The Meadowlands
by The Wrens
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 103 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 92 out of 103
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 103
  3. Negative: 9 out of 103

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  1. JamesS.
    Aug 10, 2007
    10
    Someone must have paid a pretty penny to have Q-magazine to lie and bring their metascore down. This is truely a one band in a million's masterpiece. If you spread the songs out over ten different albums with a bunch of filler (ala major label spin), ever one of these songs would be a hit single. The Wrens deserves so much more respect and praise.
  2. NattyB
    Oct 17, 2003
    10
    This album is as heart-rending as Secaucus was eerily rocking. This is one of the best albums I own. If anyone can better express pain, betrayal, and weary disillusionment, I have yet to see it.
  3. RonG
    Nov 6, 2003
    10
    Serves as both the perfect gift for the girl you can't get out of your mind and the perfect kiss-off to the girl you can't seem to get out of your life.
  4. SteveGozdecki
    Oct 3, 2003
    10
    Almost unbelievable.
  5. ScareCr0w
    Oct 3, 2003
    10
    First off, Steve Gozdecki at neumu.net is an idiot. 'She Sends Kisses' is one of the most beautifully crafted songs this year. Schlocky? No, Steve, not 'schlocky'.
  6. ASault
    Jun 26, 2004
    10
    If you like indie rock, you must buy this album
  7. TKlassen
    Jul 2, 2004
    10
    I recently ranked my top 70 LPs of the 'modern rock' era (1977-present) for a friend to peruse... 'Meadowlands' I listed at No. 3, if only because I thought being out less than a year I couldn't place it No. 1... I am however fairly sure this album will hold up to the test of time... it kicks my a** and gives me goosebumps with each and every listen
  8. jamess
    Oct 25, 2005
    10
    Amazing.
  9. HollisH
    Jan 5, 2005
    10
    Perfect. Thanks guys.
  10. AaronS
    Oct 7, 2005
    10
    An amazing, tasteful collection of indie rock. Not only was this best album of 2003, it's also the best album that I have heard so far in this decade.
  11. henkvanb
    Oct 9, 2005
    10
    Brilliant
  12. DouglasV
    Mar 1, 2005
    10
    Awesome.
  13. SethH
    Jul 20, 2005
    10
    This is an incredible album. It takes everything that was good about the Wrens' previous albums and matures it into something far better than anyone could have wished for. Absolutely essential.
  14. JoshB
    May 27, 2006
    10
    Amazingly complex from great all around songs like "happy" all the way to pumped up rocking tracks like "per second second". Best CD I've owned....ever.
  15. JustinC
    Sep 14, 2006
    10
    Buy a CD, put it down after a year or so of straight listening, pick it back up, and realize, "Hey, this really is one of the greatest CDs of all time"
  16. JohnR
    Feb 15, 2007
    10
    It takes a lot of listens to fully get it but this is the greatest album I've ever played and ai've played a few thousand!
  17. abef
    Nov 10, 2003
    10
    you gotta be kidding, right? where's the filler?? I've been conditioned through years of industry abuse to tune out at least half of an albums songs. but now I have to maintain rapt attention for all 56 minutes?
  18. jamiek
    Dec 2, 2003
    10
    i've watched the wrens grow musically from the beginning. with each year and turn, they grow more and more. they have certainly outdone thenselves with this album. absolutly magnificent!
  19. TerryS
    Dec 3, 2003
    10
    This get's my imaginary vote for Best Album of 2003 - splendid on dizzying levels.
  20. timd
    Dec 8, 2003
    10
    Best album of the year! "The Meadowlands" is like "Almost Famous" ten years after the band didn't live up to their hype recast with casualties of the post Nirvana indie flood. Beautiful and heart breaking. Like "All That You Can't Leave Behind" for people that cherrish Pavement over R.E.M.
  21. JeffH
    Oct 8, 2003
    10
    I've heard of the wrens on a sampler Cd I bouth in '96. Thoose two songs have left such a big impression for me to track them down today. I beleive that they are on of the best band I have heard. "Good rainy day music that will put you in a good mood."
  22. Chris
    Nov 8, 2004
    10
    "Everybody Chooses Sides" may well be the best f**kin' ROCK song written in the past decade. A mixture--without being at derivative--of The Clash, The Godfathers and supersonic The Wrens. Believe me: it takes off like a three-stage rocket and propels you into the stratosphere. And, better yet, it is but one of MANY great songs on this CD. ("She Sends Kisses" & "This Boys Exhausted" "Everybody Chooses Sides" may well be the best f**kin' ROCK song written in the past decade. A mixture--without being at derivative--of The Clash, The Godfathers and supersonic The Wrens. Believe me: it takes off like a three-stage rocket and propels you into the stratosphere. And, better yet, it is but one of MANY great songs on this CD. ("She Sends Kisses" & "This Boys Exhausted" to name but two others). Don't be fooled by the jaded fools and never-ending s**tstream of failed-at-rock poseurs who (a) think that anything that sells is garbage, (b) can't do and so endlessly criticize, and (c) can do, are needlessly envious or bitter, and cannot stand any competition. "Meadowlands" is superlative, and the best $$$ I've spent on a CD in ages. The rockers rock, and the slower tempo songs are equally intriguing. … Expand
  23. AlanB
    Mar 31, 2004
    10
    Simply put: the best album of 2003. I listened to it, literally, ten times in a row; just in awe of how wounded, fresh, and dynamic this album is. This is a must have for anyone who has a grasp of the human condition.
  24. StefanoT
    Apr 19, 2004
    10
    Astonishing. Simply the best album of the year, one of the best indie rock albums I've ever heard. Touching, perfectly crafted, with gems upon gems. Hats off.
  25. RobL
    Apr 8, 2004
    10
    I think the Wrens are the only band where I can't decide which of their albums is my favorite one. They're all brilliant in their own way. The Meadowlands had a lot to live up to for me, as Secaucus and Silver are two of my favorite albums ever. It definitely succeeded. That it's done from sort of a different approach than their previous full-lengths makes it all the more I think the Wrens are the only band where I can't decide which of their albums is my favorite one. They're all brilliant in their own way. The Meadowlands had a lot to live up to for me, as Secaucus and Silver are two of my favorite albums ever. It definitely succeeded. That it's done from sort of a different approach than their previous full-lengths makes it all the more impressive. Like their previous records, I can't stop listening to it. The fact that these guys still aren't one of the more renowned indie rock bands around is a fucking crime. … Expand
  26. EdEd
    Jul 17, 2004
    10
    I thought I was going to make a mix-tape for a girl I'm trying to impress. Y'know include stuff from a whole bunch of my favorite bands. Broken Social Scene, The Junior Boys, The Walkmen, The Olivia Tremor Control; keep out the weird stuff but make sure its songs she's never heard before etc. But, now, at 1:56 in the morning and on the second straight listen through of the I thought I was going to make a mix-tape for a girl I'm trying to impress. Y'know include stuff from a whole bunch of my favorite bands. Broken Social Scene, The Junior Boys, The Walkmen, The Olivia Tremor Control; keep out the weird stuff but make sure its songs she's never heard before etc. But, now, at 1:56 in the morning and on the second straight listen through of the Medowlands I think maybe I'll just give her this and let her be blown away by it... but really this would make a better brake-up album, these guys sound so disenchanted. So I'll probably put 'She sends kisses' in it and end with '13 months 6 minutes' and hope for the best.… Expand
  27. JamesC
    Aug 18, 2004
    10
    Incredible.
  28. PekkaP
    Dec 8, 2005
    10
    Love it. There's still people around who make good music. Did I say good, I meant, of course, excellent.
  29. [Anonymous]
    May 3, 2005
    10
    record that broke my heart into 1000000 pieces ;)
  30. Brendan
    May 9, 2005
    10
    Best record of the last 5 years, anyone who hasn't heard it listen, and if you can see them live, by god do it...
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Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best Album of 2003
21
#21 Most Discussed Album of 2003
98
#98 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Delusions of Adequacy
    100
    The Meadowlands is absolutely essential.
    Read full review
  2. Stylus Magazine
    89
    With about twenty killer lines or couplets per song, unexpected hooks coming from everywhere and one of the most ingenious track sequences of the year, it’s not really so hard to imagine what The Wrens have been doing all this time.
    Read full review
  3. Neumu.net
    70
    With all four members taking the mic, cohesion should hardly be expected. Yet, for all the different styles the band employs on this album, all but the closing number seem indelibly stamped as this band's work, uniquely The Wrens.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »