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  • Release Date:
The Fragile Army Image
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 29 Ratings

  • Summary: This third LP is the first release since 2004 for the Texas-based choral/symphonic rock group fronted by Tim DeLaughter.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 22
  2. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. The melodies are far more varied than on previous outings, and the sense of dynamics and balance of tension in these songs -- and the arrangements that accompany them -- are the most sophisticated this group has ever pulled off.
  2. Such hugeness can be either exhilarating or tiresome, depending on the listener's capacity for joyful crescendos and enthusiastic shouting. But the album's most intriguing moments come when the church-choir antics are scaled back in favor of some introspection.
  3. Although the sound of 30 people making music is always going to have an uplifting edge to it, the songs here are less self-consciously happy-clappy than before.
  4. And there's a pleasing strand of experimentation running through The Fragile Army that, even though it could have been developed slightly further, suggests that the Spree are more than a one-trick, um, choir.
  5. The Fragile Army is an all-out orchestral and choral assault for optimism in a turbulent era, but only infrequently are the Spree's songs as memorable as their numbers.
  6. There's plenty of interest here, then--but is anyone still listening?
  7. The novelty of it all has quickly worn thin.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. MariaW.
    Aug 13, 2007
    10
    All the songs make me so happy!! Expecially running away, i could listen to it all day, so could the rest of my family!!!!!!
  2. JennyMcG
    Jun 22, 2007
    10
    So happy, so fun, and kind of darker than I thought it'd be. Loved it!
  3. SandraS.
    Jul 17, 2007
    10
    Check out the video to Running Away...that had me hooked.
  4. SkyWeapon
    Jun 15, 2007
    9
    Their best piece to date
  5. EthanP
    Jul 30, 2007
    9
    I love that the users' ratings are directly inproportionate to the critics' ratings. Y'all can take only so much of shallow I love that the users' ratings are directly inproportionate to the critics' ratings. Y'all can take only so much of shallow lyrics about the sun and a day/today. The Spree might've been a one-hit-on-the-art-scene wonder, but the truest of their fans will hail this as the best compilation yet. Multiple five-star songs Hopefullly not their masterpiece--because that will be a better experience than even this album. Easily one of the best discs of the year. Expand
  6. JimM
    Jun 13, 2007
    8
    Together We're Heavy is much more personal of an album, but the hyped up rukus of Fragile Army is what will put PolySpree on the map.
  7. JohnnyZ
    Jun 21, 2007
    2
    You would think one of them would have learned how to sing by now. Or how about some harmony, they are call POLYPHONIC, but they all sing the You would think one of them would have learned how to sing by now. Or how about some harmony, they are call POLYPHONIC, but they all sing the same stupid notes. Expand

See all 16 User Reviews