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8.3
66309
8.3 |
A.V. Club
In the hands of a less capable frontman and songwriter, Black Hours could have turned out as a cheesy attempt at ’50s pastiche. Instead, it’s a lively, confident, and charming first effort
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8.0
66152
8.0 |
Exclaim
With fellow Walkman Paul Maroon assisting him on all but two tracks, it's much less a rock'n'roll album than the ones he made for 13 years
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8.0
66153
8.0 |
The Skinny
Black Hours is ultimately characterised more by its continuity with The Walkmen than by any kind of swerve-ball reinvention
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8.0
66154
8.0 |
The Music
Although it lacks The Walkmen’s rockier edge, this album works because of its subtlety
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8.0
66155
8.0 |
Loud And Quiet
It’s easy to listen to this album simply as another release from the New York post-punks
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8.0
66157
8.0 |
Uncut
It's Americana with a white collar, not a blue one
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8.0
66158
8.0 |
Q
Blessed with good songs, Leithauser wears everything well. Print edition only
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8.0
66159
8.0 |
Mojo
With the Black Hours you can bet Leithauser won't be overlooked this time. Print edition only
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8.0
66207
8.0 |
Evening Standard
Black Hours is a misleading title: this has a smile on its face, albeit sometimes a wry one
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8.0
66223
8.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
An album that, despite the nighttime evocation of its title, feels more like the mostly-sunny reveries of three in the afternoon, even if we’re more used to all of this twelve hours later
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8.0
66299
8.0 |
DIY
Re-energised and ready to take on the world this is an album that feels vintage and present. That is to say, this is classic Leithauser
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8.0
66306
8.0 |
musicOMH
Much of Black Hours is, on the face of it at least, upbeat and celebratory
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7.5
66383
7.5 |
Earbuddy
Leithauser is full of talent and great ideas, but listening to Black Hours makes the listener appreciate how excellent the other musicians complemented Leithauser’s remarkable pipes and songwriting
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7.4
66438
7.4 |
Pitchfork
Black Hours shares some of its strengths with Leithauser’s work with the Walkmen, and same goes with its weaknesses—namely, an occasional lapse in focus
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7.0
66371
7.0 |
Paste Magazine
Although a few cuts hit the joyous pop mark, many others stop just short
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7.0
66393
7.0 |
No Ripcord
The instrumental diversity is refreshing, and with 2 of the 5 Walkmen reprising their roles, Black Hours never bids a full farewell to the sound they cultured for over a decade
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7.0
66156
7.0 |
Drowned In Sound
Black Hours might be a tad scattershot, but it's held together with real spirit
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7.0
69023
7.0 |
PopMatters
The album is grand and gorgeous
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6.7
66643
6.7 |
Pretty Much Amazing
Black Hours is a throwback, but it’s a throwback that could have benefitted from a few more forward-looking ideas
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6.5
66871
6.5 |
Beardfood
He sounds vulnerable and personal in a way not heard before
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6.0
66771
6.0 |
NME
Where The Walkmen were often reminiscent of The Walker Brothers, this solo turn from their former singer Hamilton Leithauser sounds more like the solo work of Scott Walker
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6.0
66323
6.0 |
Rolling Stone
If his songwriting can be a bit flabby, the deep palette and intimate musicianship sustain a mood of late-night melodrama stretching toward 5 a.m. epiphany
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6.0
66328
6.0 |
Under The Radar
If Leithauser sounds undeniably comfortable in every suit he slips on throughout Black Hours, he's only intermittently inspired
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5.0
66402
5.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
Sure, the Walkmen had left behind some of their raw nerve and picked up a horn section a while ago, but here, the musical punch deteriorates via cleaner production and an ultimately professional backing band of ultimate professionals
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