Give Up
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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 141 Ratings

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  • Summary: One of the highlights of Dntel's 2001 debut album was "This Is the Dream of Evan & Chan," where Dntel electronica mastermind Jimmy Tamborello was joined by Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard on vocals. Satisfied by those results, the two continued to collaborate (by mail), eventuallyOne of the highlights of Dntel's 2001 debut album was "This Is the Dream of Evan & Chan," where Dntel electronica mastermind Jimmy Tamborello was joined by Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard on vocals. Satisfied by those results, the two continued to collaborate (by mail), eventually resulting in enough material for this full album that ventures more into synth-pop/new wave territory than their previous single.… Expand

Top Track

Such Great Heights
I am thinking it's a sign That the freckles in our eyes Are mirror images And when we kiss they're perfectly aligned And I have to speculate That... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Gibbard finds the near-perfect pop record that's eluded his main group. [Listen 2 This supplement, Mar 2003, p.12]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. PopMatters
    90
    Like any worthy match, the coming together gives each aspect assets that they'd be wont to find otherwise, the eletroclashy bursting with depth and the indie-croon thankfully adrenalized.
  3. Village Voice
    80
    album hits people who love the sound extravaganzas of overdubbed guitar symphonies, can't hang with the folkiness full-service singer-songwriters inevitably preserve, and expect melodic flair and beats, yet sometimes want to hear words.
  4. Alternative Press
    80
    The project is pretty perfect, really.... Give Up ultimately becomes a beautiful lesson in how to dance life's pain away. [Mar 2003, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Pitchfork
    80
    The core tension between Tamborello's complex, almost impossibly dense production and Gibbard's cutting voice makes Give Up a pretty damned strong record, and one with enough transcendent moments to forgive it its few substandard tracks and some ungodly lyrical blunders.
  6. Stylus Magazine
    76
    Never once during the course of the album’s ten songs, do its creators even graze the surface of mediocrity, instead settling in the sunny middle ground that Gibbard so often inhabits.
  7. Magnet
    30
    Give Up is a record that says, well, nothing. [#58, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 67
  3. Negative: 1 out of 67
  1. [Anonymous]
    Jul 21, 2003
    10
    by far the greatest cd of 2003!
  2. kheas
    Dec 26, 2017
    10
    The album itself is a bit of a departure from my usual fare. Very heavy on the pop-electronica it would typically not be something I wouldThe album itself is a bit of a departure from my usual fare. Very heavy on the pop-electronica it would typically not be something I would have chosen for myself. Don’t get me wrong, I dig electronic music but more of the Nine Inch Nails variety. However, after diving into this one, I was hooked. This album would later lead me to finding another band by the name of Sky Sailing (aka Owl City), and the rest they say is history. For Full Review: https://wp.me/p93it6-1Vw… Expand
  4. JeanL
    Jun 19, 2004
    10
    The is the most amazing album. One of my favorites of all time!
  5. MichaelB
    Oct 3, 2005
    10
    There is something about the music... it's great
  6. EmmaM
    Jul 2, 2006
    10
    I really enjoy this album-it has the perfect balance of indie edge, but also has a soft side to it. Jolly good gents!
  7. alexf
    Jul 25, 2007
    9
    Great album
  8. yikut
    Mar 10, 2005
    1
    after dntel's 'life is full of possiblites' and 'evan & chan' i had such high hopes for this. it was such a after dntel's 'life is full of possiblites' and 'evan & chan' i had such high hopes for this. it was such a disappointment. ive tried several times to listen to it but for me, it lacks any sort of strength or reason. i was expecting something with the emotional force of 'evan and chan' and a little more of dntel in there. i was also disappointed that the idm elements of dntel were all watered down. it was more figurine than dntel. im glad that so many people liked it and will maybe go back and find some dntel. for me, i just couldnt get into it.… Expand

See all 67 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2003
44
#44 Most Shared Album of 2003

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