Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts
by M83
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Delusions of Adequacy
    100
    This is a really special record.
  2. Pitchfork
    92
    Simply put, this album sounds absolutely huge, its relentless attention to detail eclipsed only by the stunning emotional power it conveys.
  3. Filter
    92
    There's an organic component that coexists along with the machines, giving them a warmth few acts have been able to unearth. [#11, p.93]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Stylus Magazine
    90
    Although at times M83 evoke Jean-Michel Jarre or Air, this is far from being an album of Franco-synth by numbers; it is the layered, hypertextual futurism of My Bloody Valentine and Brian Eno which seeps through the electronic Gallic gauze as the most palpable influences.
  6. No Ripcord
    90
    In Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, M83 have created an ethereal electronic masterpiece, and one which, thankfully, doesn't sound like a relic from the Warp Records back catalogue.
  7. Urb
    90
    Immersive and woozy, brittle yet supple, a twittering, throttling piper of spectral drones. [Jul/Aug 2004, p.126]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. Playlouder
    90
    Few artists can master the trick of capturing ambience and atmosphere without resorting to cliche. M83 are among the few.
  9. AllMusic
    90
    M83 is a keyboard band of the best kind: one with nuance, tone, thrash, and color.
  10. Drowned In Sound
    90
    A wonderful surprise.
  11. Austin Chronicle
    89
    The whole much greater than its parts, Dead Cities is creation imbued and then muted again.
  12. Almost Cool
    80
    While I don't think that it's quite the groundbreaking release that many have given it credit for, there are definitely moments during the 12-track release that I feel like the group has cracked into something unique and downright amazing.
  13. Magnet
    80
    That [M83] achieve My Bloody Valentine beauty through antiquated analog rigs is an achievement in itself. [#64, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  14. Under The Radar
    80
    A Herculean instrumental epic of beautiful depth, staggering grandiosity and extraterrestrial soundscapes. [#7]
    All this publication's reviews
  15. ShakingThrough.net
    60
    Dead Cities reinforces the French pair's penchant for distorted vocals and cheesy synthesizers, but the tracks here ultimately add up to far less than the sum of their assorted parts.
  16. The A.V. Club
    50
    As monumental as Dead Cities sounds in parts, its uniformity proves oppressively stirring after just a few tracks.

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best Album of 2004
73
#73 Most Discussed Album of 2004
26
#26 Most Shared Album of 2004

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 86
  3. Negative: 5 out of 86
  1. turtlehead
    Feb 21, 2006
    3
    every few months i will put this on again, attempting to figure out what exactly is so appealing about it. I can't believe every person every few months i will put this on again, attempting to figure out what exactly is so appealing about it. I can't believe every person who gave this a 9 or 10 would have were it not for the huge critical reception. I find it almost impossible to make it from one end of the album to the other. Despite it being synthesized organ tones, it somehow manages to be more abrasive -- probably a result of its one (1) dynamic -- than any punk or metal or noise I've heard. Nobody I know ever actually listens to this. M83 did a song called "slowly" that i love, a good party song, but this album just wallows. I just wanted to say, to anyone considering buying this, to listen to some of it first, because its not really relaxing, interesting, fun...it's huge synth organs with synth blips and bleeps. you've been warned. DO NOT believe the hype surrounding this album. if you want epic, get some godspeed, if transcendant, maybe johann johannsen or the soundtrack to 2001 or something. The rating of their follow-up album reflects how well the debut keeps, i think. Cut the gimmick loose.… Full Review »
  2. frightopia
    Jun 25, 2023
    5
    It was certainly a beautiful album all around, it just unfortunately seemed very repetitive and started to get a little boring.
  3. All_ButTrU4
    Dec 20, 2021
    8
    this album sounds absolutely huge, its relentless attention to detail eclipsed only by the stunning emotional power it conveys.
See all user reviews »