Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to the band besides the concept. Far from ramshackle, exploratory fun, the songs are paint-by-numbers melodramatic nonsense with a few interesting genre gestures.
  2. Track after track is slathered in layers of horns and guitars and synths until the songs underneath are no longer discernible.
  3. 40
    It's a promising thought to know there are musicians this deft and so easily able to push themselves through so many sonic boundaries at once--but in the end, the overt and ultimately, stifling seriousness surrounding it proves to be the largest boundary BLK JKS stand before.
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. DonC.
    Oct 5, 2009
    7
    A debut album a bit unlike anything else in the indie scene. A bit muddled at times, but the lush arrangements and dub influenced rock-outs A debut album a bit unlike anything else in the indie scene. A bit muddled at times, but the lush arrangements and dub influenced rock-outs are absolutely worth a listen. I'd also ignore the statement that the songs are tighter and more focused live -- I saw them last night and the show was a disaster; an off-time mess with delay effects on absolutely everything. I'll stick to the album, thanks. Full Review »
  2. gomad361
    Sep 12, 2009
    7
    Overproduction courtesy perhaps of the "tutelage of Secret Machines