Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 22
  2. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. It's not extraordinarily original, but they do a masterful job at piecing together classic pop elements in an incredibly thoughtful and enjoyable way, crafting an album that's sure to please indie snobs, pop purists and, well, anyone else who might be listening.
  2. 84
    The Morning Benders have grown from playing taut three-minute melodies to sophisticated chamber pop with a focus on ambiance and layered harmonies.
  3. Giving too much credit to Taylor's influence and direction, however, undermines the Morning Benders' stylistic transition, one any band would envy and many listeners will love.
  4. Big Echo won't change the direction of modern music but it's such an easy, pleasurable listen that it can't fail to enrich whatever environment it's played in. Unreservedly recommended.
  5. Big Echo takes a page from Pet Sounds by allowing the production to shine on its own, highlighting the studio embellishments but never shifting focus away from the band’s own hooks.
  6. There may be a lack of deliberation or direction in this record, but Big Echo is nothing short of a triumph for The Morning Benders and will be remembered by many as one of 2010’s most ambitious records.
  7. It's not just the sound, but the structure of the songwriting which can lack variation. Nevertheless, Big Echo, especially its first half, proves my initial thought when first running the record through. The Morning Benders definitely are a band worth getting excited about.
  8. Sometimes lush, sometimes turbulent, the arrangements make Mr. Chu’s melodies more luminous while they open up mysterious spaces behind lyrics that ponder continuity and collapse. It’s a splendid transformation.
  9. Ultimately, the lushness is merely an entry point, and the influence-ripping distracts, but doesn’t derail: Big Echo is best enjoyed for its clutch of memorable moments pinned on a pretty backdrop.
  10. Big Echo is an immediate, inviting listen. It’s not breaking any boundaries of inspired expression, but for what it is it’s a fine set indeed.
  11. The Benders sound buttoned-up and clean-cut, infinitely pleasant and inoffensive, one suggestive song title (Pleasure Sighs) notwithstanding.
  12. The main thing preventing Big Echo from being a very good (or even a great) album is that the bulk of it is clearly and undeniably influenced by the quieter moments from Grizzly Bear’s oeuvre.
  13. What damns them is how they frequently grasp at Grizzly Bear’s familiar brand of prettiness, rarely capturing the effortlessness that would keep a better record afloat.
  14. The result is a collection of pop songs with a good sense of both depth and dynamics.
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Oct 28, 2010
    10
    Big Echo, the second album from the Berkley based band, is not breaking new ground but still draws you in with it's depth and layers. ColdBig Echo, the second album from the Berkley based band, is not breaking new ground but still draws you in with it's depth and layers. Cold War is the one non-homogeneous song on this album, but it provides a welcomed uplifting moment. The album provides a sense of painfully overwhelming peace and intricacy, but comes off simple and respectful. I would recommend Big Echo to friends and listeners of Grizzly Bear, Twin Shadow, etc... This album gets a 6.5/10 from me.

    Band Formula : Sea Snakes + Grizzly Bear = The Morning Benders

    Song Redemption : Excuses, Cold War, Hand Me Downs


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