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Cool Planet
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Cool Planet Image
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The latest release from Robert Pollard's prolific indie rock band sees the return of drummer Kevin March.
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Bad Love Is Easy to Do
bad love is easy to do every night every night protectors of investment plans are rightful in their arms beauty queens and dream machines are never... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Magnet
    Jun 18, 2014
    70
    The record sounds big, but not too fussed-over. [No. 110, p.56]
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  2. Exclaim
    May 15, 2014
    70
    For their sixth album since their 2010 reformation, the tempo has been slowed down. This accounts for a more refined sound, well-rounded lyrical structure and master musicianship.
  3. Paste Magazine
    May 13, 2014
    70
    For a band that’s essentially a nostalgia act, Cool Planet proves yet again that Guided by Voices can still matter today.
  4. Delusions of Adequacy
    May 19, 2014
    70
    Whilst at times Cool Planet could have benefitted from more of the cohesiveness that marked out Motivational Jumpsuit, its detours and greater collaborative ethos also give Pollard, Sprout and co. greater room for ongoing creativity.
  5. Pitchfork
    May 13, 2014
    62
    The line between exhilarating and exasperating is still being straddled to the point where it's starting to chafe.
  6. musicOMH.com
    May 27, 2014
    60
    A passable release that’s half what you’d want and half what you’d rather forget from a Guided By Voices album.
  7. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 18, 2014
    60
    Cool Planet is a messy indie sprawl for the patient faithful. [Aug 2014, p. 204]
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Geomcevan
    Jan 27, 2019
    7
    I was surprised to hear this is one of the less well-received LP's of GBV's comeback. The only real dud is Fast Crawl's dull meandering, theI was surprised to hear this is one of the less well-received LP's of GBV's comeback. The only real dud is Fast Crawl's dull meandering, the rest is pretty standard GBV fare, which is to say, brilliant. Solid opener, bit slow after that, picks up around 'Costume Makes the Man' and more or less maintains consistency thereafter. 'Hat of Flames', 'These Dooms' & 'Table at Fool's Tooth' is a pretty **** trilogy, followed by a Tobin Sprout gem 'All American Boy' So... Cool Planet is a Cool album.… Expand
  2. jkauzlar
    May 14, 2014
    6
    It took me a little longer than most of the recent GBV records to get into this one, but it's turned out to be decent, if not a bitIt took me a little longer than most of the recent GBV records to get into this one, but it's turned out to be decent, if not a bit ramshackle. I think Sprout is starting to evolve more. His 'All American Boy' sounds just like a 1971 Lennon song, voice and everything. Pollard is always restless, but here moreso than normal. A lot of his songs are on the weirder end of the spectrum.… Expand

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