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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

One Time Bells
by French Kicks


7.2

based on 11 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 4 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

This is the debut full-length release for the New York art-rock four-piece, following a string of EPs.

LABEL:	Star Time
RELEASE DATE:	07 May 2002
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock

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...

All Music Guide

While the appealing rawness of their early material is occasionally missed here, the strides forward that the group makes on this album more than make up for it.

Nude As The News

A subtle pop album that needs multiple listens and draws upon 1970s soul harmonies as much as it does Lou Reed’s repetitious rhythm guitar.

Magnet

A rewarding, cohesive and climactic experience. [#54, p.88]

Alternative Press

It may take a few spins to fully appreciate French Kicks' nuances, but those who give them time will be greatly rewarded. [Jul 2002, p.81]

Mojo

Listen closely and you'll probably detect the likes of Wire, XTC and New Order but like contemporaries Hot Hot Heat and Ted Leo's Pharmacists, French Kicks are rocking their own joyfully addictive sound. [Jun 2003, p.101]

CDNow

It's only on "Close to Modern," a slinky, soul-infused number, that the French Kicks truly distance themselves from their downtown N.Y.C. contemporaries.

Pitchfork

While better than some of their previous releases, One Time Bells still isn't a mind-blowing album.

Blender

The band's smart-boy quirks make repeated listens progressively more enjoyable. [Jun/Jul 2002, p.106]

Trouser Press

To their vast credit, even if the songs resemble a greatest hits package of indie rock, each guitar break, each bridge comes alive with experimental toughness.

Q Magazine

That's not to say these 11 tracks lack merit, just impact, such highly-strung, right-angled songs as Right In Time frequently becoming bogged down in experimentation. [Jun 2003, p.96]

Rolling Stone

The album's baffling mono feel weakens the French Kicks' already anemic sound.

The average user rating for this album is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Wayne J gave it a9:
fantastic album. very few poor songs. it's a little boring in the same sense that turn on the bright lights by interpol is a little boring. also, this album sounds really different from most of what i hear nowadays.

Davis W gave it a7:
Has a handful of great songs but doesn't come across as a solid album. Worth buying still, in my opinion.

kait o gave it a 10:
i think paul o meant to review his own band.

Paul O. gave it a 3:
Just one more of those NYC bands taking advantage of the Strokes' "neo-garage" success. Enjoy it while it lasts boys.

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One Time Bells by French Kicks

One Time Bells
by French Kicks