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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah


8.5

based on 28 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 331 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Some Loud Thunder

Combine a singer who sounds more than a little like David Byrne, some solid indie-rock tunes, blurbs on all the right blogs, and a glowing review from Pitchfork and it all adds up to quite a buzz for this Brooklyn band's debut disc. Now all they need is a record deal.

LABEL:	[self-released]
RELEASE DATE:	28 June 2005
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock

NOTES: U.S. release date is approximate. The album was released in the UK in January 2006.

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

Billboard

CYHSY is at the best point in the lifecycle of a band: un-styled, simply produced and deserving of the hype for what is -- quite possibly -- a nearly perfect album.

Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

What sticks out right off is a drive that can't be taught or approximated.

Prefix Magazine

Total immersion in the passion of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah reveals the true power of music as a means of artistic expression.

Delusions of Adequacy

When they began their self-titled debut, they were uncertain kids from Brooklyn making a record from all the music they had ever known. They’re leaving veterans of the game with obvious talent and colossal potential.

No Ripcord

I can tell that you are dubious, but I can assure you, gentle listener – these are the goods.

Pitchfork

The record is consistently, remarkably strong.

Tiny Mix Tapes

An album which will force even the most hardened listeners to throw in the towel.

Lost At Sea

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah gets my pick for summertime album of the year.

Dot Music

This is a very, very good record.

Trouser Press

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is worthy of the attention, as it reveals a band of great ability and confidence brimming with ideas.

cokemachineglow

CYHSY’s songs ring of The Bends-era songwriting, but loungier, more playful, more comfortable in their own skin.

E! Online

A set of really great songs.

Stylus Magazine

If there are complaints to lobby against this remarkable debut, they lie mostly in its sound-quality. Namely, it sounds like what it was: self-recorded and self-released.

Under The Radar

[An] exceptional debut. [#11, p.109]

Drawer B

By turns goofy, intellectual, and non-sequitur lyrics are indecipherable without the lyric sheet, but the strangely alluring charm of songs like "The Skin of My Country Yellow Teeth" will have you clamoring for more.

Blender

A giddy funhouse of a record. [Oct 2005, p.136]

Q Magazine

An unpolished gem. [Feb 2006, p.104]

Mojo

Ounsworth's slurred vocals are a dealbreaker. [Feb 2006, p.92]

musicOMH.com

For a debut album, this is remarkable stuff and hints at even better things to come.

Playlouder

So once you get behind the relatively unobstructive and emotive voice, what you have is the sound of NYC circa '77 pushed through the ramshackle indie filter.

Almost Cool

[Ounsworth's] weird quirks do grow on you, especially because the music backing him is so solid most of the time.

ShakingThrough.net

A whatever-sticks debut with meritorious replay value.

PopMatters

While all of this is promising, and illustrates that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah likely has a very bright career ahead of them, they're only just getting started.

Uncut

It's the vocals that will seal this deal for you--or break it. [Feb 2006, p.79]

All Music Guide

Poppy, '80s-tinged, and hooky as hell, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's debut certainly makes for pleasant listening.

New Musical Express

A veritable swoon of a record. [7 Jan 2006, p.28]

The Guardian

Sadly, [Ounsworth's] lyrics are a letdown.... When the tunes are this good, it certainly feels like a wasted opportunity.

Drowned In Sound

All the essential elements of greatness are here in some small form or other, but Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s time is not now.

The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 331 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

peter w gave it a3:
great music but cursed by the familiar indie music problem - an appauling singer. i dont usually mind if soemone cant sing but this guy seems to want to rub your nose in it until you tear to CD in half. if they could get a singer less influenced by, i dunno, that pretentious twat from pere ubu, they could be on a winner. as it stands id give it 8 for d music and zero for d vocals.

Mike gave it a10:
I wonder how many of these downvoters are guys with their own bands, upset that they didn't suddenly explode with popularity like CYHSH did. Anyways, the album: pretty good. The whole band is pretty involved. The vocals are guaranteed to turn off a lot of people, and the lyrics are unpredictable, but everything about them really does funnel into their name. Seriously, try clapping and stomping along to track 1. They're a fun band, and that's what makes them so great.

Jeff gave it a9:
You get used the initially abrasive vocals, and the melodies hook you. It is a very good cd.

annie x gave it a9:
becomes familiar right away and stays a favorite due to fresh fun melodies and overall writing. one of my favorites of the year!

scafy gave it a10:
very good album, very good band, very good vocal and music! yeah

sparky bear gave it a10:
Yay!

Fab M gave it a10:
Certainly the best album in the last 15 years. Nothing is like CYHSY, for sure. And the voice...? Well, Lou Reed reminds a asthma-like voice, but is still one of the best rockers ever ;)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah