User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
Happyness Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

  • Summary: The Chicago indie band's fifth album is the first in a planned trilogy, and features a bit more electronics than previous outings. Members of Tortoise guest on the album, as does Rebecca Gates from the Spinanes.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Some may find the Aluminum Group's love-on-ice songs too slick, too lacking in visceral emotion. But like a cool breeze in summer, the Navins make melancholy a delicious treat.
  2. Uncut
    80
    Exquisite. [Feb 2003, p.80]
  3. Hear most of these songs a few times and you'll feel like you've known them all your life.
  4. Thematically it's a less ambitious record than Pelo (and in terms of scale, Pedals), but listen to it as the Navins' Exile in Guyville and its truths are heartbreaking in their weary familiarity.
  5. It's comforting, for sure, and you could very well fall asleep listening, or use it as background music, but you'd be missing a lot.
  6. [The music] is an unholy cross between Steely Dan, Elliott Smith and Air.
  7. Blender
    40
    Their sense of perfection is also their downfall. [#11, p.124]

See all 10 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. JohnG.
    Oct 25, 2002
    10
    Lush (as an adjective not the noun like myself) and delicious (adj.)
  2. Rickk
    Jan 8, 2003
    10
    Absolutely their Best Album Yet.... A brilliant follow up to their last album Pelo .. John and Frank are increadable
  3. Paul
    Dec 8, 2004
    10
    extraordinary!
  4. Nick
    May 19, 2003
    9
    I'm partial to plano, but a definate 9 of 10. Music to come home drunk to and sing until your neighbors come knocking, and who I'm partial to plano, but a definate 9 of 10. Music to come home drunk to and sing until your neighbors come knocking, and who doesn't need that? Expand

Awards & Rankings