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A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation Image
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 25 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut album from the three-piece from Liverpool, England.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. The album, like their live set, is shot through with fun, infectious wit and a desire to create perfect pop while not taking themselves too seriously.
  2. By total accident they seem to have stumbled upon the perfect formula for the indie-rock disco anthem, and for this they should be lauded.
  3. The trio can't sustain this energy and inventiveness over the entire album.
  4. Uncut
    60
    Best enjoyed with your brain set to simmer, it's harmlessly high-octane fun. [Dec 2007, p.119]
  5. Q Magazine
    60
    This debut has enough catchy cheap thrils. [Dec 2007, p.124]
  6. Their debut album may not be breaking any new ground in the world of rock'n'roll, but the three-piece don't half know their way around a catchy melody.
  7. Under The Radar
    50
    It's basically the same stuff over and over again, but never with the same impact as the first three. [Summer 2008, p.90]

See all 10 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Jan 1, 2018
    10
    This is the best Indie Rock album I´ve ever heard. It is a really fun album and it is impossible not to tap your feet or to sing along to oneThis is the best Indie Rock album I´ve ever heard. It is a really fun album and it is impossible not to tap your feet or to sing along to one of these songs,everything is really energetic and I love it because of that. Expand
  2. AngeloF.
    Dec 10, 2007
    10
    This is a great CD. Great songs, I can see them reach highest positions in the charts.
  3. Aug 8, 2014
    9
    There are no words to describe how much I relate to this entire album. This album made me feel like I am in high school again in just 44There are no words to describe how much I relate to this entire album. This album made me feel like I am in high school again in just 44 minutes.

    This is the best debut album from any artist I have ever heard in a long time since John Newman's Tribute album. This album had this pop-rock sound that I absolutely loved and even if the lyrics are sad it makes me happy.

    I relate to the songs that The Wombats' lead vocalist is singing about. I could relate his struggles even though I did not experience it yet. The lyrics are also funny as well and this rarely happens to me.

    I think my only complaint that while I like all the songs and it has a deeper story in it, the tracklist in the middle seemed like a collection of songs they wrote with no plot if you listen to the album in its order but this is easily overlooked for me because I love this album and its songs in it and each song has a story in it so it's fine.

    This is the best album I have ever heard in a long time and I think it's safe to say that I am a Wombats fan and that I will check out their other album soon.
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  4. AlvaG.
    Dec 11, 2007
    8
    This album is full of wit, spunk, great riffs, catchy lyrics and back vocals. Obviously, The Wombats don't reinvent pop rock but they This album is full of wit, spunk, great riffs, catchy lyrics and back vocals. Obviously, The Wombats don't reinvent pop rock but they sure do a heck of job to make it fun to listen and party too. This is the type of album that grows on you and gives instant credibility to the band in the indie scene. The album has great potential singles across the board. Let's hope that this gets out to the masses. Expand
  5. Jan 15, 2011
    8
    Fantastic album. It's got the spirit and melodies that alot of indie bands are missing these days. It's almost impossible not to dance alongFantastic album. It's got the spirit and melodies that alot of indie bands are missing these days. It's almost impossible not to dance along to tracks such as 'Let's dance to joy division' and 'Kill the Director'. This cd is great, because it has those tracks you love at first listen (Moving to New York), and then a couple which grow on you till they're your faves (Patricia the Stripper), though it also has a couple of fillers (Lost in the Post, Party in the Forest), all the tracks are fun and energetic. Notably, every song has a topic that is completely uncliche, which makes for an interesting listen Expand
  6. Jan 22, 2022
    5
    The Wombats' debut "A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation" is pretty unspectacular overall. The trio's songs are easy to listen to andThe Wombats' debut "A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation" is pretty unspectacular overall. The trio's songs are easy to listen to and energetic, but it's basically the same thing over and over again.

    Maybe it's my age, but the high school indie stuff just doesn't catch me (anymore). In the end, only "Let's Dance to Joy Division" stands out as a noteworthy track. More than 5 out of 10 would be too much.

    ~ Fürstenberg
    January 22, 2022
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  7. GuyH
    Dec 7, 2007
    0
    Worst new band of the year! Awful. 'We're mad and energetic and youthful us' - great for you, now try writing a song that Worst new band of the year! Awful. 'We're mad and energetic and youthful us' - great for you, now try writing a song that doesn't make me want to chew off my own tongue! Expand

See all 10 User Reviews