Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
by Murder by Death
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
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  1. Alternative Press
    Sep 24, 2012
    90
    Murder By Death have created their most dramatic and symphonic work to date. [Oct 2012, p.90]
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  2. AllMusic
    Sep 25, 2012
    80
    Bitter Drink feels more exuberant than the band's earlier work, upping the tempo and grandeur of the songs in a way that shines a little light on the band's darkness without snuffing it out completely.
  3. Paste Magazine
    Sep 25, 2012
    80
    Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon is Murder by Death's most beautiful album to date.
  5. American Songwriter
    Sep 24, 2012
    80
    Murder By Death reach a new plateau in the development of their ongoing pursuit of rollicking gothic indie folk, simultaneously sounding born of an era long past yet grounded in a rock 'n' roll spirit that's nothing if not contemporary.
  6. CMJ
    Sep 24, 2012
    80
    The group took more time crafting these songs, and because of that, the album seems almost effortless.
  7. Blurt Magazine
    Nov 28, 2012
    70
    The fifteen tracks that make up the record are soul shaking, dark, emotive and moving in a way that would have Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits sipping their whiskeys in agreement.
  8. PopMatters
    Sep 24, 2012
    70
    All praise aside, perhaps the one flaw of the record is that its songs are not as immediately captivating as those on past releases, though that's only a flaw if you choose to see it as such.
  9. The A.V. Club
    Sep 26, 2012
    67
    After a handful of muddled, upbeat tracks that mar Bitter Drink's middle, the band settles into its skin again with "Ditch Lilly," a meandering sprawl that lets its ink-black atmosphere slowly seep through.
  10. Magnet
    Oct 22, 2012
    65
    Sometimes the pace renders parts of the LP a slow-bore, but there's still enough effective moody dynamics to giver 'er a spin. [No.92 p.56]
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  11. Q Magazine
    Dec 11, 2012
    60
    This is a swig of all that's gone before, chased down with much warmer production. [Jan 2013, p.107]
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  12. Under The Radar
    Nov 30, 2012
    60
    The release fits nicely into the band's evolution while rehashing ever-present themes (like Whiskey). [Oct/Nov 2012, p.130]
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  13. Filter
    Sep 24, 2012
    58
    The reality is that Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon is the musical equivalent of a grape soda--it tastes familiar, but it's just not quite a grape.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 2 out of 12
  1. VillageGreenRec
    Sep 30, 2012
    8
    A marvelous effort, this Indiana native Alt. country band continues to drift into the darker side of country and rock. A vocal that is eerilyA marvelous effort, this Indiana native Alt. country band continues to drift into the darker side of country and rock. A vocal that is eerily reminiscent to Johnny Cash at times, the songs within take on a new life with dense Chamber Rock like arrangements and a sinister Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds sense of glorified doom and gloom. An awesome release, sadly will be overlooked by hyped artists such as Mumford & Sons.… Full Review »
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