Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Alternately blissed-out and ragingly psychedelic, this debut is one of 2008's most promising records.
  2. The net result of The Uglysuit’s formula sounds something like an imagined pairing of Bedhead and Phish. It’s all right as far as it goes.
  3. The only thing the tracks have in common is the uncommon musicianship on display and the high-flying atmospherics that keep most of the album's mood adrift in the stratosphere.
  4. It never coheres long enough to be truly transcendent, but The Uglysuit hints at greater things to come--and offers up enough great, though too easily recognizable, moments to recommend it already.
  5. Although they have a ways to go before establishing their own musical identity, The Uglysuit have more than enough talent to make it plausible that they’ll get there someday.
  6. At times, all the sweetness and light can be a bit repetitive. But for a first outing, The Uglysuit does serve as a much more quiet sort of inspiration--which, sometimes, can be quite profound.
  7. The Uglysuit are certainly competent, but on this debut their music feels too by-the-book.
  8. The Uglysuit, whose country-prog-post-rock-indie-orchestral ramblings recall, variously, Wilco, Bright Eyes, The Shins, Elbow, Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket and the soundtrack for every emotionally self-indulgent US drama ever made. Yet, hearing the warm country musings of ‘Chicago’ or the aching two-note piano motif of 'And We Became Sunshine’, it’s hard not to settle into the seduction.
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. DC.
    Oct 24, 2008
    10
    Best live show I've ever seen.
  2. EvanB.
    Sep 30, 2008
    10
    This album has been in rotation on my Ipod since I got it over a month ago. I never want to skip a song, it is a solid record all the way This album has been in rotation on my Ipod since I got it over a month ago. I never want to skip a song, it is a solid record all the way through, and that is quite rare. The album as a whole has so many surprises, switching from happy-go-lucky indie pop to heavy hitting driving guitars to a funny quirky circus like song to a beautiful piano instrumental. You never know what to expect next which is something that I really love. I highly recommend this record to everyone, it's fun, it makes me happy, smile, feel good. A+++ Full Review »