Critics give Lousy with Sylvianbriar a B-Side Breakdown of 80 (B-), from 8 reviews at outlets we track. Scores run 70 to 92.
The verdict on Lousy with Sylvianbriar
6 of 8 critics liked it, and they mostly agree.
- Highest 92 Paste
- Lowest 70 Under the Radar
- By the numbers The best-reviewed album of of Montreal's career on B-Side Breakdowns, ahead of Satanic Panic in the Attic (80).
| The gist | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paste via Wikipediaby Ryan J. Prado | 9.2/10 | 92 | 2013 | “Paste Magazine is your source for the best music, movies, TV, comedy, videogames, books, comics, craft beer, politics and more. Discover your favorite albums and films.” |
| AllMusic via Wikipediaby Fred Thomas | 4.5/5 | 90 | ||
| The A.V. Club via Wikipediaby Chris Mincher | B- | 81 | 2013 | “Of Montreal: Lousy With Sylvianbriar” |
| PopMatters via Wikipediaby Nigel Spudes | 8/10 | 80 | 2013 | “Some bands seem just too massive to discuss critically in any reasonable way.” |
| Consequence via Wikipediaby Alex Young | 4/5 | 80 | 2013 | “A celebration of the many genres and opportunities explored circa 1965.” |
| Sputnikmusic via Wikipediaby Rudy K | 3.8/5 | 76 | 2013 | “of Montreal – Lousy With Sylvianbriar review: Kevin Barnes, unplugged.” |
| Pitchfork via Wikipediaby Stephen M. Deusner | 7.4/10 | 74 | 2013 | “After last year's tiresome Paralytic Stalks, Kevin Barnes regroups for what is arguably the best—not to mention the funniest, prickliest, most purple, and least fastidious—Of Montreal effort since 2007's *Hissing…” |
| Under the Radar via Wikipediaby Billy Hamilton | 7/10 | 70 | “Kevin Barnes is clearly not a man for taking a break. Over the last 16 years, of Montreal's leading light has rattled off close to a record a year. And…” |
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Lousy with Sylvianbriar in of Montreal's catalog
How these critics usually treat of Montreal
- The A.V. Club Harsher than usual1 point above the other critics here. Usually 13 points above on of Montreal's other albums (4).
- AllMusic Kinder than usual11 points above the other critics here. Usually 2 points above on of Montreal's other albums (8).
- Consequence About usual for themLevel with the other critics here. Usually 3 points above on of Montreal's other albums (3).
- Pitchfork About usual for them7 points below the other critics here. Usually 9 points below on of Montreal's other albums (8).
More from of Montreal
← Earlier Paralytic Stalks (2012)Later → Aureate Gloom (2015)
More Indie & Alternative from around 2013
Would you spin it again?
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How the Breakdown works
Every outlet’s score is converted to 0–100 (2/5 is 40, 5.9/10 is 59, a B+ is 88) and averaged. Grades follow the B-Side scale: A is 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60. Approval is the share of critics who scored it 75 or higher; the Breakdown shows green at 75 and up, red below. Divisiveness asks a different question: not how many critics liked it, but how close their scores are to each other. Five critics who all give it 50 are Unanimous, even though none of them liked it. The labels run Unanimous, Broad agreement, Some debate, Divided, and Contentious. Replay rate comes from listeners, not critics: yes counts fully, a few tracks counts half, no counts zero. The gist quotes each outlet’s own summary of its review. Published is the date on the review itself, read from the outlet’s page, so you can see whether an album’s reputation came at release or years later. Scores marked est. come from reviews that publish no number. Scores marked via Wikipedia are archive ratings, mostly for older albums, taken from the “Professional ratings” box on the album’s Wikipedia page (published openly through Wikidata); each links to the original review when we can find it online, and to that Wikipedia entry when we can’t. When an outlet reviewed an album twice, years apart (often for a reissue), both scores count, each labeled with its year.
A-Side marks the critics’ top tier. An album earns it automatically, from its numbers alone: a Breakdown of 90 or higher, from at least 5 reviews, with at least 75% approval. Nobody hands it out and nobody can buy it; if new reviews pull an album below the line, it loses the badge.










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