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- Critic score
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Jan 12, 2016It ultimately falls between two stools - not giving a true portrayal of a Villagers live show, and failing to mix-up tracks enough to justify this ‘re-imagining’ of older material.
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Jan 25, 2016Ultimately, while the record will prove to be an enjoyable distraction for ardent fans, it’s hard to shake the feeling that these revamps might have been better saved for the live setting.
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Jan 14, 2016While half the fun is spotting the differences between the original and the remake, Where Have You Been All My Life? is also an excellent intro to Villagers, a summary of five years in one album.
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Q MagazineJan 7, 2016This isn't a bold project and they haven't been expanded nearly enough. [Feb 2016, p.118]
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Jan 7, 2016He makes the odd misstep, with Hot Scary Summer’s slightly hackneyed melodies and The Soul Serene’s vague meaning lessening the album’s overall rawness. But, as with Bright Eyes, Damien Rice and other artists to whom Villagers are often compared, O’Brien shows signs of a visceral intensity.
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Jan 11, 2016The impression they leave is fleeting; neat arrangements and accomplished musicianship, but with wit and character seemingly in short supply.
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Jan 7, 2016The Damien Rice comparisons are unfair because O'Brien is, demonstrably, a much, much better musician than his compatriot. This album shows us that, but it's little that we haven't seen before.