Arc
by Everything Everything
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Jan 14, 2013
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 36
  3. Negative: 2 out of 36
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  1. callen85
    May 8, 2013
    3
    I was pretty stoked a little while back when I found out that Everything Everything had a new album out. Man Alive started by 2010's off on a very high note from the start, so my expectations were through the roof with this one. However, when I finally got my hands on Arc, I popped it in and had to force myself through the album, hoping for that one track that redeemed the rest...itI was pretty stoked a little while back when I found out that Everything Everything had a new album out. Man Alive started by 2010's off on a very high note from the start, so my expectations were through the roof with this one. However, when I finally got my hands on Arc, I popped it in and had to force myself through the album, hoping for that one track that redeemed the rest...it never happened. I completely realize that a band's second album is a chance to branch out and try to further explore their style, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the tracks on Arc did the exact opposite. On Man Alive, there were so many wonderful melodies, rich harmonies, slick grooves that sucked you into each song, and just overall very good musicianship. On Arc, it felt like all of that creative energy sucked inward and was kept so subtle and hidden that it was barely recognizable. There were times I felt like I was just listening to some run-of-the-mill pop band, and that did not make me happy. The lyrics had some depth, I'll give it that, but the instrumentation wasn't there to complement or back it up. Not even close. Overprocessed, too many effects, Jonathan stuck in his falsetto for so long that it lost its appeal, there were none of those oh-so-special basslines that got my jollies off before, nothing special that popped out and grabbed me by the ears and wouldn't let go until I absolutely loved it, and there was no pick-me-up from the long, mid-tempo dirge that the album became by the last track. I felt like they took everything (everything) that made their debut album great, and chucked it out the window. Perhaps it was due to the lack of Alex Niven's influence via his understanding of what makes good music, maybe it was something else, but where the first album had everything, this second album lacks everything. It makes me sad.… Collapse

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Mixmag
    Feb 12, 2013
    80
    Everything Everything hit their targets with aplomb.
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  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Feb 11, 2013
    90
    Everything Everything have their cake and they’re eating it too--Arc proves that they can keep their zany shade of indie and still be taken very seriously.
    Read full review
  3. musicOMH.com
    Feb 1, 2013
    90
    There’s neither swag nor swagger here, just talent and a single-minded creative vision worth every gasping breath it takes to keep up with.
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