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My Maudlin Career
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My Maudlin Career Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth album for the Scottish band was produced by Jari Haapalainen.

Top Track

The Sweetest Thing
I'm going on a date tonight To try to fall out of love with you I know, I know, this is a crime But I don't know what else to do My love, you're in... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    90
    My Maudlin Career is the kind of record that exists to reward those both mad, and sad, in love.
  2. Pitchfork
    83
    Maturity is a central concept to Camera Obscura--Campbell's found it in her singing, but in her lyrics, the search continues. The asymmetries in her personality give her songs their distinct character.
  3. Mojo
    80
    Her Dusty-meetsNancy tones glide as imperiously over violin-caressed opener 'French Navy' as on lustrous indie-country upgrade 'You Told A Lie,' reaching sublime lvels of heartache on the Spectoresque title track. [Jun 2009, p.109]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. AllMusic
    80
    If My Maudlin Career falls a tiny bit short of "Let's Get Out of This Country," and it does, it's only because that album was so wonderful.
  5. cokemachineglow
    76
    My Maudlin Career is just such a uniformly endearing record. It’s sentimental, yes, but pleasantly so, charming in its own little way.
  6. Slant Magazine
    70
    Luckily, for both the album and its audience, the band's perseverance results in hits more often than misses.
  7. Uncut
    60
    Nothing is a strong as 'Hey Lloyd...' and Traceyanne Campbell's lachrymose croon is struggling to find new melodies, but on tracks like 'French Navy' and 'Honey In The Sun,' CO remain heartbreakingly lucid. [May 2009, p.80]
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See all 25 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. TimE
    Apr 23, 2009
    10
    This bands catalog of music has been flawless thus far and this new masterpiece is no exception. Band of the decade. Sheer brilliance in This bands catalog of music has been flawless thus far and this new masterpiece is no exception. Band of the decade. Sheer brilliance in every note. It wont get better than this all year. Pure Bliss.… Expand
  2. matta
    Apr 22, 2009
    9
    So glad that this album is doing well on here. My favorite of the year thus far.
  4. dephot
    Apr 22, 2009
    9
    My Maudlin Career finds Camera Obscura at their peak. Full control over their best of times/worst of times dynamic wrapped in infectious My Maudlin Career finds Camera Obscura at their peak. Full control over their best of times/worst of times dynamic wrapped in infectious melodies and nectar infused vocals. The songwriting is a logical next move from their breakthrough "Let's Get out of this Country" from 2006. Tracyanne Campbell has written some gems here. "James" "French Navy" & My Maudlin Career" are great places to start. Great album.… Expand
  5. smithsgirl
    May 19, 2009
    9
    This is a great album, make no mistake, yet it doesn't quite reach the dizzying and beautiful heights of Underachievers or Let's This is a great album, make no mistake, yet it doesn't quite reach the dizzying and beautiful heights of Underachievers or Let's Get Out. Nor quite have the immediacy of those two albums. Still if it's the album which gives them their deserved and long overdue breakthrough, I'm not complaining. If My Maudlin Career is your first foray into Camera Obscura, check out their earlier stuff, it will delight you even more.… Expand
  6. JamesB
    Jul 16, 2009
    9
    Pure unbridled bliss! So melodic, so beautifully sad, so absolutely awesome!
  7. Vampire25
    Feb 14, 2013
    8
    This is the album that exposed me to Camera Obscura, and I must admit, I love some these tracks on this album. The opener "French Navy" is oneThis is the album that exposed me to Camera Obscura, and I must admit, I love some these tracks on this album. The opener "French Navy" is one of the best indie pop openers I've ever heard. The vocals are gentle and cute in the most harmonic way. The whole record sounds like this girl that has just discovered love and can't get enough of it. All In All, the lyrics are very joyous and the production very crisp. Camera Obscura are a great indie pop band, and indie pop's not really my forte.… Expand
  8. EludiumQ36
    Aug 11, 2018
    7
    Though "French Navy" is my only real favorite of the album, I'd still use this as background music like during shopping and the such. I stillThough "French Navy" is my only real favorite of the album, I'd still use this as background music like during shopping and the such. I still love their overall sound, their imagery, and the feeling the music inspires.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Best Album of 2009

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