We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves - John Maus
We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves Image
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: This is the latest album for the experimental composer from Minnesota.
  • Record Label: Ribbon Records
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Jun 30, 2011
    100
    Pitiless Censors is a sparkling album, a lo-fi synth pop masterpiece that manages to give endless aural delights while still being intellectually engaging, and despite having been caught at the center of a whirlpool of current movements, all of which reflect some aspect of Maus' style, he has only cemented his identity as a singular, unimpeachable figure.
  2. Q Magazine
    Aug 8, 2011
    80
    American producer conjures up dazzling electronics. [Aug. 2011, p. 123]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Mojo
    Dec 12, 2011
    60
    If the original Assault on Precinct 13 soundtrack had been made by a time-shifted Let's Dance Bowie, you'd be most-way there. [Aug. 2011, p. 104]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Slant Magazine
    Jun 30, 2011
    0
    The album is filled with garage-sale synths flooded with reverb and nary a hook to be found, sounding, at best, like an unfinished video-game score ("Hey Moon") and, at worst, like a Human League track played backward in a Walkman taped to the skull of a drowning man ("Head for the Country").

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Lolasaurus
    10
    Without a doubt one of the saving graces of the year, this album increasingly becomes all you need to listen to each time you return to it. Each song specializes on melodies that grow into mantras more than earworms, which makes the short time-frame not only convenient but essential. Whereas lo-fi is usually panned to either the "sacrifice for prolificness" or "limitations of intimacy/obscurity" arguments, here the production quality is totally irrelevant, although it detracts some people to the point that it's all they notice; to really understand how inseparable and intrinsic it is to the music, you really need to study Maus's character - interviews of him are themselves exponentially entertaining and worthwhile. The commoner's aesthetic, classic ear for melody, and charming optimism of John Maus on this record and in general make WMBTPCOO the Little Red Book of the post-pop, post-creative-quagmire, post-depressing-post-spinoffs era.… Expand
  2. therealmogwai
    9
    John Maus's 3rd album is a funny release. It tests the listeners patience by hiding the vocals in the back of the mix and fortifying them with walls of synths. A winter album released in the summer. Stand out tracks:
    Streetlight, Believer, Quantum Leap. Punching way above his weight this will most likely be my choice for album for the year.    … Expand
  3. hydrawithears
    4
    This one is tough. Is it a pastiche or just bad production? Anyway, itâ

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