A Productive Cough
by Titus Andronicus
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Mar 2, 2018
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
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  1. The Line of Best Fit
    Mar 5, 2018
    60
    It’s half magical, lush, and wholesome, and half redundant. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in repetitive cycles, not knowing when to quit. That moment has finally arrived for Titus Andronicus.
  2. musicOMH.com
    Mar 5, 2018
    60
    

A Productive Cough is not a bad album, but it’s not Titus Andronicus’ greatest moment. Part of the problem comes from the high expectations set by the band’s previous work, and to some degree the drawn out jam sections that occasionally go on just a little too long.
  3. Mojo
    Feb 26, 2018
    60
    The album suffers whenever excess creeps in. [Apr 2018, p.88]
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  5. Pitchfork
    Mar 6, 2018
    59
    For all its promises of a leisurely, good time, A Productive Cough plays like a quarantine.
  6. Magnet
    Apr 17, 2018
    55
    Some new ideas are welcome more than a decade into the Jersey outfit's career, but they could've been used to more exciting ends. [No. 150, p.59]
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  7. The 405
    Mar 8, 2018
    55
    While, undoubtedly, it took a lot of time, work and engagement to put it together, it still comes across as a throw-away release in their catalogue. It sounds like a band just switching on the recorder and jamming for a little while, then putting out some tracks.
  8. Sputnikmusic
    Mar 5, 2018
    52
    A Productive Cough should have refined and furthered those musical ambitions, but basically, it didn't--they're right back where they came from in a dying scene, idolising the genre's past and ignoring its future when they could have easily been the writers of it instead.
  9. Uncut
    Feb 26, 2018
    50
    It would be satisfying to hail A Productive Cough as Titus Andronicus' equivalent of Who's Next--but sadly it's more "What the hell?" [Apr 2018, p.37]
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  10. The Observer (UK)
    Mar 5, 2018
    40
    Reaching is commendable, but ultimately this feels like a throat-clearing before better things to come.
  11. DIY Magazine
    Mar 2, 2018
    40
    Titus Andronicus have always melted together the music of their heroes, but this time it feels completely without inspiration.
  12. The Skinny
    Feb 28, 2018
    40
    While it's absolutely fine that he's not interested in making punk music anymore (or at least for the time being), hearing him run through the blues and rock repertoire of the 60s and 70s offers absolutely nothing that can't be achieved by just going and listening to all those great, original, records.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 18
  3. Negative: 5 out of 18
  1. emsbhr
    Mar 4, 2018
    8
    Fun, raw, classic album. Perfect follow-up to TMLT. Those shocked or put off on the first listen should return again, and maybe once moreFun, raw, classic album. Perfect follow-up to TMLT. Those shocked or put off on the first listen should return again, and maybe once more after that, before casting it off. If you approach it on its terms, this is a truly solid piece of rock and roll in 2018-- who would have thought?… Full Review »
  2. reubensandwich
    Mar 23, 2018
    9
    If the Pogues and Modest Mouse had a big sloppy french kiss, this is what it would sound like. My new favourite album.
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