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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Baby 81
EMAILPRINTby Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 29 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 49 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Red Ink
Release Date: 01 May 2007
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
After sitting out an album, drummer Nick Jago rejoins his BRMC bandmates, who return with a harder-edged recording than their 2005 acoustic departure 'Howl.'
Also By This Artist: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Howl Take Them On, On Your Own
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Filter
Baby 81 is the offspring of all three albums. [#25, p.96]
Mojo
Baby 81 finds a band evolving past expectations into a newly intriguing proposition. [Jun 2007, p.101]
Sputnikmusic
A masterful little work of sonic soundscapes, dark edges, muted colors, and low, simmering sexuality.
Read Full Review >Prefix Magazine
Baby 81 is a wicked crystallization of all the sounds on the first album, tightened up and brightened up and even louder and more textured.
Read Full Review >Uncut
BRMC seem invincible; or back to their searing best, at any rate. [May 2007, p.87]
Urb
Still clenching its beloved Americana, BRMC spits a familiar noise that has transformed from a mountain of stifling volume into a dense layering of sophisticated references. [May 2007, p.93]
musicOMH.com
Given it's gestation, it's fairly amazing that Baby 81 wasn't stillborn. To find it's kicking with such vigor is little short of remarkable.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
On tracks such as single Weapon Of Choice, Berlin, 666 Conductor and Need Some Air, BRMC can show anyone a clean set of scuffed heels. [May 2007, p.123]
Spin
[BRMC] have never sounded more self-assured. [May 2007, p.84]
Alternative Press
The bulk of Baby 81 draws from the dark underbelly of the Woodstock generation. [Jun 2007, p.156]
Austin Chronicle
Whatever happened to BMRC's rock & roll? Sounds like they found it.
Read Full Review >Magnet
Baby 81 finds BRMC back in control of the street corner, cigarette squints and rock'n'roll swagger intact. [Summer 2007, p.90]
Tiny Mix Tapes
The righteous Southern revival swagger of these electrified riffs collect over Jago’s drums to rain down the real rawk people have mistakenly praised Kings Of Leon for providing, absolutely destroying them at their own game.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
Baby 81 isn’t nearly as complete as Howl despite their admirable willingness to try different things.
Read Full Review >Hartford Courant
"Baby 81" isn't an all-out fuzz free-for-all, though, and the California trio retains some of the gentler ideas it explored last time out.
Read Full Review >Drowned In Sound
Baby 81 is simply BRMC doing what they do best, and for the first time since their debut record six years ago they actually sound like a band that enjoyed themselves while making this album.
Read Full Review >New Musical Express
They have clawed their way back with an album encapsulating much of what initially made them such an exciting group.
Read Full Review >The Phoenix
The songwriting isn’t BRMC’s most memorable, but Baby 81’s noise-roots fumes are pretty thick.
Read Full Review >cokemachineglow
In the context of their seemingly blinkered attempts at finding some source of inspiration they've produced an entertainingly atmospheric, melodic record to bracing and accessible effect.
Read Full Review >NOW Magazine
Baby 81's not nearly as original or as interesting as their past releases – including Howl.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
While this is BRMC at their best, consistency is still their biggest enemy.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
Baby 81 still contains a decent collection of songs, it’s just that not only do most of them not stand out from the band’s previous work, they also pale in comparison. [#17, p.82]
Paste Magazine
It's the sound of a band trying to play it both ways, and succeeding at neither. [May 2007, p.61]
Dot Music
This "Baby…" is bloated and bursting from its nappies - and that goes for the songs as well as duration.
Read Full Review >Playlouder
'Baby 81' sees a band lose focus from what made them tick in the first place.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 49 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Afro from Above 1979 gave it a10:
Glorious Glorious Glorious!!! My favourite of 2007... American X: a masterpiece of 9:11 minutes... Baby 81: a masterpiece of 60:26 minutes... BRMC: a masterpiece forever.
Paul F gave it a10:
Wow, I thought BRMC's earlier albums were amazing - this totally blows them out of the water. Absolutely fantastic!
Cruq gave it a10:
I don't really understand why lot of those "great critics" rated this album so low. It's different than Howl, it sounds pretty much like another band's record. But it fucking kicks ass! It's real, heavy and dark rock'n'roll performed with massive amount of emotions. Critics (hello Pitchfork and NME) say that lyrics are dumb. Oh, they're not. Maybe BRMC doesn't use very sophisticated volcaburary, but songs tell about important things and suit the music damn great. It is one of the best records in recent years, and BRMC's best for sure. Just give it a chance and I bet you'll love it.
Steve H gave it a9:
Excellent, Compelling stuff
Thomas B. gave it a4:
A step back for BRMC, like they were going through the motions. Lacks the disarming emotion of Howl. Bland effort.
Joe T. gave it an8:
Recommended to those whose who loved the promise in the debut, and were turned off by contrived two that followed. The sophomore-album-that-should-have-been. Welcome back from marketing department hell.
Justin S. gave it a7:
Take a Pitchfork review for what it is worth which is about as much as a 200 year old dead guys impression on a newly released album.
