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Dear John Image
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest album for Sweden's Emil Svanangen is his first on the Polyvinyl label.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Under The Radar
    90
    Dear John is Svanangen’s true masterpiece. [Winter 2009]
  2. Its tools are exceedingly familiar, but the results aren’t--don’t think Loney, Dear’s latest direction has been cribbed from anywhere. Let it sink in, and Loney, Dear soon whispers/sings/shouts out. This one’s worth hearing.
  3. It’s lovely and streamlined, the musical equivalent of a Saab.
  4. Dear John is more or less all about getting dumped, blending hymnal keyboards, tender strings and pained vocals.
  5. It's Svanangen's record in miniature: It preserves what was fleetingly great about Loney, Noir while proving that Svanangen has more tricks in his bag than most people thought possible.
  6. Despite a few hiccups, Loney, Dear is one of Sweden’s best exports.
  7. Under The Radar
    50
    Where "Loney, Noir" held together, Dear John is more of a patchwork. [Winter 2009]

See all 19 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. SashaJ.
    Jul 21, 2009
    10
    Excellent. Traces of everything I hold dear in pop since the 80s- granddaddy, sufjan stevens, dm stith, even hot chip.
  2. PaulH.
    Aug 15, 2009
    10
    The first release of 2009 that puts all the pieces together to make a flawless impact - the most sublime offering that transcends his The first release of 2009 that puts all the pieces together to make a flawless impact - the most sublime offering that transcends his previous work and pencils him in as a true innovator. Expand