Living With The Living
by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. JeremiahW
    Apr 2, 2007
    4
    although there's a couple decent songs in here, this album as a whole is extremely disappointing. Ted continues the downward spiral he's always been on. This album has his worst songs on here: A Bottle of Buckie sounds like a blink 182 lick, bomb. repeat.bomb is a crap dismemberment plan ripoff, and the rest just sound like tossed off leo...how about putting a little more work although there's a couple decent songs in here, this album as a whole is extremely disappointing. Ted continues the downward spiral he's always been on. This album has his worst songs on here: A Bottle of Buckie sounds like a blink 182 lick, bomb. repeat.bomb is a crap dismemberment plan ripoff, and the rest just sound like tossed off leo...how about putting a little more work in and not writing for the new 12 year old fans.… Expand
  2. VincentH
    Aug 7, 2007
    6
    I am (like many other people who reviewed here) a huge, die-hard Ted Leo fan and like you all, I worship this man and am always appreciative that he is writing music and releasing it. But this is easily and by far his weakest album. Tyranny, Hearts of Oak, and Shake the Sheets are all masterpieces in my opinion. They are all literally amazing and life-changing albums. So of course I am (like many other people who reviewed here) a huge, die-hard Ted Leo fan and like you all, I worship this man and am always appreciative that he is writing music and releasing it. But this is easily and by far his weakest album. Tyranny, Hearts of Oak, and Shake the Sheets are all masterpieces in my opinion. They are all literally amazing and life-changing albums. So of course anything less is gonna be dissapointing, but even with lowered expectations, this album just doesn't deliver like any of his previous work. There are a handful of instant classics (A Bottle Of Buckie, La Costa Brava, The Unwanted Things) but the majority of the album kinda drags. What it comes down to basically is songwriting: there's nothing wrong with experimentation and trying different things of course, but if the songwriting isn't there to begin with, all that stuff doesn't matter. I mean the first half of the album is alright, but none of the songs have that instant amazing-catchy melodic part to them. There is not one song on here that even touches "Me and Mia" or "Where Have all the Rude Boys Gone?" or "Parallel or Together". The best songs on here aren't even as good as some of the more forgettable songs from "Hearts of Oak or his last album. Obviously Leo still can write amazing songs, but I just don't think the songs on this album are really that captivating. I could listen to any of the previous albums over and over and never get tired of them, because the songs are just so fuckin' good. All in all, the best songs on the album make it a worthwhile purchase, but be warned if you are a hardcore fan of the last 3 albums, I think you will be ultimately dissapointed and (like me) take out the disc and listen to "Shake the Sheets" again.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Under The Radar
    70
    Even more than its predecessors, Living is... a little bottom-heavy and sorely in need of an editor. [#16, p.92]
  2. Alternative Press
    80
    Living With The Living takes steps back to New Jersey, with the sort of big rock 'n' roll, free of subcultural claim, that'd make the Boss proud. [Apr 2007, p.176]
  3. Filter
    80
    Most of Living With the Living is in fact very good--which is to say that only some of its songs emerge as equals with the best of Leo's personal catalogue. [#24, p.90]
See all critic reviews »