March Of The Zapotec/Holland [EP]
by Beirut
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. musicOMH.com
    60
    They make the point that Condon has the talent to move in any direction that he pleases, but the reliance on smart ideas means that they only occasionally create a similar emotional impact to the work that got us so excited about Beirut in the first place.
  2. Uncut
    60
    The beauty of those opening moments suggests that Condon's future really does lie in soundtracks, where you can imagine him collaborating with and finding inspiration in the baroque visual inventions of an Anderson or a Gondry, and where his restless musical wandererings might yet chance upon the truly undiscovered countries of the imagination.
  3. Observer Music Monthly
    60
    Not only does it sound like two very different acts but March, fashioned with a funeral band from Mexico, is far less absorbing than the synth-pop of Holland, whose five twinkly tracks contain a joie de vivre absent from its stodgy, reverential sister set.
  5. Mojo
    60
    The ensuing synthetic pop suite can't disguise a crucial lack of memorable songs. [Mar 2009, p.111]
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  6. Q Magazine
    60
    While the second project has iuts moments--'Venice' is beautifully undersatetd--the juxtaposition doesn't really come off and you're left wondering why these weren't simply kept as two disctnct EPs. [Mar 2009, p.96]
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  7. Rolling Stone
    50
    Together they highlight his strengths (ace horn arrangements) and, especially, shortcomings.
  8. cokemachineglow
    49
    March of the Zapotec is a serviceable, if less than memorable, expansion of Beirut’s already established sound via the Jiminez Band, a 19-piece band from Mexico. Realpeople Holland is fucking awful techno music that is desert-bereft, wholly disposable, and somehow makes Condon’s crooner’s dollop seem alien and unlistenable for the first time. If

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Tubie
    Nov 3, 2010
    8
    It was hard to follow up after how good their last album was. These EPs are both good, better than decent but still I am not sure how I feelIt was hard to follow up after how good their last album was. These EPs are both good, better than decent but still I am not sure how I feel about the new sounds.… Full Review »
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