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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Give Blood
EMAILPRINTby Brakes [aka brakesbrakesbrakes]
![Brakes [aka brakesbrakesbrakes] reviews](/media/music/artists/brakes/giveblood/picture.jpg)
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 23 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 7 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Rough Trade
Release Date: 13 September 2005
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
Brakes is an often-jokey, garage-rock side project for British Sea Power keyboardist Eamon Hamilton, who here steps to the forefront, playing guitar and handling lead vocals. Joining him are members of Electric Soft Parade and Tenderfoot on 16 tracks that range from six seconds to 3:39 in length.
Also By This Artist: The Beatific Visions Touchdown
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: British Sea Power: Open Season British Sea Power: The Decline Of British Sea Power Electric Soft Parade: Holes In The Wall Electric Soft Parade: No Need To Be Downhearted
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...
Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
Some observers classify these ditties "country-punk," while other crankily insist they're "anti-folk," proving mainly that nobody knows what to make of simple little guitar-band songs on a scene where everyone's busy refining his or her artistic vision.
Read Full Review >Spin
They blaze with scene-satiric brilliance. [Sep 2005, p.109]
Tiny Mix Tapes
An über-catchy collection of short, diverse songs laden with a playfully channeled anger and wit that are hard to forget.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Brakes sound like The Jesus & Mary Chain with Tourette's. [Aug 2005, p.102]
Dot Music
You can't help feeling that, with a little less self-indulgence and a bit more camp brilliance, Brakes could be the side project that turned into something special.
Read Full Review >New Musical Express
Full of fraught, frivolous fun. [11 Jun 2005, p.67]
Playlouder
One of the most witty, ambitious and intelligent British guitar albums thus far in 2005.
Read Full Review >Blender
Stupid-brilliant punk rock. [Dec 2005, p.147]
Alternative Press
Thankfully, the electro-bleeped post-punk "All Night Disco Party" and buzz-band piss-take "Heard About Your Band" aren't just dead-on scenester satire; they're damned entertaining too. [Jan 2006, p.142]
Pitchfork
Give Blood falls squarely in the "pleasant surprise" camp; a gift to short attention spans everywhere.
Read Full Review >cokemachineglow
It’s hard to tell if this disc will have much in the way of staying power... but it’s a hell of a fun listen.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
Genuinely funny. [#11, p.114]
Q Magazine
Lunacy has seldom sounded more exhilarating. [Aug 2005, p.126]
Splendid
The music is comfortable, lacking the self-conscious over-rehearsed feeling of other new bands.
Read Full Review >Mojo
Brakes give the likeable impression of being a jokey jamming session at a party that got out of hand. [Aug 2005, p.98]
Neumu.net
When they play, they sound confident and sloppy. When they sing, they sound sincere and sarcastic. They crunch and slash like early punk, toy with country like The Mekons, and use chiming melodies like indie rock. And all fastened together by a combination of mockery and carelessness, they come out with something that could easily stand up against any of the favorite rock 'n' roll records you turn to for a good time.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
Humorous without being ridiculous, fun without being jubilant; Give Blood is a fundamental fluke of focus and wisdom.
Read Full Review >Lost At Sea
This style of mock-rock doesn’t have a long shelf life, as the songs cease to be funny and hipsters will inevitably find a new way to offhandedly make fun of/glorify themselves.
Read Full Review >Dusted Magazine
If you took away the melodica, the masks and the mystery of a band like Clinic, you’d be left with a Brakes; competent, middle-of-the-road, going nowhere fast.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Max J gave it a10:
Outstanding
J C gave it a4:
I saw the Brakes live at Mean Fiddler the other night and to be honest I found it quite bad. As far as melodies go, it's not mediocre, but there's really nothing exciting about it. However, the lead singer should really take up singing lessons, and I'm not even sure that would be enough to overcome his appalling singing capabilities. It's like hearing Arcade Fire gone horribly wrong. Definitely hear it before you decide to buy it!
Robbin L gave it a7:
Primarily rewarding, if not silly. The catchiness is undeniable on some, and some seem just plain amateur. The nod to the JAMC is a pleasant gesture, but Ms. Sandoval has got nothing to fear. Overall, I would compare it to an average episode of Night Court. A decent portion of Dan and Harry with just a little Bull.
ted l gave it an8:
The one bad review I've seen of Brakes was likely written by a members of a band/scene skewered on GIVE BLOOD. This is a collection of brief, abrasive pop songs that provide anecdotal commentary -- nothing too deep, but generally spot-on observations that are not often noted. I could do with a little less twang on the next one, to which I am looking forward.
Vander V gave it a9:
It´s very funny and much better than the last British Sea Power album. It was recorded in 5 days!!!
