{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Lost and Safe | type = studio | artist = the Books | cover = LostandSafe.jpg | alt = | released = {{start date|2005|04|05}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = The Books' homes (North Adams, Massachusetts and New York, New York) | genre = {{hlist|Folktronica<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sites.google.com/site/christophermarcisz/clips-1/arts/books |title=The Books: Aiming to be Egoless |newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle |date=May 5, 2006 |access-date=September 5, 2021 |last=Marcisz |first=Christopher}}</ref>|post-rock<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/post-rock/the-50-best-post-rock-albums/ |title=The 50 Best Post-Rock Albums |website=Paste |date=December 19, 2016 |access-date=February 2, 2021 |last=Ham |first=Robert}}</ref>}} | length = {{duration|m=41|s=59}} | label = Tomlab | producer = | prev_title = The Lemon of Pink | prev_year = 2003 | next_title = Music for a French Elevator and Other Short Format Oddities by the Books | next_year = 2006 | misc = {{Extra album cover | type = studio | cover = Lost and Safe 2011 reissue.png | border = | alt = | caption = 2011 reissue }} }}
'''''Lost and Safe''''' is the third studio album by American musical duo the Books. It was released on April 5, 2005 by Tomlab.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tomlab.com/catalog/tom050 |title=The Books: Lost And Safe |publisher=Tomlab |access-date=February 2, 2021}}</ref> As with the duo's prior records, ''Lost and Safe'' features extensive sampling.
==Composition== ''Lost and Safe'' is stylistically similar to previous Books albums, continuing the duo's rich use of samples. The samples used on ''Lost and Safe'' originate from sources as diverse as Raymond Baxter ("That's the picture. You s—you see it for yourself."), W. H. Auden ("This great society is going smash / A culture is no better than its woods", from his poem "Woods"), and a reading of Lewis Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky". "Venice" samples the bonus track of a 1966 opera record, on which an American reporter describes a Salvador Dalí "happening" in Venice.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-books-dont-take-us-literally-428430.html |title=The Books: Don't take us literally |newspaper=The Independent |date=December 15, 2006 |access-date=February 11, 2012 |last=Male |first=Howard}}</ref> The eclecticism of the samples is partially owed to their origins in used "bargain bin" records.<ref name="Smyers">{{cite news |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/safe-and-sound-6379016 |title=Safe and Sound |newspaper=Dallas Observer |date=April 6, 2006 |access-date=February 11, 2012 |last=Smyers |first=Darryl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628164337/http://www.dallasobserver.com/Issues/2006-04-06/music/music.html |archive-date=June 28, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout the album, these direct samples are juxtaposed with interpolated vocal passages performed by Books member Nick Zammuto.<ref name="Smyers"/> The Books opted to employ more linear song structures on ''Lost and Safe'', with the intent of composing material more well suited to live performance.<ref name="Smyers"/>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | MC = 84/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/lost-and-safe/the-books |title=Lost And Safe by The Books Reviews and Tracks |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=February 27, 2021}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-and-safe-mw0000244225 |title=Lost and Safe – The Books |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=January 2, 2016 |last=Serra |first=David}}</ref> | rev2 = ''The Boston Phoenix'' | rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/music/otr/documents/04644033.asp |title=The Books: Lost and Safe (Tomlab) |newspaper=The Boston Phoenix |date=April 29 – May 5, 2005 |access-date=August 2, 2019 |last=Wood |first=Mikael |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303112115/http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/music/otr/documents/04644033.asp |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev3 = ''DIY'' | rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/view.php?id=3175 |title=The Books – Lost and Safe |website=DIY |date=March 9, 2005 |access-date=August 6, 2021 |last=Guy |first=Nick |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309192541/http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/view.php?id=3175 |archive-date=March 9, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Observer'' | rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jan/22/shopping4 |title=The Books, Lost and Safe |newspaper=The Observer |date=January 22, 2006 |access-date=August 2, 2019 |last=Gillett |first=Charlie}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev5score = 7.0/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/856-lost-and-safe/ |title=The Books: Lost and Safe |website=Pitchfork |date=April 4, 2005 |access-date=June 6, 2016 |last=Richardson |first=Mark}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Q'' | rev6score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>Three albums in the air of quirky, mad-scientific investigation is now a constant. [May 2005, p.121]</ref> | rev7 = ''Tom Hull''' | rev7Score = B+ ({{Rating-Christgau|hm3}})<ref>{{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|authorlink=Tom Hull (critic)|date=April 19, 2021|url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/2938-Music-Week.html|title=Music Week|website=Tom Hull – on the Web|accessdate=April 20, 2021}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Uncut'' | rev8score = 6/10<ref>Lost And Safe is a move songwards, and though this promises greater coherence, it's at the expense of some of the group's wayward charm. [May 2005, p.97]</ref> | rev9 = ''URB'' | rev9score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Books: Lost and Safe |magazine=Urb |issue=125 |date=April 2005 |page=101}}</ref> | rev10 = ''The Village Voice'' | rev10score = A−<ref>{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv705-05.php |title=Consumer Guide: Laptop for Desktoppers |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=July 26, 2005 |access-date=June 6, 2016 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> }}
''Lost and Safe'' received highly positive reviews from music critics. On the review aggregation website Metacritic, the album has a rating of 84 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="MC"/> David Serra of AllMusic wrote: "From the songwriting to the production to the performance, the whole package that the Books present with ''Lost and Safe'' works wonderfully and makes for a very rewarding listen."<ref name="AM"/> ''The Wire'' named ''Lost and Safe'' the best album of 2005.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.thewire.co.uk/issues/charts/2005-rewind |title=2005 Rewind |magazine=The Wire |issue=263 |date=January 2006 |access-date=September 8, 2012}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = The Books (Paul de Jong and Nick Zammuto) | title1 = A Little Longing Goes Away | length1 = 3:30 | title2 = Be Good to Them Always | length2 = 4:51 | title3 = Vogt dig for Kloppervok | length3 = 3:54 | title4 = Smells Like Content | length4 = 3:41 | title5 = It Never Changes to Stop | length5 = 4:01 | title6 = An Animated Description of Mr. Maps. | length6 = 4:38 | title7 = Venice | length7 = 1:42 | title8 = None but Shining Hours | length8 = 2:42 | title9 = If Not Now, Whenever | length9 = 3:35 | title10 = An Owl with Knees | length10 = 4:41 | title11 = Twelve Fold Chain | length11 = 4:44 | total_length = 41:59 }}
==Personnel== Credits are adapted from the liner notes of the 2005 and 2011 issues of the album.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Lost and Safe |others=The Books |publisher=Tomlab |year=2005 |id=tom 50 |type=liner notes}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Lost and Safe |others=The Books |publisher=Temporary Residence Limited |year=2011 |id=TRR182 CD |type=liner notes}}</ref>
'''The Books''' * Paul de Jong – music, mastering, mixing, recording * Nick Zammuto – music, mastering, mixing, recording
'''Additional personnel''' * Frieda Luczak – design
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Discogs master|184733|Lost and Safe}} * {{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=e6941022-ecc8-3874-85f3-43c54022fb67|name=Lost and Safe}}
{{The Books}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2005 albums Category:The Books albums Category:Albums recorded in a home studio Category:Tomlab albums