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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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News And Tributes
by The Futureheads
Ben Hillier produced the English band's sophomore set, which is a bit more varied in sound than their debut.
| LABEL: |
Vagrant / 679 |
| RELEASE DATE: |
13 June 2006 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Indie, Rock |
NOTES: Some versions come with the "Area" EP as a bonus.
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...
91
The Onion (A.V. Club)
A happily unpredictable record.
80
Alternative Press
What really makes News And Tributes impressive, despite lacking the immediacy of its predecessor, is that it captures the Futureheads comfortable in their own skin. [Aug 2006, p.218]
80
All Music Guide
News and Tributes is a far cry from the all-out rush of fun of their debut. Ultimately, though, it's a stronger set of songs.
80
musicOMH.com
Here, they manage to do their maturing without losing the sheer likability which saved the debut from completely drowning in a sea of ideas.
80
New Musical Express
'News And Tributes' is not just better than their first album, it's a fabulous record from a band with an exciting forward catalogue ahead of them.
80
Observer Music Monthly
Inspirational stuff.
80
Uncut
Like mid-'80s Scritti Politti, News And Tributes is pop music made by young men loath to sell their intelligence down the river. [Jun 2006, p.114]
80
Prefix Magazine
With News & Tributes, the band has matured to where the songs are initially gratifying but also grant further rewards with subsequent scrutiny.
80
Slant Magazine
If there's nothing quite as instantly gratifying as was The Futureheads' "Hounds Of Love," the whole of News And Tributes still stands as a more accomplished album, muscular without being overpowering and stylish without being vacuous.
80
Village Voice
Their latest one-ups the competition with punk that's theatrical and unrefined, melodic but treacle-free.
78
cokemachineglow
News and Tributes does lack the visceral immediacy of its predecessor, and is a significant if subtle departure for the band, so it would be hard for anyone who fell in love with their debut to embrace it immediately. But, given time, the record gets under your skin in slow and somewhat surprising ways, eventually coming off sounding like a very good transitional album by a group with a whole lot more staying power than most would have credited them with two years ago.
77
Pitchfork
While less exuberant and love-me-or-else desperate than the debut, News and Tributes is energizing in its own right, full of asymmetrical hooks and surprise detours.
75
Entertainment Weekly
Their trademark vigor is often missing. [16 Jun 2006, p.75]
75
Los Angeles Times
An advance in both writing and sound from its promising 2004 debut. [4 Jun 2006]
70
Drowned In Sound
The drawback of News and Tributes more relaxed pace, is that the underdeveloped side of their work is more exposed.
70
Amazon.com
Get past the more pedestrian fare like "Yes/No" and "Return of the Berserker," and the full scope of the Futureheads' ambition reveals itself, particularly in the poppiest track, "Skip To The End."
70
Dot Music
So carefully paced is this record, weighed and measured for the correct balance of what's put in and what's taken away, that it never offers emotional triggers which bypass cerebral process.
70
Playlouder
Too often, though, as on the lacklustre title track 'Favours For Favours' or 'Thursday', it has to be said that the new beast just isn't as feisty as the one-trick pony of old.
70
PopMatters
This time around, the harmonies are less striking, but add a fullness to the group’s sound.
70
Billboard
The album's best moments come on XTC-flavored new wave tracks like "Skip to the End" and "Favours for Favours," where they ease up on the accelerator and let the songs breathe.
70
ShakingThrough.net
Promising but safe.
70
Rolling Stone
On News and Tributes, the Futureheads make punk that's packed with ideas and downright radiant.
67
Stylus Magazine
News and Tributes is a solid album, and its high points are worth listening to over and over. Unfortunately, some of the weaker tracks were given primetime slots.
60
Tiny Mix Tapes
News and Tributes is relatively smooth sailing from note one; very consistent and effectively less immediate.
60
Urb
More Libertines than Franz Ferdinand, the Futureheads deftly move away from being pigeonholed and reward listeners with a complex album of pop gems. [Jun 2006, p.111]
60
The Guardian
Only the poppy Skip to the End and the old-fashioned romance of Favours for Favours have the words to match the music's searching spirit, but this is still a brave and interesting record.
60
Q Magazine
Feel[s] like an album to be admired rather than enjoyed. [Jun 2006, p.115]
60
Under The Radar
It's difficult not to be a bit disappointed with the slight change in direction. Still, the songs remain angular and tight and grow on you once you get past the tempo changes. [#14]
60
Paste Magazine
The band is now displaying an elevated gift for arrangement. [Aug 2006, p.87]
50
Blender
They've grown noticeably more centered and serious-minded--and maturity was the last thing that needed to happen to them. [Jul 2006, p.99]
40
Spin
They've ditched velocity but neglected to replace it with anything worthwhile. [Jul 2006, p.88]
40
Mojo
A pretty disappointing work of rock ordinaire. [Jun 2006, p.112]
20
Dusted Magazine
What a disappointment.
The average user rating for this album is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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