Alternative Press' Scores
- Music
For 3,071 reviews, this publication has graded:
-
64% higher than the average critic
-
3% same as the average critic
-
33% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.5 points higher than other critics.
(0-100 point scale)
Average Music review score: 73
Highest review score: | Major/Minor | |
---|---|---|
Lowest review score: | Results May Vary |
Score distribution:
-
Positive: 2,331 out of 3071
-
Mixed: 695 out of 3071
-
Negative: 45 out of 3071
3071
music
reviews
- By Date
- By Critic Score
-
- Critic Score
Though this is limp-wristed stuff, it's also undeniably beautiful, often recalling Nick Drake and Belle & Sebastian. [#154, p.82]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
A reliance on monotonous tempos and rhythms--and a disappointing lack of melodic variation--further make Endless Now fell curiously lethargic. [Sep 2011, p.112]- Alternative Press
Posted Aug 19, 2011 -
- Critic Score
Like a late-night screening of Blue Velvet, it may be hard to get through, but impossible to ignore. [Dec 2011, p.121]- Alternative Press
Posted Nov 2, 2011 -
- Critic Score
Overall, the songs are well-written and daring. Some tracks are more successful than others (”Where Did It Go?” and “Vultures” are standouts), but it is an altogether engaging listen.- Alternative Press
- Posted Jan 4, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Lightspeed Champion somehow fail to generate the true emotional sentiment that was the crux of the artists he's drawing from...Hynes has matured, though. [Mar 2010, p.94]- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Far from essential, but... a good jazz starting point for the unitiated. [Mar 2003, p.90]- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
There's lots of talent in this New York sextet, but it gets lost in all the unbridled exploration and layers.- Alternative Press
- Posted Oct 10, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
With its techno beats, yowling vocals and laughably cliched lyrics, "I Am Your Skin" fumbles at being a love song, while "She's So Bendable" (the band's vision of Lou Reed fronting the Jesus And Mary Chain) is beyond generic. [Jan 2010, p. 92]- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The addition of electric instruments and Morello's nasal speak-singing do make Rebel Songs read a little like a radicalized Dylan. [Sep 2011, p.116]- Alternative Press
Posted Aug 19, 2011 -
- Critic Score
The least pretentious--and most accessible--thing AYWKUBTTOD have ever released. That's probably because it sounds a lot like your record collection. [Feb 2005, p.92]- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
Posted Aug 19, 2011 -
- Critic Score
She's gone from being an indie rocker's wet dream to sounding like the most NPR-friendly singer-songwriter your parents haven't discovered yet. [Mar 2006, p.124]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The ominous charm that had fans nose over tail is not completely lost in Agony & Irony. [Aug 2008, p.156]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
There is very little here that makes any sort of meaningful connection. [Dec 2001, p.85]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
In Waves hits some high notes with solo-heavy scorchers, but bury them seven tracks deep is as dumbfounding as their guitar work is breathtaking. [Sep 2011, p.120]- Alternative Press
Posted Aug 19, 2011 -
- Critic Score
The combination of thundering drums with whimsical vocals and melodies can be charming, insanely catchy and headache-inducing, sometimes all at once. [Feb 2007, p.114]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Taken individually, Damon & Naomi's songs possess distinct personalities.... However, when consumed as a whole, The Earth Is Blue metamorphoses into a thin musical mist. [Apr 2005, p.116]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The majority of the album sounds like generic radio rock. [Jul 2012, p.98]- Alternative Press
Posted Jun 22, 2012 -
- Critic Score
Vanderslice's detached delivery of this riveting material, combined with the somnolent string arrangements, makes Pixel Revolt feel like a chilled-out remix of a book-on-tape recording. [Sep 2005, p.158]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Like many trilogies, though, the third one stumbles to reach the bar set by its predecessors. However, Morning certainly doesn't suck, and fans will appreciate its place in the evolution of Eels. [Sep 2010, p.109]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Somewhere Else is only rewarding if you can stay awake. [Feb 2013, p.90]- Alternative Press
Posted Jan 23, 2013 -
- Critic Score
The songs tend to meander along without a sense of overall purpose. [Dec 2006, p.188]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The songs explode with more energy than the whole underground combined. This makes it very hard not to love Los Campesinos!, and makes it easier to forgive the fact this record could have been better served as an EP. [Nov 2008, p.162]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Thnakfully, as the album continues, the songs grow more developed as orchestrally augmented tracks "Right Place" and "LA Rain" showcase Burhenn's distinct vocal abilities. [May 2010, p.108]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Against Me! were great because of their flaws, not in spite of them--White Crosses just isn't that much fun to listen to. [Jun 2010, p.102]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Gay For Johnny Depp succeed because they don't take themselves seriously and they know how to write a crushingly good hardcore song. [Mar 2011, p.93]- Alternative Press
Posted Feb 18, 2011 -
- Critic Score
Their new EP, Middle States, is occasionally tedious, thanks to those meandering tendencies. [Jul 2011, p.106]- Alternative Press
Posted Aug 8, 2011 -
- Critic Score
The 15 songs here chart a typical course through the American songbook, with paradoxically straight-faced camp, morose show tunes and orchestral chamber pop without the aid of an actual orchestra. [Apr 2012, p.96]- Alternative Press
Posted Mar 2, 2012 -
- Critic Score
Teetering between genius and madness, Repo is a few hooks shjort of a successful fishing trip for experiemental music, left mostly with "experiemental" and not much in the way of traditionally defined "music." [Jun 2009, p.102]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Coxon's solo career has long suffered from the Bob Pollard syndrome of self-indulgent quantity over quality--a setback that, unfortunately, also plagues much of Happiness In Magazines. [Mar 2005, p.132]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
A set track list and a few new tunes....[creates] a more well-rounded picture of the band than last year's smorgasbord. [Apr 2012, p.92]- Alternative Press
Posted Mar 2, 2012 -
- Critic Score
What could have been a second coming of Stone Roses or even a newer New Order comes off like one big Spiritualized remix, light on the hooks, numbed by its own beats. [Apr 2002, p.82]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The cohesion that made their previous records so captivating has been significantly diminished. [Dec 2005, p.204]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
It's important that albums like Ghost exist--but unfortunately, those albums don't always make the most enjoyable listens. [Aug 2004, p.116]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Sounds like every other disc Matador has released by them. [Oct 2004, p.134]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The second half loses momentum slightly. When in concentrated form, however, the Mountain Goats still manage to reach their peak. [Apr 2011, p.115]- Alternative Press
Posted Mar 29, 2011 -
- Critic Score
It won’t satisfy the appetite of fans of the band that are salivating over the thought of a brand new album with Lindberg’s patented shout-sing back and leading the charge. But as a stopgap and look back at the band’s early years, Yesterdays is a rowdy Pennywise romp.- Alternative Press
- Posted Aug 5, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It feels a lot longer than it is, and that's a bad thing. [May 2009, p.115]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
While their occasional reliance on wide-eyed sloppiness isn't endearing, when the band clean up, they have some irresistible pop nuggest in them. [Apr 2003, p.80]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Gimme Some is grounded in a guitar-based directness it seemed PB&J had left behind. [Apr 2011, p.118]- Alternative Press
Posted Mar 29, 2011 -
- Critic Score
Sounds like a good Wallflowers record. [Mar 2003, p.98]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Boasts a sort of steady, creeping beauty, like a slower, groggier Failure without the loud arena bombast. [Nov 2001, p.97]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Ably backed by bassist Michael Cotterman (ex-the Loved Ones) and Andrew Black on drums, if there's any flaw to the Title Tracks formula, it would be that they could make a few moments more flawed. But that's just the Q And Not U fan talking.- Alternative Press
- Posted May 24, 2011
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Like vintage B&S, this Glasgow group's sound ranges from full-blown orchestration to tunes on which a lot of musicians make very little noise. [Mar 2004, p.94]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Taken alone, these six tracks are fascinating enough from a conceptual standpoint, and listening to a band audibly restraining themselves is quite scintillating. But it's hard to shake the feeling that these pieces would likely have a significantly greater impact when connected with the entire Testimony performance.- Alternative Press
- Posted Aug 5, 2013
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Everlast hints at a hip-hop amalgam of Johnny Cash and Howlin' Wolf, but only when being chased. [Jan 2001, p.88]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
It's virtually impossible to listen to Show Me Your Tears from start to finish; but individually, each song is a dark, delightful peek at Black in the throes of therapy. [Nov 2003, p.108]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
There's enough patented 'Pusher weirdness here to tingle your noggin. [Apr 2004, p.100]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Marks a slight improvement from 1999's Bury The Hatchet. [Nov 2001, p.79]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The hue of the proceedings feels significantly dialed-down and stark and the result feels more like a Jollett solo album and less like a great band flexing its myriad abilities. [May 2011, p.92]- Alternative Press
Posted Apr 21, 2011 -
- Critic Score
Offers yet more fun funk/blues-rock mashups for unpretentious gatherings of all sorts. [Nov 2004, p.156]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
It's still a blast to listen to Hot Hot Heat when they sound like they're having fun, even if they have to fake it. [Sep/Oct 2007, p.169]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The recording quality is awful, but the glee with which these legends dust off forgotten gems like "Never Been In A Riot" easily makes up for it. [Feb 2004, p.76]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Sound[s] equally as interesting, but rarely as essential, as the studio material from which it's drawn. [Feb 2006, p.120]- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
Posted Apr 21, 2014 -
- Critic Score
It's a moody composition with occasional moments of brilliance that will ultimately leave most listeners as confused as they are content. [Oct 2009, p.114]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
It has a hard time hitting the kind of peaks required to make a singer-songwriter disc truly memorable. [Jun 2006, p.180]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Face Tat demands remarkable attention from its listeners; if only Hill would have challenged himself as much during its creation. [Nov 2010, p.112]- Alternative Press
Posted Oct 25, 2010 -
- Critic Score
Channels the spirits of no wave via clinks and clanks, doomy vocal chants, ominous tribal thumps, abstract guitar scraping and jarring haunted-forrest samples. [Mar 2004, p.110]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Pariah isn't without its merits, and diehard fans will likely find few flaws anywhere. But for the casual listener, the album might seems a little less "Of The Room" and a little more "Rent." [Jul 2009, p.126]- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Even if this Boat doesn't always stay afloat, Cook's eager-to-please melodic sensibilities can still get jaws a-smilin'. [Mar 2009, p.116]- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Much of the album reflects a tension between melancholia and euphoria that sounds more like an epic battle between Fischerspooner's love for New Order and Pet Shop Boys--but with beefier, disco-fied beats. [May 2005, p.174]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The bulk of the album's 14 tracks find her playing it safe with a helium-voiced squeak reminiscent of (take your pick) Gwen Stefani, Santigold, Kate Bush or Cyndi Lauper. [Nov 2011, p.97]- Alternative Press
Posted Mar 14, 2012 -
- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Their fourth album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action is just as resolute as the title. [Sep 2013, p.88]- Alternative Press
Posted Aug 12, 2013 -
- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
At times, Iwrestledabearonce could almost pass for In This Moment. Whether that's a compliment or not is your call. [Sep 2013, p.90]- Alternative Press
Posted Aug 29, 2013 -
- Critic Score
Occasionally, Roderick gets in the way of himself and makes the proceedings more difficult than they should be. [Sep 2006, p.214]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Happy To You's charm does wear off in repeated listens, though, resulting in an album that's enjoyable, but far from life changing. [Apr 2012, p.96]- Alternative Press
Posted Mar 14, 2012 -
- Critic Score
Chris Conley's metaphorical lyrics remain earnest enough, but because of studio trickery, his vocals sound annoyingly nasal. [Oct 2003, p.120]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The saccharine harmonies are still present on the title track; they're just augmented with more expansive arrangements that bring out a welcome new dimension to the band's sound. [Apr 2011, p.114]- Alternative Press
Posted Mar 15, 2011 -
- Critic Score
Only the album-ending title track tones down the noise, and even then, it's about as restrained as early Husker Du. [May 2005, p.132]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Plays out like a sequel to BF5's last album... with one key element missing: humor. [May 2005, p.172]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Ultimately, the album's main fault is its resolute consistency, namely the fact that things basically run on one speed, and it gets repetitive quickly.- Alternative Press
- Posted Apr 17, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
This heart-cleansing vulnerability renders much of Final Straw's latter half monotonous. [May 2004, p.96]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
After four very similar albums, they seem to be in danger of painting themselves into a corner. [Jun 2003, p.93]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
It's ain't perfect, with some primitive playing popping up at inopportune times. But if you're after a soundtrack for these late summer months, look no further than Lost Control. [Sep 2013, p.88]- Alternative Press
Posted Aug 14, 2013 -
- Critic Score
Longtime Black Lips fans will notice a more polished production compared to past albums, but it also seems apparent that these boys have barely begun to scratch the surface when it comes to showing us what they've made of. [Nov 2007, p.170]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Young has a good chance at becoming a worthy replacement for the Postal Service; he just needs to monitor the ratio of sugar to substance on subsequent efforts. [Oct 2009, p.111]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
There is a breadth of influence throughout, even if the energy level rarely falls below absurdly scorching and the sonic approach remains a fuzzy haze. [Apr 2008, p.150]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
At times their odes to the long-gone era of '60s psychedelia get lost in their lofty ambitions. [Apr 2004, p.84]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Though there's little here to entice newcomers, fans should rejoice. [Mar 2002, p.77]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
A precious orch-pop labyrinth that unfolds with sudden melodic left turns and zany shifts in dynamics and instrumentation. [Aug 2001, p.94]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Overall, Keane's efforts to move beyond pigeonholing succeed more than they fail. [Jun 2010, p.107]- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Coheed's fourth album simply doesn't deliver on the suspense that's been loaded into it. [Nov 2007, p.155]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Too many tunes struggle to remind listeners of their catchiness. [Aug 2005, p.166]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Musically, it doesn't seem like Chan has gone anywhere. [March 2003, p.88]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
Overall, the Beeps still seem like a work in progress. [Nov 2004, p.140]- Alternative Press
-
- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
They weave simple, childlike melodies that slowly grow into full-blown opuses.... A surprisingly innovative album that sees them swimming forward instead of treading water. [#153, p.76]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
South are at their most compelling when they apply the aesthetics and methodology of dance music to their epic rock music. [Mar 2002, p.88]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
With a handful of vibrant songs that match either a late-night lounge vibe, or elevate their retro-country game, the album's only major flaw is forcing too many drastic costume changes on their angelic voices. [Mar 2010, p.98]- Alternative Press
-
- Critic Score
The 10 drone-y songs on Brightblack Morning Light sound more like a soundtrack than a traditional album. [Aug 2006, p.206]- Alternative Press