The Photo Album - Death Cab for Cutie
The Photo Album Image
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

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  • Summary: This is the third album for the Washington-based indie rockers.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Billboard
    90
    If it's true that music of this nature doesn't get anymore heartfelt, it also rarely gets more infectious.
  2. Alternative Press
    80
    It's the skillful meshing of Benjamin Gibbard's part-stream-of-consciousness, part-confessional vocals with melancholy piano and achingly melodic guitars that reveal a fleshed-out Cutie are indeed a band of uncommon beauty. [Dec 2001, p.79]
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  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    As intelligent, bittersweet, angular stuff, whether it’s alt.rock, guitar-pop, or even emo is immaterial. Labels be damned - just call it great music.
  4. All Music Guide
    60
    The Photo Album does not quite meet the standard set by 2000's stellar We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes on a song-for-song level, but it's still a moving and intelligent collection of wistful pop.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. SteveS
    10
    amazing musiv
  2. rachelm
    10
    very good music
  3. AndersH.C.
    8
    DCFC really pulled it off on this one. A nice layered release from the masters of indie-pop. And for once the production is good.
  4. Ricko
    7
    This record was the first time I heard this band. First impressions were, these guys are Placebo-Lite crossed with a little bit of Mogwai, but that was a bit unfair and they have got their own identity going on. There are plenty of decent tunes on offer here and its only really the tail end of the record that lets it down a little bit. The more you listen, the more you get from the record, and in time, who knows, this might become an 8 record. Also, the bonus disk that comes with some version of this has an awesome, if unexpected version of Bjorks "All Is Full Of Love".… Expand

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