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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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The Bravery
by The Bravery
Another hot, retro-sounding band based in New York? Is there some sort of factory churning these bands out? (Or in the case of The Bravery, a Factory?) The band's self-titled debut, preceded by the requisite buzz, utilizes a new wave-flavored sound which is also reminiscent of, oh, let's just say New Order and The Cure.
| LABEL: |
Island |
| RELEASE DATE: |
29 March 2005 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Indie, Rock |
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...
100
Uncut
This album really is just too good to be true. [Apr 2005, p.114]
100
E! Online
While their sound is decidedly of the moment (Bloc Party, the Killers, et al), their songs are undeniably catchy as all get-out.
80
The Guardian
They don't sound too new, but their shuddering pop melodies and knack for smiling through gritted teeth might just make the Bravery the nation's favourite new band.
80
Delusions of Adequacy
The Bravery treads the same well worn path as bands like The Smiths and The Cure but manages to avoid tripping on its roots by adding a unique personality.
80
Q Magazine
If The Killers hadn't got there first with Hot Fuss, The Bravery's debut would have been revolutionary. Instead it is merely a brilliant pop record. [Apr 2005, p.115]
80
Lost At Sea
They are not so much copycats as they are skilled apprentices.
80
Mojo
This is a swaggering, unashamedly fun pop record. [May 2005, p.94]
80
All Music Guide
The Bravery isn't sonically mind-blowing, but the new millennium new wave revival remains intriguing.
70
Trouser Press
By the end of this brief guilty pleasure, the verdict rings clear: The Killers may have made better singles, but The Bravery made the better album.
70
Urb
They definitely know their way around the early Duran catalog, not forgetting the requisite stops at New Order and the Psychedelic Furs. [Apr 2005, p.101]
70
New Musical Express
It's bold, brash, trashy fun that will tempt Killers fans to fall in lust all over again. [19 Mar 2005, p.57]
70
PopMatters
While the Bravery are certainly not in league with the Strokes, Interpol, or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, this record is a strong one with some unexpected surprises.
70
Blender
This is dramatic, radio-loving rock primed to outlive the current I Love The '80s infatuation. [Apr 2005, p.113]
67
Entertainment Weekly
There are countless other bands using electro blips to make us boogie and bang harder. [8 Apr 2005, p.65]
60
Rolling Stone
The Bravery do a jockier version of the New Wave competition, pumping the drums in straight-ahead tunes such as "An Honest Mistake" and "The Ring Song."
60
Dot Music
If you’ve heard one song by The Bravery you’ve pretty much heard them all. The keyboard settings may change, as do the guitar FX pedals, but there’s a formula at work here and how much you get out of this record depends entirely on how interesting you find that formula.
53
Pitchfork
Rock made on an assembly line-- predictable, economically efficient, and about as dynamic as a Model T.
50
Los Angeles Times
Once you get past the surface attractions, Sam Endicott's arch singing and rock-rebel posturing are forced, and his production is as stiff as the mechanical discoid rhythms. [24 Apr 2005]
40
Alternative Press
Where, say, Franz Ferdinand can fill dance floors with a jagged, arty sense of danger, the Bravery are more vanilla in their approach (read: They're Duran Duran). [May 2005, p.132]
40
Under The Radar
We're reaching critical mass for new wave nostalgia, but we might have made room for your debut if there was something we could dance to. [#10, p.109]
39
cokemachineglow
It’s music so frothy and unsubstantial that you could practically meditate to it: listen to it often enough, and it just kind of floats away, even if you’re blasting it at full volume.
33
Stylus Magazine
Completely forgettable.
30
The New York Times
[A] rather dreary pastiche.
30
Village Voice
Endicott, who jumps skin from Julian Casablancas to Robert Smith to the guy from the Killers in just three tracks, has less charisma than a mustard plug.
The average user rating for this album is 7.1 (out of 10) based on 93 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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