Grand Archives
by Grand Archives
  • Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: Feb 19, 2008
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Drowned In Sound
    80
    Grand Archives offers an impressively alternative take on American indie; blending a number of interesting influences to create a fresh and airy project.
  2. Austin Chronicle
    78
    Singer Mat Brooke, formerly of Band of Horses and Carissa's Wierd, embraces the sunlight so rare to his home base of Seattle, leading his merry quintet on a journey to the happy place with a peaceful, warm, and affecting debut.
  3. Pitchfork
    78
    The insularity of "Cease to Begin" certainly has its merits, and it's pointless to argue about who comes out on top here, but the way Grand Archives come forth with arms outsretched results in a debut that likely exceeds most expectations.
  5. The A.V. Club
    75
    Much of the band's material has a lightness of touch that works as a welcome contrast to Band Of Horses' more searching aspects.
  6. AllMusic
    70
    Adding harmonies from Curtis Hall, Ron Lewis, and Jeff Montano helps to thicken the melody, and Grand Archives revolves around the strong singalong hooks that turn this debut into a soft rock record for the indie crowd.
  7. Delusions of Adequacy
    70
    Grand Archives is still an impressively modern take on American indie; taking the best from Southern Indie rock and tossing over some modern effects and innovative musicianship to create a genuinely genre bending project.
  8. Tiny Mix Tapes
    70
    But even with Brooke’s uncharacteristically romantic epiphanies, The Grand Archives still occasionally tends toward predictable sentimentality.
  9. Prefix Magazine
    65
    Grand Archives ought to be more than a library of dusty riffs and Beach Boys records; Brooke's work succeeds where it adds fresh material to the shelves.
  10. Almost Cool
    63
    Great in moments and undecided in others, The Grand Archives show hints of promise here, but don't really have enough to set them apart.
  11. Under The Radar
    60
    The effort is palpable, but the songs never quite get off the ground. [Winter 20008, p.82]
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  12. Q Magazine
    60
    Grand Archives have been together for less than 18 months, but their polished debut suggests a far longer gestation period. [Apr 2008, p.107]
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  13. Mojo
    60
    Grand Archives are a modest outfit, never as anthemic as Bridwell's widescreen My Morning Jacket-lite, but with a celestial line in harmonies. [May 2008, p.114]
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  14. PopMatters
    50
    They’ve got all the elements; they just need to find the right balance for them.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. [Anonymous]
    Aug 13, 2008
    10
    Amazing.
  2. PedroD.
    Jul 24, 2008
    8
    A sort of natural influences from singer Mat Brooke,formerly of Band of Horses. But smart the way they work out with their cultural A sort of natural influences from singer Mat Brooke,formerly of Band of Horses. But smart the way they work out with their cultural "archives". Such a nice future they have!!! Mature, Happy and Peaceful.… Full Review »
  3. DejanSt.
    Apr 8, 2008
    8
    An Amazing debut. Something between Teenage Fanclub and Wilco. A band with bright future.
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