User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
Life After Youth Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

  • Summary: Produced by John Agnello, the third full-length release for the indie rock band led by Elizabeth Powell was written while taking care of her father and features a guest appearance from Sharon Van Etten.
Buy Now
Buy on

Top Track

Inner Lover
Take care of me Whose side you always on And bring sound sleep The wind undoes me Pulls me past The way you hold me brings me back Take care of... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. May 17, 2017
    86
    With almost every track featuring very direct first person, Life After Youth is an extremely personal collection from Powell, but with some help from her friends and collaborators Sharon Van Etten, The Besnard Lakes, Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) and Sal Maida (Roxy Music/Sparks), she has not only made the best record of her career, it’s also one of the strongest solo releases from any past or present Broken Social Scene members.
  2. May 19, 2017
    80
    Falling somewhere between Poliça with an Americana tinge and a less naff Fiona Apple, the likes of ‘Inner Lover’ and ‘This Time’ are cerebral cornerstones that hold up a record characterised by evident catharsis. One for when you’re feeling reflective.
  3. May 31, 2017
    80
    The light touch Powell has with deeply felt emotions on this album is a rare combination that grows richer with each listen; she sounds older and wiser but also happier, suggesting that Life After Youth is just the beginning.
  4. 75
    Life After Youth is proof that the best days needn't necessarily be the early ones, and marks a strong and exciting return for fans and band alike.
  5. May 19, 2017
    75
    Life After Youth is a welcome reminder of why Land Of Talk was missed, and a promising glimpse at a second chance.
  6. Jun 19, 2017
    70
    Some of that punchy vitality has been lost, but never does it obscure Powell’s ability to add bold expressions to her fine-grained accounts.
  7. May 16, 2017
    60
    These two tracks [This Time and Loving] crest an emotional peak that isn’t quite matched elsewhere.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Dec 12, 2020
    8
    An interesting, unpredictable and overall very enjoyable listen. It's high end indie rock but with so many nuances and ideas pretty unique toAn interesting, unpredictable and overall very enjoyable listen. It's high end indie rock but with so many nuances and ideas pretty unique to this band that after a few listens you realise that Land of Talk have somehow managed to bring something new to that crowded party. At times there is a bit too much going on in terms of effect pedals on the guitars and this can distract from the core songs. When the focus in on the song and the arrangements then the album soars. The vocals are fantastic throughout. The band seem to have got most things right in the making of this album. From the urgent opener "Yes You Were" to the epic pop heartbreak of "Loving", from the droney dreampop of "Inner Lover" to the deceptively simple intro on "Macabre", the band throw alot at the wall and end up with a startling collection of dreamlike melodies. It sounds a bit like a more concise, slacker War on Drugs record being played on an old tape with dirty heads. A thumbs up. Expand