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Title: Aptly Titled
Review: The sound of strings, a choir, and thunderous distortion opens the Delgados' fourth release Hate. This is both musical motif and a distillation of the sweet-sour dichotomy the Scottish quartet has explored over the course of its short history. Alun Woodward and Emma Pollock's respective worldviews have grown increasingly more black or white (depending on the song) as their music's become more baroque, thornier. The results are split. Invective, like revenge, is best served cold. Woodward's blissfully nasty pop masterpiece "All You Need Is Hate" and the bottom-of-the-barrel anthem "If This Is a Plan" are aces. Otherwise, it's tough going. The lyrics have no focus. The musicians are all over the place. The songs escape their control. And I sincerely hope that whomever did the string arrangements was the inspiration for the title.
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