Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. 90
    Leadoff track "Six Feet Under"- with its whispery falsetto chorus skewered by the ominous plea, "Call me when you're six feet underground" - is among the catchiest and most emotionally exposed songs Auer has ever recorded. [Jul/Aug 2006, p.86]
  2. This is Jon Auer at his best. [#13, p.83]
  3. 80
    A fine showing. [Jul 2006, p.84]
  4. A deeply thoughtful and obviously personal album.
  5. The care Auer put into Songs is audible for the entire disc.
  6. Auer may have the lower profile of the two lead Posies, but he's every bit the artisan his bandmate is-- and his solo debut is ultimately a satisfying listen.
  7. An album of cloudy-day pop that's hard to top.
  8. This is a more mature, Baroque record, at times reminiscent of the best, new wav-ish tracks from The Posies' 1998 album, Success.
  9. Songs From the Year of Our Demise never achieves the crunch or the sugar highs that still makes Posies records so addictive, but it never really needs it. This is pop for adults.
  10. It's an album that has far more potential for emotional resonance than musical discovery. The arrangements contain few surprises, and the handful of simple acoustic performances quietly outshine the more elaborate productions.
  11. Most of Songs balances caustic lyrics with beautiful power-pop interludes. [Jun/Jul 2006, p.119]
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Feb 11, 2012
    A fine record that stands on its own. But RyanS, no need to put down Stringfellow's excellent, and very different work. I don't agree it surpasses Stringfellow's detailed, orchestral and soulful solo work. Nor do I agree that's it worth comparing the two. They are making these records because they want to stand on their own as artists. Let them. Full Review »
  2. AmandaB
    Mar 1, 2007
    By far the best record to come from the Posies clan! I only hope the next one doesn't take 6 years to come out!
  3. RyanS
    Jun 11, 2006
    As good as the best Posies album, surpasses all of fellow bandmate Stringfellow's solo releases.