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Ice Cream Spiritual
by
Ice Cream Spiritual Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

  • Summary: The third full-length for the quartet from Baltimore was produced by J Robbins.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    91
    The sound is bigger too, strengthening a band that's all guitars-drums-vocals sonics -- including Molly Siegel's yelping vocables, without which the sound's faux-tween soul and wise-ass tempo shifts would evanesce into abstraction.
  2. Pitchfork
    84
    With J Robbins producing and the vastly improved sonics, you have a much clearer idea of what everyone is doing. Little things are important with this band, and here, you can actually make them out.
  3. The A.V. Club
    83
    Ponytail has rendered Ice Cream Spiritual insidiously infectious--and bursting with an oddly tuneful virtuosity that aches to share rather than show off.
  4. Hot Press
    80
    Lovably noisy baltimore scallywags come good with their second effort.
  5. Uncut
    80
    Even when they slow up, the quality doesn't let up. [Sep 2008, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. cokemachineglow
    74
    It is, more than anything else, the sound of a band having too much fun being good to try being great.
  7. NOW Magazine
    60
    The result is akin to bottling one of their energetic live shows, and it makes for a thrilling, if not altogether bump-free ride.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. MattM.
    Sep 15, 2008
    9
    This album is fantastic! Every song is just as good as the last, and for me the vocals put it over the top. If anything they sound like This album is fantastic! Every song is just as good as the last, and for me the vocals put it over the top. If anything they sound like deerhoof. These songs are surprisingly catchy. Beg Waves!… Expand
  2. matthewg
    Aug 25, 2008
    8
    this is a solid landing that shows a polished run on all chips in approach; theres nothing dispassionate about this album. i cant wait for this is a solid landing that shows a polished run on all chips in approach; theres nothing dispassionate about this album. i cant wait for this to hit wax.… Expand
  4. JyotirmayaD.
    Aug 10, 2008
    8
    I love the pandemonium on this album... it's for lovers with a wide vision of what punk should sound like. Molly Seigal's primal I love the pandemonium on this album... it's for lovers with a wide vision of what punk should sound like. Molly Seigal's primal vocals sound great alongside the two guitars (no bass) and wild drumming... It's all over the place and crazy, but it is tight at the same time.… Expand
  5. DavidS
    Sep 12, 2008
    8
    Pure emotion. Awesome and a hell of a lot of fun. Somehow the album works perfectly, for what it is.
  6. AndrewJ.
    Jul 30, 2008
    7
    At first, the "vocals" put you off, drifting as they do into Yoko Ono territory, but there's just something infectious about it. The At first, the "vocals" put you off, drifting as they do into Yoko Ono territory, but there's just something infectious about it. The entire sound works somehow as an instrumental record--as if the yelps and squeals were just another instrument.… Expand
  7. OliverC.
    Aug 2, 2008
    7
    Perhaps not quite as good as the reviews, but certainly satisfying for the noise rockers in all of us
  8. KatyA.
    Aug 1, 2008
    0
    Horrible, very overrated.

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Best Album of 2008

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