Maximum Balloon

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	76/100[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[4]
musicOMH	[5]
NME	[6]
Pitchfork	7.9/10[7]
PopMatters	7/10[8]
Rolling Stone	[9]
Spin	[10]
The A.V. Club	B[11]
The Guardian	[12]

Maximum Balloon was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 76, based on sixteen reviews.[2]

Neil Ashman of Drowned in Sound praised the project, saying that the album "really about a great producer/songwriter exhibiting his considerable talents free from the pressure and expectation of his day job".[4] Sam Shepherd of musicOMH wrote: "Maximum Balloon is by no means a perfect album, but there are some fantastic performances to be found (Karen O, Ambrosia Parsley's sultry Pink Bricks). It's a shame that Sitek never steps up to the mic, but when you've got friends like these it doesn't really matter".[5] Michael Cragg of The Guardian resumed: "it may lack the emotional depth of some of his previous work, but as instant gratification goes, it's pretty perfect".[12] Chris Martins of The A.V. Club wrote: "the record's only real weakness is what should make it work for radio: There's nothing unexpected. For better or worse, that's also what separates Maximum Balloon from TVOTR".[11] AllMusic's Heather Phares concluded: "overall, though, this is an enjoyable, danceable working holiday from Sitek, one that shows aspects of his music that bode well for his many other projects".[3] Laura Snapes of NME wrote: "it feels like Maximum Balloon is a project that could inflate infinitely. Let's hope it does".[6] Eric Allen Been of PopMatters stated: "Maximum Balloon, obviously, is not your typical TVOTR tour de force. But it doesn't aspire to be. What it simply seeks is to make your ass shake".[8] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone noticed that "for his solo debut, Dave Sitek adds schwing to his smeared synths and swarming guitars, while an A list of New York voices rock midtempo goth-soul beats".[9] Mikael Wood of Spin wrote: "on this solo-ish debut, though, he gives that funk factor full reign, recruiting pals Karen O and David Byrne to sing over synthed-up disco-rock that's brighter and bouncier than his main band's anxious throb. Maximum Balloon deflates when Sitek switches into avant-cabaret mode".[10]

• Maximum Balloon at Discogs (list of releases)