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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Kicking The National Habit
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 14 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Sunday Best / Recall
Release Date: 14 March 2006
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
The London duo of Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence 'La' Rudd make their debut with this '80s-influenced album (reminiscent of everyone from New Order to the Police).
Also By This Artist: A Drink & A Quick Decision
Also On The Web: GN @ Sunday Best
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...
Entertainment Weekly
This is reggae-inflected rock filtered through Gorillaz-style genre restlessness. [31 Mar 2006, p.65]
Billboard
Believe the hype: The 10-track set is a real treat, rewarding repeated listens with fun, groove-driven tunes.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Touches of ska... and ethereal dream-rock... betray a penchant for late-'70s guitar experimentation, alchemised here by a brilliant pop sheen. [Jul 2004, p.101]
Amazon.com
Grand National's main skill lies in their ability to twin their fine songs to tight electronic productions, striking the perfect midpoint between live organics and cool digital sequencing.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
One of the year's most inventive debuts. [Jul 2004, p.114]
Mojo
A stripped-back stroll through the summer of the '80s. [Jun 2004, p.106]
The Guardian
The first seven tracks are nearly flawless, and the occasional wobble thereafter doesn't mar one of the year's most scintillating debuts.
Read Full Review >Urb
This is AM pop perfection that doesn't need a stamp of retro-cool to be timeless. [Mar 2005, p.111]
Blender
There's a lot of passion and red corpuscles surging just outside the music's clean, primary-colored lines. [Apr 2006, p.112]
All Music Guide
Although the uniformly sweet pop songs on Kicking the National Habit sound influenced by the likes of the Police, Men at Work, Duran Duran, and the rest of the more commercial side of the early MTV era, the arrangements are more electronic in nature.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
There’s one problem, and it’s not insignificant: with the best three songs at positions 1-2-3, there’s only one place to go.
Read Full Review >Playlouder
Almost everything about 'Kicking The National Habit' is righteously unfashionable.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
It makes for a cool sound that might be too inoffensive at times but which grabs all the right places most of the time.
Read Full Review >Prefix Magazine
Tracks such as "Boner" and "Peanut Dreams," stripped of any excitement, are nothing more than highly polished and easily forgettable songs to ignore at a swanky upstairs club.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.3 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Tom D gave it a9:
One of those albums you can just keep on listening too.
DC C gave it a10:
Very solid. Pop without the pop guilt. Recommended.
La La gave it a10:
Simply Astouding. If you like samrt pop, look no further.
matt a gave it a9:
This is really solid stuff. Sounds like a poppier LCD Soundsystem. Very enjoyable and definitely one of the first essential albums of the year.
louelo44 gave it a10:
I love it
tom w gave it a9:
It is simply amazing that the guys did not conquer the world on the back of this release. maybe the songs are a little too accessible and enjoyable for people to appreciate the considerable invovation and craft evidenced here. For whatever reason, let the world's loss be your gain. One of the debuts of the decade so far.
Ben H gave it a9:
The sound is a perfect blend of synths and guitar that is pleasing to the ear and addictive. America never caught on, but this album is enjoyable to everyone i know who hears it.
