A Certain Trigger
by Maxïmo Park
  • Record Label: Warp
  • Release Date: May 31, 2005
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. cokemachineglow
    43
    As formulaic and boring a rock album as you’re likely to hear in 2005.
  2. Prefix Magazine
    50
    But even at its toe-tapping best, this quintet from Newcastle can’t convey a sense of passion.
  3. Q Magazine
    60
    A band clearly in awe of Jarvis Cocker's lyrics and the sound of spiky guitars. [Jul 2005, p.119]
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  5. Rolling Stone
    60
    Paul Smith's vocals are full of New Wave artifice, but he's also more earnest than many of his post-punk peers. [25 Aug 2005, p.100]
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  6. Splendid
    60
    Though Maximo Park has enough electricity to light Manhattan, there's a faint but inescapable whiff of calculation about them.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. GabrielP
    Jul 30, 2005
    9
    First time I listened "A Certain Trigger" I thought 'Yeah, this sounds like The Smiths'. Second time: 'Yeah, this guy sings First time I listened "A Certain Trigger" I thought 'Yeah, this sounds like The Smiths'. Second time: 'Yeah, this guy sings like Jarvis Cocker'. Third time: 'But the whole album sounds like The Jam'. The pleasure of listen three of my favorite bands (Pulp, The Smiths, The Jam) in only one can be explained easily. Creative lyrics, that makes me remember Pulp's "Different Class" topics on songs like 'Apply Some Pressure' and 'The Night I Lost My Head', make the whole album a different (new) option on the world of (post) post punk. Bloc Party's five minutes of fame has gone. The time is now for Maxïmo Park.… Full Review »
  2. Annie
    Jul 19, 2005
    10
    I absolutely LOVED this album, stumbled upon them by accident and fell in love completely. This is defo my album of 2005 and im so glad i I absolutely LOVED this album, stumbled upon them by accident and fell in love completely. This is defo my album of 2005 and im so glad i found it-listen and make up your own minds but as a hot young(22) woman in a crappy town i feel they soaked up everything that relates to me so so so so well :-) 10 out of 10, they make it their own :-) Well Done lads cant wait for a tour xx… Full Review »
  3. Nurax
    Sep 14, 2022
    10
    Maximo Park's "A Certain Trigger" is definitely one of the best indie rock albums of the 2000s.
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