Theatre Is Evil - Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra
Theatre Is Evil Image
Metascore
82 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 17 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The third solo studio album for the former Dresden Doll singer is her first with her new band, The Grand Theft Orchestra and was recorded in Australia with producer John Congleton.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    Sep 10, 2012
    100
    In every sense, Theatre Is Evil sounds like a million dollars.
  2. All Music Guide
    Sep 14, 2012
    80
    Theatre is Evil bristles, crackles, aches, and moans with surprising efficiency considering its 15-song length, pairing fractured synths and staccato guitar riffs with Palmer's throaty, untamed pipes, sounding for all the world like a brazenly cool, alternate-universe version of No Doubt.
  3. Boston Globe
    Sep 17, 2012
    80
    The record is the most unvarnished rock music Palmer's ever created, leaning heavily on '80s goth and the oddball New Wave of folks like Lene Lovich.
  4. NOW Magazine
    Nov 8, 2012
    60
    Palmer seems intent on cramming as many ideas and textures into every song as she can, which is exciting at first but exhausting by the halfway point of an excessively long album.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 2 out of 5
  1. EmadKang
    10
    it's worth every penny.
    honestly I didn't expect anything like this at all.I was expecting something familiar like "Dresden Dolls" , a "Liza     Minnelli-Dark Cabaret" album,but the songs are well written and moreover perfectly arranged.she tried so hard to de-familiarize her earlier works,and she did it absolutely great. "A Grand Theft Intermission" will be a great surprise for you.be sure about it.
    in the end,Ben Fold is right; "You're going to **** when you hear it."    … Expand
  2. dartagnan
    10
    When I first this I thought 'What an overproduced monstrosity' after a few listens its 'What a brilliant overproduced monstrosity' Now it is granted that you may have to have a sense of humor to fully appreciate the slanted wonder of this album but individually the songs are strong, memorable and Ms Palmer's delivery perfect.… Expand
  3. zackerywilson
    10
    this. is. her. best. album. yet. there's so much right with this album that i just can't fathom how anyone can not like this album. from the second track (the first is a silly little intro) to the last, you just cant turn it off. i find myself listening to it and being like "i don't really need to go to class". The melodies are there, the lyrics are brilliant and the band is perfect.… Expand
  4. Tenfishone
    0
    Amanda Palmer turns in a dreary, childish effort. The lyrics are nonsensical. The anger is a narcissistic demand for attention. The one thing Amanda Palmer seems to be consistent about is to never learn about her craft. This record is completely amateur. The production values make the - drama kid freaking out and showing her poo panties- quality, even more obvious. A complete waste of time.… Expand

See all 5 User Reviews

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