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The Decline Of British Sea Power
EMAILPRINTby British Sea Power
Universal acclaim
Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 26 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Sanctuary / Rough Trade
Release Date: 09 September 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
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.
Also By This Artist: Do You Like Rock Music? Man Of Aran OST Open Season
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...
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]
Mojo
This is an album of stadium sized melodies and exquisite songwriting, allied with almost too many ideas. [Jun 2003, p.110]
Blender
British Sea Power's vision makes most independent rock seem callow and weak-minded. [Sep 2003, p. 119]
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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >Uncut
A riveting debut packed with ideas and invention. [Jul 2003, p.126]
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.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Unabashed whimsy merges seamlessly with melodious garage rock. [Jul 2003, p.100]
PopMatters
British Sea Power have the talent and vision to be a truly inspirational new guitar band.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
An intriguing debut. [Nov 2003, p.108]
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]
Magnet
As confusing as it is ultimately compelling. [#61, p.89]
The Guardian
British Sea Power's slightly camp, wholly menacing, startlingly audacious debut is unlike anything you'll hear this year.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
“British Sea Power’s Classic”? Not quite. Not yet. But we can see the high-tide mark.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >Junkmedia
The mish-mash of moods and modes leaves little from which to gather a theme.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
G gave it a10:
A truely astounding album.
ahmose gave it a10:
This a great album. Great lyrics, melodies. A classic.
W O gave it a 9:
This is such a great album. The only problem I had with it is I felt it began to lose momentum at about song 7; however, it picked up in a big way towards the end.
RANDY F gave it a 9:
Not just great songs. It's a great album. My favorite since Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
nick d gave it a 10:
See, people who say "the emporer has no clothes" should be shot for music fascism. Fantastic record, bombasic, pompous (14-minute long tracks and 41-second monk chanting, anyone?). It's not that arty, it's just great music. Now excuse me, I'm just off to murder the idiot who gave it 2.
[Anonymous] gave it a 10:
It's fantastic
Van der gave it a 10:
Fantástico. Cheio de idéias, imagens, sons e um geito de cantar que lembra Morrissey em seus melhores momentos.
