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Siberia
EMAILPRINTby Echo & The Bunnymen
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 23 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Cooking Vinyl
Release Date: 20 September 2005
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Alternative, Rock
Summary
The Ian McCulloch-led band are re-teamed with producer Hugh Jones (1981's 'Heaven Up Here') on this next step of their reunion.
Also By This Artist: Flowers
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...
Filter
Like an aesthetic and visceral run through the hhistory of these most miraculous of musical visionaries. [#17, p.102]
All Music Guide
Call it an age thing, but Siberia makes total sense for where Echo and the Bunnymen stands 20 years on as a band.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
Siberia finds Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant reclaiming their original spirit.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
This is not a ‘return to form’—how could it ever be? A band of this age have some many peaks and troughs in form as to render that kind of phraseology practically meaningless. Just as Porcupine should, just as Ocean Rain should, Siberia too should be taken in isolation.
Read Full Review >cokemachineglow
What keeps Siberia from being more of a snoozer is the fact that there’s more Will Sargeant guitar to be found here than on any other recent Echo outings, and Heaven Up Here producer Hugh Jones returns to give the band what’s arguably their fullest production values since 1984’s Ocean Rain.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
A rich seam of quality courses through the 11 tracks. [Oct 2005, p.116]
Under The Radar
[Their] best effort since thier 1987 self-titled work. [#11, p.110]
PopMatters
The Bunnymen are just what they should be in 2005: a band comfortable with their own glorious legacy.
Read Full Review >Mojo
Has much to recommend it. [Oct 2005, p.101]
Tiny Mix Tapes
Even if it is a bit less adventurous, many of the tunes are right up there with anything the band has done.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle
Sergeant blows glittering guitar lines like glass, while McCulloch overflows the vase with black roses.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
If nothing else, Siberia proves McCulloch and Sergeant still have their songwriting craft in good working order, but it's hard to recommend an album on strength of craft alone-- it has to have a little verve, and unfortunately it's lacking.
Read Full Review >Paste Magazine
There's something disconcerting about Siberia's familiarity. [Dec 2005, p.111]
Uncut
McCulloch's misplaced his mystique, and resembles a pub singer with an over-extended tab, while Sergeant's guitar lines settle lazily at long-drawn borders. [Oct 2005, p.94]
New Musical Express
There's now something a bit crumbly, a bit rattly about E&TB. [17 Sep 2005, p.58]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 23 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Lynn gave it an8:
I had very low expectations for this album, seeing as most "come backs" ultimately fail. This album is a glorious exception! Instead of singing about losing their baby, and all the things young people sing about, they're singing mature songs that are Echo 20 years on, and authentic. I can't stop listening to this album or singing it in my head, there are so many catchy and honest tunes. If you're an Echo fan rush out and get this, and if you're just someone who appreciates mature, complex glorious music, you can't go wrong!
Chris T gave it a10:
Probably to most mature and well produced album ever created by E&TB. Simply LOVE this album, and their live performance in Austin last night was brilliant.
linds gave it a10:
id give this album a 20 if i could
Paul D gave it a9:
Believe - the best thing they've done since Ocean Rain. Parthenon Drive, Scissors in the Sand and In the Margins are the best tracks, but there's not a bad song on here.
John S gave it a10:
superb. still a class act both live and on record
Jorin R gave it an8:
In their third proper album since they stopped calling themselves Electrafixion, Echo and the Bunnymen (aka Ian MacCulloch and Will Seargent) return after 4 years with Siberia. After having suffered through Mac's very boring Sideling, I was more then happy to download this and press play. Flowers was better then anything Electrafixion tried to accomplish (I have yet to hear Evergreen), and I am glad to say that Siberia is solid and reminiscent of early Echo and the Bunnymen. The album opens with "Stormy Weather", which is a nicely crafted song reminiscent of "Bring on the Dancing Horses" but lacking the strong chorus. "All Because of You Days" and the closer, "What if We Are", channels U2. While Echo and the Bunnymen and U2 are contemporaries, this song could easily translate as a song off All the Love You Leave Behind. "Parthenon Drive" and "Of A Life", are no "Angels and Devils" or "The Cutter" but it comes surprisingly close and for that you have to be ecstatic. Seargent's guitar work as usual essential to Echo and the Bunnymen sound. Whether he is strumming an acoustic or playing rhythm guitar, he gives these songs life and they work well with Mac's voice which is less dramatic then it used to be yet slightly more effective. This is not just fro die hard Echo and the Bunnymen fans. Though I would be hard pressed to figure out a way to promote the band over Franz Ferdinand or Death Cab for Cutie. Still check it out….
Brent T gave it an8:
Though some may say they're sounding too much like Coldplay, you have to remember who came first between the two. Echo and The Bunnymen, though on a slower note, retain their classic sound that keeps them distinguished from others. As for McCulloch's voice, it's contribution to their sound should never be forgotten... even on their newest album.
