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Louden Up Now

EMAILPRINTby !!! [Chik Chik Chik]

!!! [Chik Chik Chik] reviews
75
8.7 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 32 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 19 votes
Read user comments
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Album Info

Label: Touch & Go / Warp

Release Date: 08 June 2004

Discs: 1 disc

Genre(s): Indie, Rock

Summary

This is the second full-length for the dance-oriented Sacramento/New York seven-piece (down from eight), who share several members with the band Out Hud.

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...

100

Drowned In Sound

One of the most assured, unashamedly danceable albums that we’ve heard for quite a while.

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90

All Music Guide

Louden Up Now is easily the best record to come out of the [new wave dance punk revival] movement; its ten tracks are filled with fervor, hooks, passion and power.

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90

The Onion (A.V. Club)

An album that nails both the balance and the imbalance promised by any true fusion of rock and dance music.

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90

Splendid

This is the smartest fun music (and the most fun smart music) I've heard this year.

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80

Magnet

Make no mistake: You will dance. [#64, p.80]

80

Junkmedia

!!! has put together an end-to-end burner here, full of songs that will move your ass and stick in your ear for weeks.

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80

Dot Music

Old loves Liquid Liquid, ESG and A Certain Ratio haven’t been abandoned and their percussionist still works overtime, but the spirits of Prince, Kraftwerk (both on the wryly self-referential "Dear Can"), Chic and even ABC (on the politicised "Shit Scheisse Merde Pt 1") make cameo appearances.

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80

Urb

Sound[s] like the most genuine "no wave" tribute album yet. [Jun 2004, p.83]

80

Neumu.net

A funkdafied smart-bomb that's one part Brooklyn, one part Madchester, guitar-meets-echo-chamber, a little Kompakt but still a little sprawling.

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80

Alternative Press

If bastard of ceremonies Nic Offer would shut his piehole, Louden Up Now! would improve 50 percent. [Aug 2004, p.106]

80

Under The Radar

What's so exhilarating about this record, despite all its precise playing, is the casual way in which it shifts rhythmically, never seeming to follow a specific course, yet never losing its way. [#7]

80

Q Magazine

Music that makes you 10 percent sleazier than you were--now where's that dancefloor? [Jul 2004, p.110]

80

Tiny Mix Tapes

The caveat is that this is primarily dance music, and doesn't make for a super-compelling listen on a full attention basis.

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80

Blender

Eighties punk-funk meets '60s idealism and reefer-toking? Make way for the hipster hippies. [#27, p.134]

76

Filter

Sounds like the house mix for a Marxist disco. [#11, p.92]

75

E! Online

Sounds like a funky offshoot of the Stone Roses, mining blissed-out acid grooves, hypnotic rhythms and the kind of distant, detached vocals that don't sound like vocals at all.

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75

Entertainment Weekly

Some of the cuts get lost in a stagnant loop. [25 Jun 2004, p.166]

70

Dusted Magazine

The only real downside to Louden Up Now is the surprising amount of filler surrounding the meaner cuts.

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70

Village Voice

Nimble as they are, !!! are definitely a little too certain of their own funkiness.

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70

Pitchfork

So the production is great, the songbook is varied, and the band is tighter and more ambitious than ever-- the only problem with Louden Up Now is the unfortunate paucity of ideas within the songs themselves.

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70

New Musical Express

For their righteous dance moves alone, these guys are for keeps. [5 Jun 2004, p.56]

70

The Wire

There probably isn't a track here you won't be hearing in some club, park or block party throughout the summer, so you might as well start now. [#245, p.51]

70

Planet

Resolutely bottom-heavy and abstract. [#7, p.73]

60

Playlouder

A decent album, then. But one containing an EP that would've had us going "!!!!!".

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60

Uncut

It's exuberant dorkiness, as well as fluidity of playing, that makes !!! stand out. [Jul 2004, p.106]

60

Stylus Magazine

The music is still missing one crucial element—hooks. There really aren’t any of which to speak, and no amount of production skill and instrumental finesse is able to mask that.

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60

Rolling Stone

Their dark disco punk is as close to a New York sound as anything these days.

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60

No Ripcord

They write some good tunes, and they have some appropriately strident abuse for lyrics. But there’s not enough for an album.

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58

Almost Cool

If you take away the 9 minutes of their already-released big single, you could probably squeeze a tight EP out of Louden Up Now, but as a full-length [it] starts with a bang and ends with sort of a whimper. Fun to filler in 53 minutes.

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58

Spin

Unfortunately, the elements that clicked so well on "Giuliani" prove an awkward fit on !!!'s sophomore full-length. [Jul 2004, p.111]

56

ShakingThrough.net

Now, this wouldn't seem so bad, or filler-friendly, if !!! offered an advancement on "Giuliani." Alas, no.

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50

PopMatters

While the album certainly has cuts worth hearing, it's just not a satisfying listen.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 19 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

ines c gave it a10:
if this is even possible, they're even better live.

Holly P gave it a10:
i fell in love with this band last night and drooled at his dancing <3 :D

Nicolas C gave it a9:
a great great one. really good dancing ice bass

karla t gave it a9:
definately on my top ten albums this year. There are no bad songs. Glad I came across it. Good band to see in concert too.

Em B gave it a9:
uplifting and funky and definitely cool, 'Hello? Is This Thing On?' is so well put together, the Bass weaving through the riffs. love it.

Alysin J gave it a9:
wicked fun.

gave it an8:
absolutely great!

Read more user comments >

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