Minor Victories
by Minor Victories
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
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  1. The Skinny
    May 27, 2016
    100
    Minor Victories is frequently beautiful, and it’s the subtle application of the abrasive (on tracks such as Out To Sea) where this project really comes into its own; a few listens in, and captivation becomes its own reward.
  2. Magnet
    Aug 9, 2016
    90
    The result is a modern dream-pop classic, a victory more major than minor. [No. 133, p.59]
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  3. AllMusic
    Jun 22, 2016
    80
    While Minor Victories builds on its members' legacies, the band sounds more excited about the present and the future than looking back.
  5. DIY Magazine
    Jun 3, 2016
    80
    At no point of this record are you left hoping for another Editors anthem or new Slowdive music--yes that would be wonderful, but we now have Minor Victories to savour. Hopefully they’re here to stay.
  6. PopMatters
    Jun 1, 2016
    80
    In both exigency and tranquility it moves naturally; an unforced alchemy simultaneously specific to and outside of time and place.
  7. Mojo
    May 27, 2016
    80
    It's a triumph for experimental chemistry: dramatic, deeply felt, dynamically designed. Minor Victories might've been put together at a distance, but it's all there. [Jul 2016, p.92]
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  8. Consequence
    May 31, 2016
    75
    Minor Victories is the work of intimacy and candor. It goes beyond a one-off project and instead becomes a contained piece of longing and hurting. The cohesion behind it all should be the envy of any band whose members have the luxury of being in direct vicinity of one another.
  9. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 7, 2016
    70
    Minor Victories is a thoughtful and regal opening bow, but you’ll want for a little more teeth when Act Two comes into play.
  10. Under The Radar
    May 27, 2016
    70
    Overall the experiments that succeed om Minor Victories pull the weight of the ones that don't and the collective product is praiseworthy from the standpoint of its dispersed alchemy alone. [May - Jun 2016, p.95]
  11. Uncut
    May 27, 2016
    70
    Other elements are more familiar, but this beguiling debut is never less than the sum of its parts. [Jul 2016, p.76]
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 2 out of 17
  1. Noiseblock
    Jun 8, 2016
    8
    I listened to this album extensively in the last couple days without really knowing beforehand what to expect from a collaboration of allI listened to this album extensively in the last couple days without really knowing beforehand what to expect from a collaboration of all these grand names of the indie/alternative/dream-pop-genre. I had even stayed away from the material before the release-day to listen to this album without any bias. The result of it all? Well, I thought it was pretty amazing for the most part. Which is actually rather funny considering the disappointment that is the first song "Give up the ghost", which is not offering very much lyrically to sink one´s teeth into plus it somehow feels strangely displaced in the overall relatively fast-paced, shoegaze-y tone of the album. However, after this initial bump, Minor Victories manage to create an intense atmosphere both gloomy and alluring, especially with the downright phenomenal "A hundred ropes", "Scattered Ashes" and the orchestral "Breaking my light". The other songs, too, while not as amazing as the three aforementioned, blend together beautifully and reveal the talent that all these names had to offer to the project. All in all, I´m more than pleasantly surprised and I do feel like this album could have been even better by omitting "Give up the ghost" and "Folk Arp", which is not a bad song per se, but the ambient tone of it really disrupts the otherwise immense energy of "Minor Victories".

    PS: I don´t know what kind of war is going on in the comments, but appealing to basic human courtesy, could the ones involved please stop it (and remove their comments/ratings to show their fairness towards other users)? It´s very disrespectful to everyone coming here wanting to see untainted ratings and the views of other people. Thank you very much for your understanding.    … Full Review »
  2. Weezen
    Jun 8, 2016
    8
    I thought I couldn't expect nothing really good from a supergroup like Minor Victories but I was completely wrong. Minor Victories is theI thought I couldn't expect nothing really good from a supergroup like Minor Victories but I was completely wrong. Minor Victories is the perfect example that creativity can be improved in a group of people. Hmm... It sounds to me a little bit like the first album of Yndi Halda but with shorter songs.

    This album is a perfect example of a perfect mix of musical styles, being the best example "The Thief".    … Full Review »
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