb 2012, p.84]
  27. Jan 19, 2012
    80
    Announces First Aid Kit as a fully-fledged musical experience. [#39, p.69]
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. 9
    This duo actually first got recognition several years ago for doing a startlingly beautiful Youtube cover of Fleet Foxes Tiger Mountain Peasant Song. This follows in that vein, really very nicely. This will be on my top ten list for the year certainly. It's a beauty from start to finish. As I've said elsewhere: pretty folkin' Swede. Full Review »
  2. 8
    Awesome! Very Refreshing!

    Clear influences from 70s but at the same time their melodies and harmonies are completely new. Their voices were m
    eant to sing together. Great stuff. Full Review »
  3. 10
    Superb album. Melodious harmonies, great songs and voices. Can't believe they are so yoong. If you like Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens etc you must listen to this. Full Review »