The Delines Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom
Released Feb 14, 2025 Jealous Butcher Records
Early read 2 professional reviews Updated Oct 15, 2026
Strong critical consensus
Early read based on 2 professional reviews. The Delines' Mr.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom
1 critic mention
“Hence, the opening and title track may be the most, maybe the only romantic song the band has ever played.” — Glide Magazine
Her Ponyboy
1 critic mention
“Her Ponyboy” is devastating, depicting a reckless couple migrating aimlessly across the states, to no tangible resolution.” — Glide Magazine
Left Hook Like Frazier
1 critic mention
“Left Hook Like Frazier” is one of the few infectious up-tempo songs, the music belying the tale of addiction and abuse.” — Glide Magazine
Full critic consensus
The Delines' Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom finds its strongest pull in stories of people living close to the edge, where even romance carries the shadow of danger. Released February 14, 2025, the record earned an 85/100 consensus score across two professional reviews, a strong reception for a collection rooted in desperation, crime, and characters trying to find a better life. Its title track sets the tone: a rare love story for the band, yet one whose apparent happy ending remains marked by impermanence.
The best songs on Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom draw their force from vivid, troubled characters and the tension between the music and the lives described. “Her Ponyboy” stands out as devastating, while “Left Hook Like Frazier” pairs an infectious up-tempo feel with a story of addiction and abuse. The title track offers a more romantic angle, but not a simple escape from the album’s darker world. Across these songs, love feels fragile and the prospect of change uncertain; the narratives keep listeners close to people who have fallen through the cracks without softening their circumstances.
Critics also point to Willy Vlautin’s storytelling and Amy Boone’s voice as central to the album’s appeal. The Delines remain within their established aesthetic rather than making a dramatic stylistic departure, and that consistency gives the character-driven writing room to hold attention. With a high aggregate score and memorable performances at its center, this Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom review suggests a rewarding listen for those drawn to humane, unsentimental songs about longing and survival.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom
Her Ponyboy
Left Hook Like Frazier
Sitting On The Curb
There's Nothing Down The Highway
Don't Miss Your Bus Lorraine
The Haunting Thoughts
Nancy & The Pensacola Pimp
Maureen's Gone Missing
JP & Me
Don't Go Into That House
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 2 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
The Delines return with Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom in their well-established aesthetic, and the best songs on the album keep pulling us into Vlautin’s tales of those who have fallen through the cracks. The opening title track may be the band’s only romantic song, though even its so-called happy ending still reeks of impermanence and danger. “Her Ponyboy” is devastating, while “Left Hook Like Frazier” is one of the few infectious up-tempo songs, the music belying its tale of addiction and abuse. These best tracks on Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom hold interest, but Boone’s voice has us continually returning for more.
Key Points
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The title track is the rare romantic song here, though its apparent happy ending still carries impermanence and danger.
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The album’s low-key country soul and Boone’s chilling, gripping voice make Vlautin’s desperate stories hard not to return to.