A City By The Light Divided
by Thursday
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: May 2, 2006
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 36
  3. Negative: 3 out of 36

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  1. JClS
    Jun 26, 2007
    8
    This album is PERFECT!
  2. JackG.
    Dec 6, 2006
    9
    I think Rolling Stone magazine gives music bad reviews for the attention. I dip into punk and emo from time to time and am usually disappointed. I liked full collapse forever ago and I heard this disc woudl be good so i picked it up. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. It isn't going to win best album of the century, but any douche bag that gives it a 30 is doing so for shock value only. I think Rolling Stone magazine gives music bad reviews for the attention. I dip into punk and emo from time to time and am usually disappointed. I liked full collapse forever ago and I heard this disc woudl be good so i picked it up. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. It isn't going to win best album of the century, but any douche bag that gives it a 30 is doing so for shock value only. Any review in the red has been made by a reviewer with a gross misunderstanding of punk music. A few more albums with this trend of maturation and they could very well make one of the best albums of the century.… Collapse
  3. JosephF
    Oct 23, 2006
    9
    This is a great album...not the best album of thursday(war all the time) but simply very good..keep up the good work..
  4. BobbyK
    Sep 4, 2006
    8
    A very solid piece of art by Thursday...riveting, haunting, eerie, cathartic, this album is tinged with Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You! Black Emperor passages on some tracks. Still, Thursday's songwriting needs work, and this CD simply isn't as complex and beautiful as it could be.
  5. supermrawesome
    Jul 22, 2006
    10
    A positively wonderful album, i wasnt sure at first listen but after seeing them live this has become my favorite album
  6. PeenskrankPortobello
    Jul 21, 2006
    10
    Fuck Rolling Stone Magazine. I guess they think trashing this album will up their intellectual credibility.
  7. Idioteque
    Jul 13, 2006
    7
    Good Album, considering that I don't like scremo, or emo, however this a delightful exception! About OK.......It absolutly IS one of the greatest albums of all time. That fact as been consistently reenforced by countless music critics and RH fans worldwide.
  8. TOTO
    Jul 3, 2006
    8
    This album from thursday it's ok, especially if you don't think in other work done before, this genre has been listened before and that's all. Stop mention OK computer when you talk about this Cd just for one reason: It doesn't makes any sense, and Radiohead can not be the reference for every album in the world. Furthermore, Ok Computer is not that good (forget it, it This album from thursday it's ok, especially if you don't think in other work done before, this genre has been listened before and that's all. Stop mention OK computer when you talk about this Cd just for one reason: It doesn't makes any sense, and Radiohead can not be the reference for every album in the world. Furthermore, Ok Computer is not that good (forget it, it was released on 90's, enough!!).… Expand
  9. Cables
    Jun 8, 2006
    5
    The dude who compared this to ok computer, dsotm, or any other sort of "music changing" album needs to think before he posts anything else and further embarrasses himself.
  10. joes
    Jun 6, 2006
    3
    this cd is terrible if you have listened to any of the other thursday albums you would know that, they try so hard to sound like Full Collapse that it comes out as this mess of emo steriotypes, they just tried too hard. its bad
  11. RyanM
    Jun 5, 2006
    1
    Change the face of music?!?!? Don't ever mention O.K. Computer, Kid A or Dark Side of the Moon in the same sentence with Thursday. This is a mediocre record at best.
  12. JDP
    Jun 3, 2006
    8
    Pretty hot
  13. AndyW
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    What makes A City By The Light Divided so spectacular is the fact that Thursday, what was once a band that help started the era of emo hardcore/or screamo, has finally moved onto a genre that defines them. With post-rockesque elements and experimentations on synths/guitar effects, this record has endured all the qualities that the band should keep. Their focus on keeping the album a What makes A City By The Light Divided so spectacular is the fact that Thursday, what was once a band that help started the era of emo hardcore/or screamo, has finally moved onto a genre that defines them. With post-rockesque elements and experimentations on synths/guitar effects, this record has endured all the qualities that the band should keep. Their focus on keeping the album a little more emotional and expanding their talents is almost like a fairy tale. It may not be the greatest rock record of all time, but it sure has changed the face of music, amongst other albums such as OK Computer, Dark Side Of The Moon, Kid A, and Avalanche. One of my top favorite albums of this year.… Expand
  14. adamt
    Jun 1, 2006
    10
    This album is incredible. It stands on par with their first LP "Full Collapse". In every song Thursday reminds us why we fell inlove with them in the first place.
  15. alicjan
    May 30, 2006
    9
    a have a fever after listening this first time
  16. BryanM
    May 29, 2006
    10
    This is an amazing record.
  17. ryang
    May 29, 2006
    5
    A Disappointment. Not as significantly unique or enjoyable as War All The Time. While a few of the songs may be catchy, the lyrics on this album are but a shadow of lyrics on Geoff's previous albums. It's like they ran out of metaphors and stories to sing about, and all that has been done is a regurgitation of earlier words and ideas.
  18. TomC
    May 28, 2006
    8
    This is definitely my favorite album by Thursday. They were always a little bit too modern emo-y to me, as much as I hate to use that term, but I just wasn't feeling it. With this album though, the band evolves their sound enough to capture my attention. I wasn't even going to give it a listen, but now that I have, I'm glad I did. Recommended if you always felt Thursday This is definitely my favorite album by Thursday. They were always a little bit too modern emo-y to me, as much as I hate to use that term, but I just wasn't feeling it. With this album though, the band evolves their sound enough to capture my attention. I wasn't even going to give it a listen, but now that I have, I'm glad I did. Recommended if you always felt Thursday were just a few steps away from being a good band.… Expand
  19. bills
    May 27, 2006
    10
    Their best release to date.
  20. megana
    May 27, 2006
    10
    Simply awesome. This is a great and raw album.
  21. JennaP.
    May 26, 2006
    10
    Absolutely incredible and epic. With this record Thursday proves they're the most important band in the 'scene' they helped create. Some songs evoke the anthemic nature of U2's Unforgettable Fire but still follow the formula Thursday have followed since their debut Waiting. Let's just hope it doesn't take another three years for their next masterpiece.
  22. DanielB
    May 26, 2006
    10
    Thursday have once again proven themselves to be an awesome, maturing group. Their work once again tie their emotions and real-life experiences to their music. ACBTLD is definately a creative work of art worth hearing.
  23. DaveA
    May 26, 2006
    10
    This album has to be the best album this year. Thursday is a band, A band means a team, and it sure sounds like it. What makes them good is their chemistry and willingness to think out of their own box. Thursday's mantality on A CITY is to probably make legends such as Pink Floyd and U2 blush. It was very successfull. This album will definitely seperate the fans from the hardcore This album has to be the best album this year. Thursday is a band, A band means a team, and it sure sounds like it. What makes them good is their chemistry and willingness to think out of their own box. Thursday's mantality on A CITY is to probably make legends such as Pink Floyd and U2 blush. It was very successfull. This album will definitely seperate the fans from the hardcore crowd. Much like myself, real fans are the ones who stay around for the artistic and dramatic, personal lyrics. The hardcore crowd will still have At This Velocity to look forward to but, other than that they will get a little pissed.… Expand
  24. BrianM
    May 26, 2006
    2
    So wait a minute.... Dave Fridmann of Flaming Lips fame produced this, yet still wasn't able to pull Thursday out of that bland hardcore-screamo sound? They've fallen a long way since the surprisingly good Full Collapse.
  25. JohnD
    May 25, 2006
    8
    I am honestly surprised that Metacritic actually decided to post reviews for this album, since emo is dead (so say the majority). This is easily Thursday's best album to date, to put it lightly. My only issue with the album is when they go beyond being pseudo-hardcore, into somewhere that houses Radiohead's and U2's best work, THEN expect us to jam out to the hardcore I am honestly surprised that Metacritic actually decided to post reviews for this album, since emo is dead (so say the majority). This is easily Thursday's best album to date, to put it lightly. My only issue with the album is when they go beyond being pseudo-hardcore, into somewhere that houses Radiohead's and U2's best work, THEN expect us to jam out to the hardcore tracks. It's jarring, to say the least. But "Lovesong Writer" just might be Thursday's best song to date.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

90
#90 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. AllMusic
    80
    Thursday simply sound like a superior version of themselves.
    Read full review
  2. Alternative Press
    100
    City is a rare thing: a disc that reconciles a band's need for discovery with the familiar characteristics that define them. [Jun 2006, p.171]
  3. Billboard
    70
    A quality album. [6 May 2006]
See all critic reviews »