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- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Jan 25, 2012Like the title suggests, Stars burns bright and fast.
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Q MagazineJan 18, 2012Fizzing with memorable melodies, irrepressible energy and Matthew Caw's heartfelt vocals, this 38-minute set doesn't have a wasted moment on it. [Feb. 2012, p.108]
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Alternative PressJan 18, 2012Nada Surf's blend of melancholy, anxiety and child-like optimism is fully intact on their first collection of original material in four years. [Feb 2012, p.84]
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Jan 17, 201210 songs, no filler, that won't necessarily knock you out of your seat, but rather leave you wanting to lean back and stay a while.
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Jan 17, 2012The vocal hooks and catchy choruses that have brought Nada Surf this far have only gotten better.
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Jan 24, 2012The Stars is a reliably crisp, tuneful addition [to their consistent indie-rock discography], all racing snare hits, taut power chords, and Caws' emotive tenor.
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Entertainment WeeklyJan 20, 2012[It has] ringing guitar hooks and winsome nostalgia. [27 Jan 2012, p.71]
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Jan 25, 2012It's thankfully not an album of covers, and thus a wonderful return.
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Jan 30, 2012Nada Surf have not reached outside their comfort zone with The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy.
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Feb 10, 2012Not exactly champion wordsmiths, then, but the ebulliently heart-warming rush of the tunes is reason enough to forgive any clunkers.
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Jan 26, 2012The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy could be the comeback for a band who deserves to be recognized as something much more than a mid-'90s punchline.
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Jan 24, 2012A good rock record is a good rock record, and The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy is a good rock record.
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Jan 20, 2012The component parts of this record prove that indie rock may be 'dying' commercially but still sounds alive and kicking.
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Jan 19, 2012These ten mostly filler-free tracks prove, Nada Surf only look to be growing more confident in their old age.
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Jan 18, 2012It's hard to resist.
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Feb 22, 2012It is far too adult oriented rock and middle of the road to be anything but the sound of a band coasting, rather than making waves.
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MojoJan 31, 2012A few clunky lyrics take the shine off. [Feb 2012, p.95]
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Jan 26, 2012Strong melodies make the tunes better than middle-of-the-road, but aside from a bit more distortion, the New York trio show little desire to venture outside their breezy alt-pop comfort zone.
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Jan 23, 2012Overall, though, The Stars Are Indifferent is a quick listen, filled with nice hooks and effortless melody.
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Under The RadarJan 19, 2012Sounds and feels like most Nada Surf albums do - shimmering, mid-tempo guitars clashing with knee-buckled notebook poetry. [#39, p.69]
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UncutJan 18, 2012The sound's core remains Matthew Caws' candyfloss voice, but Doug Gillard's guitar adds mettle. [Feb 2012, p.94]
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Feb 6, 2012Astronomy sounds like a healthy stroll down 90s Alternative Alley, and is as comforting as it is overly familiar; giving it a listen won't change your perspective on music, but it might make you pine for the good old days.
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Jan 25, 2012The band sticks to their guns but in doing so produce a record that's so nonprovocative that the music doesn't truly assert itself.
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Jan 23, 2012The songs are fine but largely feckless, and what could be an animating contrast between glum lyrics and upbeat music is too often hobbled by clunkers both generic ("I am lost in my mind when you go to sleep") and specific (something about tarot cards).
User score distribution:
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Positive: 9 out of 14
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Mixed: 3 out of 14
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Negative: 2 out of 14
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Jan 24, 2012
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Jul 5, 2015
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Dec 22, 2012