Noise Floor (Rarities 1998-2005)
by Bright Eyes
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. AllMusic
    70
    This captures a less self-conscious Oberst, which is often a better Oberst.
  2. Blender
    70
    This orderly collection of messy leftovers suits his disheveled talents. [Nov 2006, p.137]
  3. Drowned In Sound
    70
    On the whole, Noise Floor is a fascinating concoction of delights that documents the rise of one of underground USA's most prestigious talents.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    These B sides and studio ephemera, by turns folksy and noisy, demonstrate his appeal. [27 Oct 2006, p.73]
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  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    Each tune is utterly lovely in its own right, but--my God--are they depressing. [7 Oct 2006, p.39]
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  7. Pitchfork
    64
    While the album isn't arranged chronologically, listening to it as such reveals the series of intuitive leaps between lo-fi bedroom folk that emphasized monotonous gloom and cacophonous samples to comparatively laid-back country biased toward majestic arrangements and electronic beats.
  8. Prefix Magazine
    75
    This album works adequately, maybe exclusively, within the folds of Bright Eyes' self-contained space, and that's really not such a bad thing.
  9. Rolling Stone
    70
    Several of these [tracks] match Oberst's best work.
  10. Stylus Magazine
    67
    It has some nice tracks, some experiments and more than a few keepers, and, yes, it’s almost exclusively a fan-only proposition.
  11. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    Noise Floor is a smattering of moods and modes all tied together by Oberst’s love-it-or-loathe-it voice.
  12. Under The Radar
    70
    Half of the fun of this collection is watching Oberst working out his dead ends. [#15]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 20
  3. Negative: 2 out of 20
  1. coregaming
    Oct 1, 2013
    10
    I really can't believe this is a B-sides album. I absolutely love Bright Eyes and everything else Conor has done but this is my favorite albumI really can't believe this is a B-sides album. I absolutely love Bright Eyes and everything else Conor has done but this is my favorite album by far. The songs are all so different but still flow so well together. A hauntingly beautiful CD.… Full Review »
  2. drewc
    Apr 19, 2007
    9
    these are b-sides??? there are a couple duds (mainly the earliest stuff) but i think very few artists can create non-album tracks this good. these are b-sides??? there are a couple duds (mainly the earliest stuff) but i think very few artists can create non-album tracks this good. his song writing amazes me!… Full Review »
  3. JeremyF
    Apr 12, 2007
    6
    Not his best, but a few fantastic songs. um... yeah, Kevin. Bryan Adams is a great example. And Isobel Campbell... two in one year. Both exceptional.
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