Painting of a Panic Attack
by Frightened Rabbit
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Apr 8, 2016
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 25
  3. Negative: 2 out of 25
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  1. NavyBean
    Apr 23, 2016
    9
    Feels a bit softer than past releases, but it sounds great. Growing on me with each new listen. "Get Out" "Woke Up Hurting" You can definitely feel Aaron Dessner of The National's influence as producer. Notably on the drums.
  2. Duke_Challenger
    Apr 17, 2016
    4
    I really love The Midnight Organ Fight (9.5/10), Pedestrian Verse (9.5/10), and The Winter of Mixed Drinks (8.5/10). All albums feel distinct lyrically and musically. After 3 great albums and a decent side-project for Scott Hutchison (Owl John), the band has stopped making instrumentally pleasing songs. Scott's lyrics are still really good. However, I did not find a single song on here toI really love The Midnight Organ Fight (9.5/10), Pedestrian Verse (9.5/10), and The Winter of Mixed Drinks (8.5/10). All albums feel distinct lyrically and musically. After 3 great albums and a decent side-project for Scott Hutchison (Owl John), the band has stopped making instrumentally pleasing songs. Scott's lyrics are still really good. However, I did not find a single song on here to be interesting. A lot of them are actually really slow too.

    The music almost sounds like The National which is no coincidence since their guitarist/primary songwriter helped produce the album. I believe Boxer by The National is a perfect album, but their following albums have all sounded the same and uninspired. So in hiring a songwriter who writes the same music over and over again, you are probably not looking to be pushed as a band to create something unique.

    However, it could be that Frightened Rabbit has just lost the creative spark like every band eventually does. Overall, I am really disappointed.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Sep 30, 2016
    40
    Less swelling, more sand pits, the moments of crescendo here are few and far between.
    Read full review
  2. Q Magazine
    May 5, 2016
    60
    Only Break's lapse into unreconstructed arena-rock strikes a jarring note. [Jul 2016, p.107]
  3. PopMatters
    May 4, 2016
    70
    Painting of a Panic Attack is Frightened Rabbit dressed up as The National for Halloween. It’s a nice change, but still very much the band fans have come to love.
    Read full review
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