Alvvays

Alvvays - Alvvays
Critic Score
Based on 27 reviews
2014 Ratings: #121 / 1042
Year End Rank: #50
User Score
2014 Rank: #86
Liked by 237 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
AllMusic

Alvvays find a way to articulate their heart-struck, dream-like songs with deft intention and control.

100
God Is in the TV
No hesitation whatsoever in giving it the magic five stars and I’ll fight anyone who argues with me.
91
Entertainment Weekly

First albums rarely arrive catchier or more self-assured than this Toronto indie-pop quintet’s frothy inaugural go.

90
Spill Magazine
The brilliance of Alvvays’ debut record is that the band has done so without easy hooks or prosaic overproduction.
90
The Line of Best Fit

Alvvays’ record is a hard-hitting, multi-faceted anthology of awesome, and sits pretty as one of 2014’s brightest debuts.

83
Consequence of Sound

On their excellent self-titled debut, the five-piece will struggle to convince listeners of their album’s importance or its greatness; the love for this album is very emotionally based.

80
Rolling Stone

It's a rare treat to discover a debut like Alvvays'. Each of the nine songs on the Toronto band's first LP is a sharply drawn indie-pop wonder, steeped in romance, wit and melody. 

80
Northern Transmissions

What is most surprising from Alvvays is its point of origin: this doesn’t sound like Toronto-native output, and it’s damn refreshing to see this kind of sun-soaked pop come from the city of crack cocaine and snowy winters.

80
NOW Magazine
The lo-fi/hi-fi production values keep slickness at bay, resulting in something as warm, intimate and super-casual as an East Coast kitchen party.
80
Slant Magazine

Though there are moments of frayed musical charm throughout Alvvays, it exhibits an unexpected level of versatility for a debut.

80
Exclaim!

Like all good summertime experiences, Alvvays' debut feels like a warm and fuzzy memory, forging a deeper sense of nostalgia with each repeat visit.

80
The Skinny

Alvvays’ sumptuously pretty pop glistens with hazy reverb and insouciant jangles, recalling yer La Seras and yer Dum Dum Girlses without really sounding too much like either of them.

80
DIY

It draws from the same spirit as early Shins and given its lack of missteps, it’s capable of becoming just as important a debut as ‘Oh, Inverted World’. 

80
The 405

Leaving themselves with no room for filler, the band set out to deliver on the promise of their singles, and we're thrilled to report that they've succeeded. Stardom beckons.

80
Drowned in Sound

What sets Alvvays apart from their peers is the sense of darkness and melancholy that hides behind the somewhat sprightly tunes on offer.

76
Pitchfork

This is the sound of pristine pop music blasted through cheap, blown-out headphones—and every time it seems like a song is about to decay before your ears, you sense both the sadness and liberation of knowing that nothing lasts forever.

70
Loud and Quiet
Their self-titled debut album is like some gloriously exposed photographs of a holiday that isn’t remembered fondly.
70
Clash
Sure, it’s not a topic pop has exactly shied away from, but Alvvays render it fresh, dynamic, new, on this joyous debut album.
70
Under the Radar

Produced by folk-rock veteran Chad VanGaalen, Alvvays capitalizes on its use of reverb and nostalgia to create a charming wistfulness in some places, but hasty aftereffects in others. 

70
No Ripcord

Despite the sun-soaked paisley vibe that it initially sets, Alvvays sidetracks itself from the “summer album” malady with a surprising amount of hefty hooks and sweet-and-sour lyrical contours. 

70
PopMatters

Alvvays is an exciting opening album from a band who bring refinement to a genre that make them sound mature beyond their years.

60
The Observer
The Toronto five-piece put a fresh spin on jangling indie.
60
FLOOD Magazine
There’s something about a melancholy message presented in the sweetest packaging that makes that sadness even more heartbreaking.
zachthesnack
82

I danced my ass off to atop a cake

MontyDog123
85

I'm going to be reviewing most of the albums that I got recommended this week since I had a few and I'm going to start with this one from @Needlefluujr so thank you for the recommendation and go check out his account if you haven't already he's a genuinely really nice and kind person! Usually I'm not a huge fan of indie or indie rock but with this I actually found myself really enjoying it. This is easily one of the most fun records that I have heard. It's an absolute blast and gives you such a ... read more

SnowyFighter
77

I hate that the W is like that I’m sorry

The debut album from Alvvays is a really great introduction as a band, with solid tunes and catchy hooks all over this thing. I’m gonna get my one little complaint out now, and that’s that it can get a little too one note at times, but it’s not a huge issue. Still got a lot of really solid stuff. Archie, Marry Me is an obvious standout, with one of the most infectious melodies in all of indie. Just so wonderful and it feels ... read more

80

Yeah it's good

Best tracks: Adult Diversion, Ones Who Love You, Atop a Cake
Worst tracks: Dive

theansweris9
75

A little too reverb heavy for me but it's neat

justfrog
74

One of my favourite Canadian bands. Saw them live a couple years ago. My standout tracks are: "Archie, Marry Me," "Next of Kin," "Red Planet," and "Adult Diversion."

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Track List

1Adult Diversion
3:27
89
2Archie, Marry Me
3:16
92
3Ones Who Love You
3:47
85
4Next of Kin
3:48
85
5Party Police
3:47
85
6The Agency Group
4:31
82
7Dives
2:56
77
8Atop a Cake
3:19
88
9Red Planet
3:58
80
Total Length: 32 minutes
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Added on: June 21, 2014