Love is Dead
by Chvrches
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 112 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 83 out of 112
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 112
  3. Negative: 8 out of 112
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  1. PabloCa
    May 27, 2018
    5
    “Love is Dead” isn’t the worst record of the year, but is in fact the worst from the Glasgow’s trio. Even though Mayberry’s singing has improved, the band sound like they are bored or they don’t even care about the direction their music is taking; is pretty obvious that Chvrches wants to break into the top 40 no matter what, even if that affects the quality of their music. The album starts“Love is Dead” isn’t the worst record of the year, but is in fact the worst from the Glasgow’s trio. Even though Mayberry’s singing has improved, the band sound like they are bored or they don’t even care about the direction their music is taking; is pretty obvious that Chvrches wants to break into the top 40 no matter what, even if that affects the quality of their music. The album starts with “Graffiti”, a forgettable track; next is “Get Out” that sounds like a rework of “The Mother We Share”. “Miracle”, “Forever” and “Never Say Die” trie so hard to emulate the generic pop of nowadays through obnoxious repetition. Martin Doherty, takes the lead vocals in “God’s Plan”, unfortunately, unlike his work in “Under the Tide” or “High Enough to Carry You Over”, here he sings like he doesn’t give a crap about the song; from beginning to end, he remains uninterested and uninspired. The most decent cut is “My Enemy”; which is only save by Matt Berninger’s voice, that sounds humble and full of regret, injecting heart into the song. “Really Gone” is the song with the most interesting and deepest lyric through the album, but Mayberry, even with a better singing, can’t make you feel the raw emotion of the lyrics and also, it doesn’t help that the synth is making the same sound over and over again, without even trying to change the armonie to make the sound more melancholic. In general, “Love is Dead” sounds so generic and bland that you have probably hear the same exact music in other artists like Imagine Dragons or Halsey, it sounds pretty robotic and seems aimed to an specific target, teenagers. Chvrches put everything in this album, except heart.… Expand
  2. DavidWasHere
    May 26, 2018
    5
    This was a massive disappointment. CHVRCHES are one of my favorite current pop bands. The Bones of What You Believe is one of my favorite albums ever, and Every Open Eye was a solid follow-up. So I was excited when the band came back with this new album. However, I have not heard any of the singles coming forward. If I did, then I would have known to fear. And all of this can be blamed onThis was a massive disappointment. CHVRCHES are one of my favorite current pop bands. The Bones of What You Believe is one of my favorite albums ever, and Every Open Eye was a solid follow-up. So I was excited when the band came back with this new album. However, I have not heard any of the singles coming forward. If I did, then I would have known to fear. And all of this can be blamed on one man, Greg Kurstin. He's well known for producing music for Adele, Sia, Lily Allen, and for indie-leaning acts like the first Foster the People album, the Shin's Port of Morrow, and the last two Tegan and Sara albums where they went pop, and for some reason the latest Foo Fighters album that was bland, and the soundtrack for that god-awful Annie remake back in 2014. And this has all the problems that Greg Kurstin has, overproduced and cluttered. While this more arena-friendly synthpop sound might work for CHVRCHES since they do know how to write catchy anthems, this just did not work. The production sounds way too cluttered and strangling lead singer Lauren Mayberry's pixie-like vocals. While Mayberry never was the showiest singer, she does have a prescience that does lead well to their trademark retro-synthpop. However the production is meant for more showier and expressive singers, not Mayberry. Songs like Get Out and the EDM-like Never Say Die completely smother her vocals. It highlights how limited of a singer she really is, which is never good! Although to be fair she sounds better than the male vocals that take the lead on God's Plan! Not to mention that this is the worst CHVRCHES album in terms of hooks and choruses. While they aren't known for writing deep and philosophical lyrics, they know how to write a pop song! One of the reason why songs like the Mother We Share and Leave a Trace being so damn good! Love is Dead, meanwhile, has hooks that fall flat on it's face. Whether it's cheap lyrical repetition, like on the embarrassing attempt at an EDM banger on Miracle, or just weak chorus melodies, like on Get Out (which is a shame because it does have a nice synth riff). There are a few songs that are decent. Deliverance and Graves do sound close to a classic CHVRCHES sound but never quite getting to the tight melodies and airy synths that was on their first two albums, the Matt Berninger (frontman of the National and EL VY) featuring song My Enemy is a decent slower moment that was very welcome, even though Matt sounds out of place for this style of electronic music when compared to his work on EL VY (say what you will abut that project at least it matches Matt's baritone), and Heaven/Hell is the strongest song on the album, and to be fair the melodies are nice in the songs even with the blaring production highlighting none of that. I can see some fans getting into this album, but honestly this is nowhere as close as The Bones of What You Believe or Every Open Eye, not even by a mile. It's not flat-out terrible, but damn it it could have been so much better!… Expand
  3. BrushedRed
    May 25, 2018
    6
    It’s not perfect, but for what it is it’s really good. It’s moreso along the lines of catchy pop music as opposed to their more indie previous releases. The singles that came before it were not that promising and were quite a letdown, but I think outside of the singles, the songs are pretty good. I think “Graffiti” may be among the best CHVRCHES songs. It, “Forever,” “Deliverance,” andIt’s not perfect, but for what it is it’s really good. It’s moreso along the lines of catchy pop music as opposed to their more indie previous releases. The singles that came before it were not that promising and were quite a letdown, but I think outside of the singles, the songs are pretty good. I think “Graffiti” may be among the best CHVRCHES songs. It, “Forever,” “Deliverance,” and “Graves” kinda go back to their trademark style and are standouts here, but yeah, parts of it are kinda awkward and half-baked. I was also kinda letdown with the duo with Matt Berninger. The National are one of my favorite bands, but I don’t think that song could’ve been more dull. I feel if this album were given more thought and expanded among the better parts of this album and snipped out some of the singles/filler, it would’ve been better, but for what it is, it’s an enjoyable pop album… Expand
  4. marktron
    Jun 7, 2018
    4
    Compared to CHRVCHES' first two albums, Love is Dead is a noticeably weaker. The biggest issue with the album is that the band sounds bored. While Lauren has always been a competent singer, she sings like she isn't particularly invested in these songs; her vocals are workman like, matter of fact, and emotionless. Worst of all, is that most of the material on the album sounds like inferiorCompared to CHRVCHES' first two albums, Love is Dead is a noticeably weaker. The biggest issue with the album is that the band sounds bored. While Lauren has always been a competent singer, she sings like she isn't particularly invested in these songs; her vocals are workman like, matter of fact, and emotionless. Worst of all, is that most of the material on the album sounds like inferior version of previous songs from their back catalog, but completely sterilized ("Get Out" is the most obvious example) or markedly worse ("Wonderland", "God's Plan"). Lauren states that Love is Dead would be their most "pop" album, but going pop doesn't mean making music this safe and personality free; a watered down version of CHVRCHES where all of their edge has been polished away into the banal indistinctiveness and inoffensiveness akin to music that plays in malls and grocery stores.… Expand
  5. bizarrojerri
    Jun 20, 2018
    5
    This band literally gave me diabetes. On paper it all shouldn't work, cheesy synths, baby girl harmonies, eighties throwback whiplash...music has evolved from this, surely...but, no, its incredibly listenable in a guilty pleasure kinda way. That all said, this new material doesnt match their first two albums' sheer ballsyness. This one plays it safe.
  6. Brendonh93
    May 31, 2018
    5
    Was very disappointed with this project after hearing hearing a good few singles it seemed like a very generic album with a lot of filler tracks.
  7. tiaskye
    Jun 27, 2018
    5
    While I have enjoyed some of Chvrches songs in the past and I do appreciate the fact that they are working with some outside producers to make them go mainstream. While the album have a few decent songs, unfortunately "Love is Dead" just like the previous projects, is full with basic, boring synthpop production and uninspired writing.
  8. Etienne_H
    Oct 6, 2019
    5
    Love is Dead, whilst not inherently bad as an album, was a huge letdown. The Scottish trio returned with a more "popularized" formula that truly lacks the depth of The Bones of What You Believe and Every Open Eye. The constant usage of vocal effects such as overlapping Lauren Mayberry's voice multiple time throughout the album only adds salt to injury, making the group lose yet another keyLove is Dead, whilst not inherently bad as an album, was a huge letdown. The Scottish trio returned with a more "popularized" formula that truly lacks the depth of The Bones of What You Believe and Every Open Eye. The constant usage of vocal effects such as overlapping Lauren Mayberry's voice multiple time throughout the album only adds salt to injury, making the group lose yet another key component of what made them stand out of the crowd to me. I understand that they have tried to reach to a larger crowd with this album, but to fans of their early work like myself, this album is a hude disappointment. The only song that truly stood out to me from this album is the two-parter II and Wonderland, which bringed a hint of the melodical ingenuity of CHVRCHES, albeit far too late to have any meaningful impact on the overall experience. I truly hope that they won't continue down this path, yet I do not think it will happen.

    As many other reviewers said before me, CHVRCHES is Dead.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Most Discussed Album of 2018
18
#18 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Jul 25, 2018
    60
    Love is Dead is formally earnest and it succumbs as a product of its (unearnest) production, an art of sincerity lost underneath. Love is Dead, damnably, is sincerity in place of irony, which is to say sincerity outside irony. It has no world to tease of tense.
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  2. Clash Music
    Jun 11, 2018
    80
    Heavily weighty with fiery doom and gloom, Lauren Mayberry masters the art of colourfully abstract lyrics.
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  3. Variety
    May 31, 2018
    88
    Chvrches have made their most fully-realized effort to date (musically, anyway).
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