• Record Label: Nonesuch
  • Release Date: Apr 23, 2002
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 249 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 17 out of 249

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  1. PaulL
    Jan 9, 2006
    5
    dull dull dull dull dull. I'm reviewing this in early 2006 After having some perspective, I think this record was carried by sheer hype. I remember the songs clearly and how smug I felt listening to it (take that corporate fools!), but now I can not even will myself to put it in the cd player. The mere thought of this album can induce a coma.
  2. KevinD.
    Mar 17, 2008
    4
    One of the most overrated albums of the new millennium period. There are four good songs on this album, and that's the nicest thing that can be said about it. Experimental? Yes, but something new? No, adding computer sounds and fuzz is experimental for this band, but it's an old trick. Good folk rock has two defining characteristics, melody and lyrics. The melodies on this album One of the most overrated albums of the new millennium period. There are four good songs on this album, and that's the nicest thing that can be said about it. Experimental? Yes, but something new? No, adding computer sounds and fuzz is experimental for this band, but it's an old trick. Good folk rock has two defining characteristics, melody and lyrics. The melodies on this album are mostly the same and wear out after the first four tracks. So then the lyrics... decent, but certainly not world class. For example, "Jesus, etc." is a gorgeous song with great lyrics, but "I am the man who loves you" has thin melodies and lyrics that are just boring. It's background music, something that puts me to sleep every time I listen to it, and I've listened to it several times, each time thinking, "maybe this time it'll be interesting." It never is. Expand
  3. BrianMcC
    Mar 5, 2006
    6
    Inconsistent effort. Some songs will move the listener, some songs will put one to sleep. It is as if the musicians fought with each other over musical direction and they each won a section of the recording. Disappointing!
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 26
  2. Negative: 1 out of 26
  1. I'm not sure if it's the work by O'Rourke or the progression of the group (or a little of both), but this disc is so multi-layered that it's easy to hear new things many many times after the first listen.
  2. Mojo
    100
    A masterpiece, exactly the sort of record that your average sentient pop genius should make in 2002. [May 2002, p.99]
  3. While their songs still maintain the loose intimacy that was apparent on their debut AM, the music has matured to reveal a complexity that is rare in pop music, yet showcased perfectly on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.