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Zero 7
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Alter The Ending
EMAILPRINTby Dashboard Confessional

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 9 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 7 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Universal
Release Date: 10 November 2009
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock, Alternative
Summary
The latest album for the Chris Carrabba-led band was produced by Butch Walker and Adam Schlesinger.
Also By This Artist: A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar Dusk And Summer The Shade Of Poison Trees
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Rolling Stone
The emo godfather's sixth album proves he's also gotten better in that span.
Read Full Review >Billboard.com
The band's sixth studio album, Alter the Ending, is a perfectly blended concoction of acoustic melodies, graceful harmonies and powerful anthems wrapped around the story of a man trying desperately to save a failing relationship.
Read Full Review >Spin
Produced by power-pop whiz Butch Walker and Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger, Alter the Ending contains no shortage of high-gloss thrills.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
At it's best, Alter The Ending becomes a record about misery that's actually fun to listen to. For purists who object to such mixed messaging, there's always the deluxe edition's all-acoustic bonus disc. [13 Nov 2009, p.97]
Alternative Press
Frontman Chris Carrabba then shifts into the "Mature Artist" EP, showcasing critic-approved influences like U2 and the Cure ("Blame It On The Changes"), but goes too far with the acoustic mewl of "Even Now" (which is so personal, it's awkward) and "The Motions," a failed experiment in '80s pop. [Jan 2010, p. 92]
All Music Guide
Returning fans may take comfort in these cathartic anthems, but those who were won over by "Poison Trees"--a return-to-form effort that combined melody with more nuanced arrangements--will prefer the deluxe edition's acoustic disc.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
Alter The Ending nose-dives into the studio of Butch Walker, the man behind Pink’s "Funhouse" and Weezer’s "Raditude," and he comically overproduces the damn thing.
Read Full Review >Slant Magazine
The leaden pillow talk of Alter the Ending deigns to simulate a whispered avowal of wounded love delivered straight to your ears, but Carrabba's lyrics suggest someone who needs you, not someone who loves you.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
Alter the Ending will probably satisfy the California rocker demographic that keeps groups like Phantom Planet, Switchfoot, and Yellowcard afloat. But to outsiders, its a transparent affair reeking of bloated budget and generic goals.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 7.4 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
