FLOTUS
by Lambchop
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Nov 4, 2016
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
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  1. tmaxwell
    Jan 22, 2017
    10
    I gotta say, this album is a huge jump from the early days of Thriller and is a woman. While some would argue that Nixon was their best album the expanse and subtle genius of of Is A Woman always was my favorite. At the end of the day, Lambchop is one of those bands who will go down as truly important to anyone who likes indie country. It's not really alt. country, but indie country.I gotta say, this album is a huge jump from the early days of Thriller and is a woman. While some would argue that Nixon was their best album the expanse and subtle genius of of Is A Woman always was my favorite. At the end of the day, Lambchop is one of those bands who will go down as truly important to anyone who likes indie country. It's not really alt. country, but indie country. There have been instruments made from **** you would find in your garage and that's impressive to me.

    All in all, this is a big step for the band because they've always been raw and real. The electronic thing is kind of scary for a long-time listener, but FOTUS pulls it off without issue. Using auto-tune on Kurt's voice is kind of an injustice, I'm just saying!

    While I think of Kurt Wagner is our generation's Richard Wagner, he's never really been in the limelight like Dick was. I hope this is Kurt's chance to become a mainstream and household name, because he deserves it. Who am I kidding, anyone on the cover of NME has made it.

    Billy Tyler's new album is awesome too. You should check that out!    … Expand
  2. revillo
    Jan 5, 2017
    9
    It's beautiful and delicate like snow. FLOTUS features an aging man bathing his listeners in a tender, soothing refuge from the hustle and bustle. Almost paradoxically, Lambchop's unabashed flaunting of the technology used in the album's production has a transcendent yet unmistakebly human quality that I haven't heard since the last time I put on a Laurie Anderson album.

    I can see how    It's beautiful and delicate like snow. FLOTUS features an aging man bathing his listeners in a tender, soothing refuge from the hustle and bustle. Almost paradoxically, Lambchop's unabashed flaunting of the technology used in the album's production has a transcendent yet unmistakebly human quality that I haven't heard since the last time I put on a Laurie Anderson album.

    I can see how the restraint of the vocals can be offputting to some, especially throughough much of the album's midsection, but I just hear the sound of a singer just lending intermittent textural accents to songs that set their focus on basslines or piano chords.

    It's warmth is getting me through the winter, like a little white flame.    … Expand
  3. listener
    Dec 13, 2016
    9
    This album is a masterpiece.They somehow managed to radically change their sound playing with electronica but what they deliver as the end result is unmistakably a Lambchop experience-and quite superior one.
  4. Tom_Bombadil
    Nov 17, 2016
    6
    This is the classic case of an album with one masterpiece and a lot of garbage filling the rest of the CD. Lambchop's sonic reinvention should be good, or at least interesting, but since every song sounds the same and the electronics are used in very generic way it all ends up being boring and overly long. The 18-minute closer track justifies the existence of the record. It might be theThis is the classic case of an album with one masterpiece and a lot of garbage filling the rest of the CD. Lambchop's sonic reinvention should be good, or at least interesting, but since every song sounds the same and the electronics are used in very generic way it all ends up being boring and overly long. The 18-minute closer track justifies the existence of the record. It might be the best thing Lambchop ever did: it's pure sonic bliss, and it doesn't feel like there's a single second that didn't need to be there. It all builds up super nicely in a relaxed ambient-ish fashion. Listen to that one. You can ignore the rest.… Expand
  5. erolsabadosh
    Nov 12, 2016
    10
    This album is amazing, and possibly my favourite of the year. I had never listened to Lambchop before, I just decided to give this a spin based on critic reviews and wow, I'm so glad I did. It's incredible! If pressed to compare it to something else I'd say it reminds me a bit of earlier Animal Collective mixed with Bon Iver, but it has quite a distinct identity of its own so it'sThis album is amazing, and possibly my favourite of the year. I had never listened to Lambchop before, I just decided to give this a spin based on critic reviews and wow, I'm so glad I did. It's incredible! If pressed to compare it to something else I'd say it reminds me a bit of earlier Animal Collective mixed with Bon Iver, but it has quite a distinct identity of its own so it's difficult to categorise, with elements of folk, jazz, indie, electronica, ambient and more all mixed and experimented with. I love it!… Expand
  6. Marcbackman
    Nov 5, 2016
    10
    I have been a keen follower of Lambchop's career for many years. I feel that they made their magnum opus in 'Nixon', and even though 'FLOTUS' doesn't top that, per se, it does thrust the band into very interesting and rewarding territory.

    The electronic tinged sound on FLOTUS, which one would think would make the album sound cold or distant, actually makes it sound organic. Wagner's    I have been a keen follower of Lambchop's career for many years. I feel that they made their magnum opus in 'Nixon', and even though 'FLOTUS' doesn't top that, per se, it does thrust the band into very interesting and rewarding territory.

    The electronic tinged sound on FLOTUS, which one would think would make the album sound cold or distant, actually makes it sound organic. Wagner's auto-tuned vocals float in and out of sparse instrumental pieces, from the 12 minute bass and drum driven 'In Care of 8675309' to the more beat driven ambient closer 'The Hustle'. Both of these long tracks set and conclude the album on very high notes and, if digested alone (at nearly 30 minutes in length), could make for quite an enjoyable listening experience.

    I think the most impressive thing with the album is how experimental it is while still maintaining the quality we've known to expect from Wagner and co. Some bands are happy to tread water with their subsequent albums, especially when they get into middle age and beyond - not so Lambchop. While not being their best album, FLOTUS is one of their best, and essential for late night sessions or if you're in the mood for a more laid back ambient album. To some the tracks may sound floaty and unfocused; to me, however, they successfully create a mood and atmosphere that is unique to the band. May Lambchop keep pushing boundaries going into the future!

    Favourite Tracks: 'In Care of 8675309', 'Old Masters', 'Writer', 'The Hustle'.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

52
#52 Best Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Dusted Magazine
    Mar 9, 2017
    80
    Sweeping, quietly incredible FLOTUS.
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  2. Under The Radar
    Dec 7, 2016
    80
    It's all really cohesive, and while no tracks jump out as jarringly different, each one is filled with deliberateness and prettiness.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    Nov 17, 2016
    70
    There is something indistinct and unknowable about FLOTUS. As deftly as it is handled, the album lacks a distinct center. It feels like a stepping stone from an ever-evolving act for their next release.
    Read full review
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