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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Fire
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 17 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Beggars Banquet / XL
Release Date: 20 May 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
Featuring guitarists named Rock and Roll Indian and Surge Joebot, the latest indie-rock sensation to come out of Detroit combines punk, new-wave and disco on this debut full-length. Included here is a new version of their hit single "Danger! High Voltage" with the White Stripes' Jack White on backing vocals.
Also By This Artist: Flashy Kill Senor Smoke Switzerland
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...
Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
They exist only to rock your world. If you don't let them, you're the stupid one.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
To a certain extent, Fire sounds like a joke, but a pointed one that approaches rock less as a conceit than as a directive, something to drag into its cultural surroundings rather than a trope to fall back on.
Read Full Review >Outburn
The Electric Six have a knack for mixing a dash of Saturday Night Fever with a whole lot of MC5 and just a smidgen of Jack Black. [#23, p.87]
Mojo
The result is ZZ Top's Eliminator meets The Best of Chic. [Jun 2003, p.112]
Urb
It's a raucous rave-up of arena rock riffs over funky disco beats, the kind of freaky dance-rock jams that belong on the jukebox in every gay biker bar in America. [Jul 2003, p.91]
Amazon.com
Electric Six is the most exciting band to come tumbling out of Detroit since Kiss.
Read Full Review >Village Voice
This is the funniest hard-rock album I've ever heard; also, the hardest-rocking funny album I've ever heard, since if you take away the jokes you've still got the power of the music.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Electric Six's m.o. of inflating rock clichés to grotesque proportions, adding a dash of tongue-in-cheek pomposity, and then laughing at the results can generate more than just a great single. Granted, that single is still the reason to own Fire, but fans of that song probably won't feel burned by the rest of the album.
Read Full Review >Blender
Two things save Electric Six from becoming the alt-rock Weird Al: Their jokes hit home and their music is convincingly ferocious. [#17, p.134]
Playlouder
If you're bored of 'Danger! High Voltage' like us, there's plenty to plunder, though ultimately you'll be filing this album away in your "don't play anymore" library after Echobelly and before Electric Soft Parade.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
Fire’s not something we’ll remember for long, but it is a surprisingly good album, with highlights that simply need to be heard.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
It's... strangely coy, preferring to camp it up than give in to full-on indecency. Which isn't to say it doesn't have its moments. [Jul 2003, p.101]
The Guardian
At its best, Fire proves they could easily escape the novelty tag. At its worst, it seems as if they don't particularly want to.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
A guilty pleasure. [#5, p.108]
PopMatters
First, the good news: They're this year's Andrew W.K. The bad news: They're this year's Andrew W.K.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
Had they imploded in some bizarre gardening accident following the release of 'Danger! High Voltage' all would be forgiven. That single still sounds classic and retains the power to get Aunt Peggy off her seat at the wedding reception..... However, the rest appears to be have been cobbled together in a matter of hours.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
As good as "Danger! High Voltage" is, the rest of this album is simply not worth it.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Repeated plays reveal little charm and less real humour. [Aug 2003, p.97]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Michael C gave it a10:
Any critic that gave this less than 80, is deaf. Also a liar. This album changed mt life. Buy it or regret it forever
Ben K gave it a10:
This is as well crafted a debut as Television's Marquee Moon or Talking Head's '77.
Luke gave it a9:
Classic 80's rock with the sexiness of disco and fastfood on it's bibliography: I love it.
Em W gave it a10:
Proof that critics are a pile of complete wank. What a bunch of tossers for slating this truly brilliant album, i play it all the time. . . Get your ass on the floor & start throwing some shapes already! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! BUY IT NOW! ! !
Byronius Punk gave it a 9:
More proof critics suck...if you don't want to get up and shake yo' ass, or knock something over, or dry hump the person next to you (or at least fantasize about doing so), you've got no feelings. NONE. "Dance Commander" and "Getting into the Jam" are hot, hot, hot tracks. "Danger! Danger! High Voltage" may be the reason you know the band, but there are several other solid tracks on here worth the $9.99 it costs to pick up this CD at Tower.
rob a gave it an 8:
This is cool, everyone should stop over-analysing it and just enjoy it!
Piranha G. gave it a 10:
Very funny album!
