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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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The Devil, You + Me
by The Notwist
This is the electronic band's first album since its 2002 album, "Neon Golden."
LABEL: |
Domino |
RELEASE DATE: |
17 June 2008 |
DISCS: |
1 disc |
GENRE(S): |
Rock, Alternative, Pop |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
80
Delusions of Adequacy
Each track is unique, thanks in part to Markus Acher's peculiar voice and The Notwist's ability to seamlessly blend acoustic pop and electronic rock into a genre-bending, intriguing, and sometimes catchy, electro-fuzz pop, resulting in an uncommonly captivating album that gets better with each spin.
80
Drowned In Sound
There’s no doubting it’s a very good album. The band’s best? Probably not. A successful return from a hiatus overlong? Certainly.
80
Billboard
Throughout, eerie production touches (metallic clinks and synth bleeps on 'Where in This World') and organic sounds (acoustic guitars and glockenspiel on the title track) fit seamlessly to form the Notwist's most charming and complex work to date.
80
Prefix Magazine
But what this offering lacks in mirth, it more than makes up for in transcendence as well as dissonance.
80
Mojo
This belated reunion has developed further into thr most affectingly sad, sweet, sepia sound rooted in Marcus's forlorn vocal and delicate ripples of detail--jazzy-to-motorik rhythm and haunting synthetic drones. [JUly 2008, p.102]
80
Village Voice
Fortunately, The Devil, You + Me shows that the Notwist been keeping their ears to the street and their asses in the studio since releasing 2002's indie-synth breakthrough "Neon Golden."
80
Q Magazine
It seemed as if they'd perfected the balance of 2002's glowing "Neon Golden," but here manage to continue the evolution. [July 2008, p.108]
80
Paste Magazine
Acher has a light touch, repeating simple phrases and subtle, smeared blue notes. As a lyricist, he’s a master of the soft sell, allowing his enigmas to carry their own weight.
80
The Wire
The Notwist's songs sound almost too arranged and it's only after they've seeped in a little that it becomes easier to admire the trio's deftness, the way they absorb electronica's qualities of dissonance and disruption and use them as essential building blocks of their music. [June 2008, p.59]
77
Pitchfork
Even after a six-year siesta, the Notwist's approach to pop music-- exploiting both its formal properties and endless possibilities-- is no less captivating and visionary than before.
75
The Onion (A.V. Club)
As a standalone unit, it's a bit too pallid and self-consciously dour to serve as an introduction for newcomers. For those already hooked, though, The Devil should make a fine soundtrack for a depressive summer.
70
PopMatters
Frankly, the band's relucatance to change would be fine if the material were exceptional. Instead, it's merely quite good.
70
All Music Guide
It has that same slightly unnerved but ultimately comforting effect, and like Neon Golden, you might want to take it everywhere with you, even when you can only replay it in your mind.
70
Alternative Press
Devil [is] a nusanced album that only slowly reveals its gifts. [July 2008, p.160]
70
Spin
On their sixth album, these ever-evolving German indie rockers stick with the electronic-tinged direction of 2003’s Neon Golden, but with a little less emotional heft.
60
Dusted Magazine
While it’s a solid follow-up to "Neon Golden," The Devil, You + Me falls short of its predecessor in that, taken as a whole, it doesn’t amount to more than the sum of its parts.
60
No Ripcord
After a good handful of listens nothing hugely sticks and it isn't quite clear what they're aiming for.
60
Slant Magazine
It's not that The Devil, You + Me is particularly bad; it merely and consistently recalls the band's more emotionally satisfying earlier work, while rarely equaling or surpassing it.
60
Under The Radar
For a band that has used a kitchen-sink approach in the past, The Devil, You + Me benefits from what is not in the mix. [Summer 2008]
60
Uncut
The Devil, You + Me is no milestone of experimentation, but The Notwist win extra points with their emotional restraint, lyrical maturity and elegantly complex arrangements. [Aug 2008, p.101]
50
Tiny Mix Tapes
The best thing to do with this album is to put the first and last tracks on repeat, and give everything in between a shot when you’re stuck in bed sick; it could be the perfect moment.
The average user rating for this album is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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