|
New & Current Releases
Archives: A-Z Index
Advanced Search
Upcoming Release Calendar
All-Time High (And Low) Scores
Best Of 2008
Best Of 2007
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
Best Of 2004
Best Of 2003
Best Of 2002
Best Of 2001
Best Of 2000
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Music In Our Forums
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
|
The Decline Of British Sea Power
by British Sea Power
Oft-compared to Joy Division, this unique British four-piece sports single-word names (Hamilton, Noble, Yan, and Wood), dons military apparel for their live shows, and tackles dark, weighty themes in their lyrics (Czech history, anyone)? 'The Decline' marks their full-length debut, drawing critical praise on both sides of the Atlantic.
| LABEL: |
Sanctuary / Rough Trade |
| RELEASE DATE: |
09 September 2003 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Indie, Rock |
NOTES: Original UK release 2 June 2003 on Rough Trade. The U.S. release contains 2 additional tracks.
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
Austin Chronicle
An enchanting, rhapsodic album of uncommon depth.
100
Entertainment Weekly
It's not all darkness: The Brighton, England-based quintet offers enough straight-ahead rockers to keep the CD from turning into dirge overkill. [Oct 2003, p.95]
90
Mojo
This is an album of stadium sized melodies and exquisite songwriting, allied with almost too many ideas. [Jun 2003, p.110]
90
Blender
British Sea Power's vision makes most independent rock seem callow and weak-minded. [Sep 2003, p. 119]
90
No Ripcord
We hear a lot of different sounds, but are never left in any doubt that they flow together with such fire and skill that you feel they could knock out a freeform jazz number and still sound like the same band.
90
Delusions of Adequacy
Given the potency of their debut, British Sea Power’s Decline can safely be interpreted as a marvelous exercise in self-deprecation.
90
All Music Guide
With an unlikely rock blend of classicism and narrative, British Sea Power has composed a brilliant album that's nearly perfect. It's not exactly pop, but it might as well be.
90
Uncut
A riveting debut packed with ideas and invention. [Jul 2003, p.126]
80
Playlouder
Basically, it's the album they'd always promised us they'd make; consider 'The Decline...' British Sea Power's entrance pass to the ranks of the truly mighty.
80
Q Magazine
Unabashed whimsy merges seamlessly with melodious garage rock. [Jul 2003, p.100]
80
PopMatters
British Sea Power have the talent and vision to be a truly inspirational new guitar band.
80
Alternative Press
An intriguing debut. [Nov 2003, p.108]
80
Under The Radar
BSP are in a league of their own -- a young band with an arsenal of ideas, the brains to pull them off and the guts to let them loose into the world. [#5, p.98]
80
Magnet
As confusing as it is ultimately compelling. [#61, p.89]
80
The Guardian
British Sea Power's slightly camp, wholly menacing, startlingly audacious debut is unlike anything you'll hear this year.
80
New Musical Express
BSP are an odd bunch: out of place, out of time, and quite possibly out of their minds. But given time to explore the depths of this record, they're also often out of this world.
77
Pitchfork
BSP's performance art antics and throwback posturing come with a distinct set of innovations and surprises, and The Decline of British Sea Power proves that BSP have the song-power to back up their bullshit.
76
Stylus Magazine
“British Sea Power’s Classic”? Not quite. Not yet. But we can see the high-tide mark.
70
Neumu.net
While some of their songs deliver nothing more than noisy twaddle, British Sea Power are a formidable band when they choose to simply stop making sense.
70
Splendid
The Decline of British Sea Power is a record you'll probably tell your friends about, but it won't make you into a fervent, foamy-mouthed convert -- at least, not unless you're in a suitably receptive mood and play the record at its optimum volume...which, in case you wondered, means as loud as possible.
66
ShakingThrough.net
The diverse influences are still percolating, and any sense of cohesive absorption of earlier rock outfits' methods and styles never quite congeal into original expression.
50
Junkmedia
The mish-mash of moods and modes leaves little from which to gather a theme.
The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Read more user comments...
Discuss this album in our forums |
|
