Experienced, acclaimed groups rarely make albums as bold and confrontational as Stankonia, because they have too much to lose. OutKast don't care.... The Atlanta duo coalesced the political and societal challenges of hip hop's past into what is one of the genre's most artistically unortodox releases so far. [12/2000, p.108]

The results are extraordinary. [May 2012, p.79]

All invention and no indulgence. [Jun 2004, p.110]

On the Impossible Past is an inspiring exploration of life as it should be--but rarely is--lived. [Mar 2012, p.98]

Lost In The Sound Of Separation is truly 2008's first perfect record. [Sep 2008, p.145]

This band may be close to two decades and seven albums in, but in these here Parts, Every Time I Die are coming out of the box like airborne wolverines lunging for the world’s carotid arteries.

“Without Any Words (Only Crying And Laughter)” harkens back to the magnificent Gun Club, while “This Life Is Old” will have Jack White wondering who the hell these guys are, anyway. Because Scogin and drummer Michael McClellan bring the noise in the most righteous ways. ... Two Parts Viper is the best record of the year.

Their stripped-back and organic-sounding punkish indie rock recalls early Jimmy Eat World, Texas Is The Reason, the Appleseed Cast, Penfold and the Weakerthans, and this album sees them stand toe to toe with any one of those bands, which is admirable to say the least.

Has as much to do with Ray Davies as it does with hip hop and garage. [Jul 2004, p.148]

This collection of songs finds the band both maturing nicely, and as close to flawless [as] they've ever been. [Oct 2015, p.94]

Delivers the goods in spades. [Nov 2001, p.94]

It's ridiculously ambitious--and consistently surprising. [Aug 2005, p.164]

They've returned fully charged on the triumphant No Cities To Love. [Feb 2015, p.94]

Few records this year will be able to compete with the heart or hooks of this one. [Apr 2014, p.89]

Worsnop may be gone, but the rage channeled into The Black has helped the group lift themselves back onto their feet, showing they are more than capable of carrying on without him.

While Original Pirate Material isn't as good as the U.K. press hyperbole would have us believe, it does prove that sentiment and sincerity are more interesting than slickness and skills. [Dec 2002, p.96]

Alice is unique within Waits' unique discography, and it may be his most fully realized work. [Jul 2002, p.96]

Strikingly beautiful pop songs. [Nov 2004, p.142]

While The Finer Things may be fashionably late for this summer, it’ll sure as hell hold you over to the next one.

Z is their OK Computer, an album of scope and resonance that lasts far longer than its 40-minute run-time. [Oct 2005, p.162]

The band still maintain their status as leaders. Frontman Jacob Bannon is physically incapable of phoning in his performances, and always ready to bring the fear. Kurt Ballou’s guitar work is a joy to experience, whether he's carpal tunneling through downstrokes, picking out lyrical phrases to frame Bannon's ominous moments (“Thousands Of Miles Between Us”) or bringing the straight-up noise like a hateful glass-bomb explosion ("Under Duress").

Consists entirely of samples yet sounds as organic as a 1960 Impulse! LP, largely because Hebden broadens his instrumental palette, fattens his beats and even gets cinematic. [June 2003, p.109]

Amazing. [Mar 2003, p.92]

One of the most joyous and poignant party albums ever. [Feb 2002, p.74]

Eternity could easily be a musical score as much as it is a step forward for abrasive punk. [Apr 2017, p.80]

Honestly, 34 years deep, this is one of the band's best albums. [Feb 2015, p.92]

The album is a triumph, a huge step forward for a band that should be regarded as one of the best in the genre.

CIS convey aggression and energy through a maddening array of effects pedals and the haunting, grainy tenor of Kristain Hallbert's reverberating voice, combining to form corrosive anthems embellished by space and nuance. [Mar 2010, p.92]