The A.V. Club's Scores

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For 4,544 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 64% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 34% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1.5 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Music review score: 74
Highest review score: 100 The Life Of Pablo
Lowest review score: 0 Graffiti
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,663 out of 4544
  2. Mixed: 771 out of 4544
  3. Negative: 110 out of 4544
4544 music reviews
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    • 76 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Rock Action
    Even [producer Dave] Fridmann's ever-clever studio work can't make Rock Action interesting.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Ten New Songs
    This is the first time he's sounded less than vital.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 33 Critic Score
    Black Holes & Revelations
    Give Muse credit for remaking itself over the years into a full-blown theatrical experience, and not just another echoing rock band. But that experience is, frankly, kind of shitty.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Wonderland
    The few moments on Wonderland that make sense in the context of the band's history are overshadowed by a musical reach that exceeds its grasp.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Discovery
    While Discovery embraces the cheesiness of the lamest of lame music, the strategy frequently comes across as gimmickry. The album isn't so much fun as it is silly, and while Daft Punk's members may just be musical smart-alecks, funk hasn't sounded this resoundingly stupid since Bootsy Collins' squiggly solo work.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 33 Critic Score
    Murder of the Universe
    Overall this record requires a huge narrative commitment, with the payoff of a vomit coffin. Not worth it.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 25 Critic Score
    Lust Lust Lust
    It's a narrow frame of reference that The Raveonettes seem likely to stick with; hopefully, on future albums, the songs will get more memorable than this batch.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 33 Critic Score
    End Times
    Unfortunately, End Times comes off as impersonal and flat.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 33 Critic Score
    Gods Of The Earth
    For all intents and purposes, The Sword's Gods Of The Earth is the exact same album as its predecessor, "Age Of Winters." That isn't a good thing.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 33 Critic Score
    Re-Arrange Us
    The Mates recapture a bit of brio of 'The Re-Arranger' and 'Help Help,' but the rest of Re-Arrange Us is only useful for putting the kids to sleep.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Howl
    Howl indulges the band's heretofore-dormant interest in country, gospel, and Delta blues, in an exercise that sounds about as exercise-y as music gets.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 25 Critic Score
    in•ter a•li•a
    Inter Alia sounds unmistakably bored with itself.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 16 Critic Score
    Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
    Pretentious yet lunkheaded, the disc's only charm is its slick, fist-pumping arrogance.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Comfort Woman
    The last adjective that could ever describe NdegeOcello's music is "dull," but that's just the damnation to apply to the new Comfort Woman, along with "inexplicable," "meandering," and "inexplicably meandering."
    • 70 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    The Forgotten Arm
    Mann's signature wordplay sounds clichéd and exhausted, and her melodies lack the energy and pop sparkle that distinguished her pre-Lost In Space work.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Low Kick And Hard Bop
    She mixes sloppy beat work with awkward singing that makes her songs feel like tossed-off indie pop.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 25 Critic Score
    Dystopia
    The music is ferocious, catchy, and arguably the band’s best since the early ’90s; but many of Dystopia’s lyrics have nauseating connotations.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 25 Critic Score
    Face Control
    This is easily the most flavorless fruit yet to fall from the Wolf Parade family tree.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Group Therapy
    The group's familiar sound returns intact, but the songs just aren't there; most of them fade into a distressing mid-tempo mush while plodding through the paces at half speed.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    10,000 Hz Legend
    By trying to offer something for everyone, the mostly dull 10,000 Hz Legend has little to offer anyone.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Iowa
    Those who've moved beyond efforts to scare mom and dad will do well to steer clear, though they've probably made that choice already.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Suitcase: Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft
    A must only for the hardest of the hardcore Pollard fans, its subtitle--Failed Experiments And Trashed Aircraft--should not be ignored. It takes 17 tracks to hit a song ("Spring Tigers," from the aborted 1992 album Back To Saturn X) that sounds like a regrettable exclusion, and the consistency doesn't pick up from there.... if nothing else, it's a fine warehouse of great song titles...
    • 67 Metascore
    • 33 Critic Score
    Hot Cakes
    With Hot Cakes-the group's third album, and first since reforming last year-the laughter has died. In its place is the sad wheeze of the last surviving party balloon slowly, listlessly deflating.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Open
    While the continued drive to mix up its sound remains admirable, the weak spots are downright deadly, making Open feel sort of like a between-albums goof, an experiment strictly for the fan club.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 25 Critic Score
    Mentor Tormentor
    These days, the group creates reasonable facsimiles of utter tedium.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    A Time To Love
    This is more a marketing plan than an album.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Pole
    A stylistic side-step that trips and falls without making much of the tumble.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    St. Anger
    St. Anger suffers mightily for its thin, washed-out sound.... A messy, unsatisfying misfire.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 25 Critic Score
    Weezer (Red Album)
    The blame for Weezer can't all be laid on Cuomo—his bandmates' songwriting contributions (particularly Brian Bell's Uncle Kracker stab 'Thought I Knew') are just as unforgivably soulless.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 25 Critic Score
    Reality Check
    Regardless of whether Reality Check is "bad" or simply bad, The Teenagers belong on the scrap heap.
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