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Entertainment WeeklyAug 5, 2014First albums rarely arrive catchier or more self-assured than this Toronto indie-pop quintet's frothy inaugural go. [9 Aug 2014, p.67]
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Jul 18, 2014Alvvays’ record is a hard-hitting, multi-faceted anthology of awesome, and sits pretty as one of 2014’s brightest debuts.
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Jul 22, 2014Alvvays has legitimately great songs, boasting sharp lyrics, comforting arrangements, and tics that give their music personality that can’t happen too deliberately.
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Jan 8, 2015Their sound is fully formed, but they could stand to mix it up in song structure and technique, but that’s being picky. One of my favorite releases of the year and highly recommended.
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Aug 21, 2014Though there are moments of frayed musical charm throughout Alvvays, including the irresistible crack in Rankin's voice during the final chorus of "Party Police" and the so-jangly-it-hurts arpeggios of "Atop a Cake," it exhibits an unexpected level of versatility for a debut.
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Jul 21, 2014[A] great debut record laced with melancholy and beautiful moments.
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Jul 21, 2014[A] joyous debut album.
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Jul 18, 2014Alvvays' debut feels like a warm and fuzzy memory, forging a deeper sense of nostalgia with each repeat visit.
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Jul 17, 2014It might not be the freshest, most original sounding record you’ll hear this year (it could have easily been released at any point in the 25 years without eyebrows being raised), but it terms of solid yet somewhat subversive indie-pop enjoyability, you will be hard pressed to find something better.
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Jul 17, 2014The lo-fi/hi-fi production values keep slickness at bay, resulting in something as warm, intimate and super-casual as an East Coast kitchen party.
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Jul 16, 2014Leaving themselves with no room for filler, the band set out to deliver on the promise of their singles, and we're thrilled to report that they've succeeded. Stardom beckons.
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Jul 16, 2014Alvvays find a way to articulate their heart-struck, dream-like songs with deft intention and control.
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Jul 16, 2014Although initially self-released, Alvvays' lap of honour is about as road-tripping, beach-friendly and lazy day-appropriate as any album comes.
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Jul 16, 2014Whether you’re looking to fall in love this summer or pine away unrequited, you won't find a better soundtrack than this.
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Jul 21, 2014Rankin possesses the sort of radiant but deceptively deadpan voice that lets her to infuse these lovelorn laments with sly, sometimes sinister wit.
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Jul 31, 2014Alvvays is an exciting opening album from a band who, although not revolutionary in their musical styling, bring refinement to a genre that make them sound mature beyond their years.
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Jul 24, 2014Produced by folk-rock veteran Chad VanGaalen, Alvvays capitalizes on its use of reverb and nostalgia to create a charming wistfulness in some places, but hasty aftereffects in others.
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Jul 23, 2014Alvvays takes a decidedly more shambolic direction as it reaches its final half, which is worrisome considering its brief runtime, thereby overstaying its welcome by lacking some much needed punch. But it shouldn’t in any way discourage Rankin’s efforts as the band’s core member, whose astute, lovesick descriptions are more than just a pleasant diversion.
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MojoAug 20, 2014Charming and cherishable. [Sep 2014, p.94]
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Jul 24, 2014They certainly have their sound down (reverb-laced guitars, big choruses, surf-tinged moments), but there's a lack of variety here.
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Jul 23, 2014Overall though, there’s more comfort than debauchery on Alvvays.
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Jul 21, 2014The band fails to sustain the album's early momentum, but there's still much to enjoy here.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 66 out of 71
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Mixed: 3 out of 71
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Negative: 2 out of 71
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Jul 23, 2017
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Jul 24, 2014
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Jun 14, 2022