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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Chain Gang Of Love
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 9 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Sony
Release Date: 02 September 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Summary
Denmark's Raveonettes--now including two new members in addition to founders Sune Rose Wagner, Sharin Foo and their drum machine--make their major-label debut with this 13-track effort produced by Richard Gottehrer (Blondie). As on their debut EP, all songs are restricted to a single key (here, b-flat major) and must be shorter than 3 minutes.
Also By This Artist: Lust Lust Lust Pretty In Black Whip It On
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
[The Ravenonettes] help to remind us what makes harmless romantic music like Bobby Fuller and the Ronettes so perfectly dark. [#6, p.88]
Launch.com
This is 33 minutes of pure pop bliss; there isn't a bad song or a missed opportunity anywhere here.
Read Full Review >E! Online
Their whisper-thin, doo-wop harmonies, fuzzy guitars and barely-there percussion make the Strokes seem like Led Zeppelin. But that's not a bad thing.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
The beauty is in the album's concision and seamlessness. [5 Sep 2003, p.74]
Blender
Chain Gang of Love promises racy thrills--and delivers them. [Sep 2003, p.128]
ShakingThrough.net
Even at a svelte 33 minutes, Chain Gang wears into a well-defined groove pretty quickly, and its breathy affectations too often congeal into pastiche, note-perfect homages lacking in depth.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
The Chain Gang of Love is far more glossy and layered in melodies compared to Whip It On's gray-colored coolness.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
A miasma of retro cool. [Sep 2003, p.116]
Village Voice
While a certain sameness sets in after minute 30, glittering amid the downtuning are perfect bazooka pop songs, both bubblegum and firepower.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Cinematic, loaded and decadent. [Sep 2003, p.109]
Magnet
A full-length valentine to the Jesus and Mary Chain. [#60, p.110]
PopMatters
That Jesus and Mary Chain vibe is still there, but this time around, the focus is almost exclusively on just how catchy Wagner and Foo can make each song, and the result is surprisingly effective.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
The Raveonettes have something the Mary Chain lost around the time of 'Automatic': an understanding of how to make a tight three minute pop song feel exhilarating.
Read Full Review >Junkmedia
Has more to do with the Shangri Las' "Leader of the Pack", '60s sock hop and the Jesus Mary Chain than it does with Television, downtown Manhattan and pre-treated denim.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
Ultimately, Chain Gang suffers from a lack of depth, but it's not so painfully hollow that listening isn't kinda fun.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
As with Whip It On, Chain Gang's greatest virtue is that it's short enough not to wear out its welcome.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
Like a leather whip encased in a spun sugar cage, it is simultaneously deeply sexy yet innocent. And it’s that push-pull tension that keeps this album yanked together tighter than a PVC miniskirt.
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
A solid, listenable album. [#5, p.108]
Playlouder
Even for a band that crowbar "love" into as many titles as they can, you've got to admire their sauce, and, impressively, they're cramming really difficult music into affable scuzz-pop coatings.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
Two-thirds of the way through, the general banality becomes immensely wearisome: even though some songs barely reach the 90-second mark, there still seems to be an awful lot of them.
Read Full Review >Uncut
While Chain Gang Of Love only lasts 33 minutes, it still outstays its welcome. [Sep 2003, p.100]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Julia gave it a7:
While this album may drag on, it still has the sparkle of originality glossing over its banal charm. This is its saving grace. Oh, and saying things like "Let's make out and go out and meet some strangers" is always a hot addition to any set of lyrics.
Scott M gave it a9:
Original. Sexy as hell. Retro. Electrifyingly alive!
jeff m gave it a 10:
i'm hopelessly in love with these their romanticism. it is infectious, since these guys are just so coool. strong backbeats and song structures make me remember the ronettes et al, even if i'm not old enough to do so. this is truly great pop-rock and the fuzz is simply aesthetic ecstasy. extremely enjoyable.
Steven L gave it a 10:
this is ana amazing cd and they deserve so much more attention than they are getting
Giulio gave it a 10:
If you miss the early Jesus And Mary Chain sound you will adore this album!
Tristram C gave it a 6:
I like the songs they have on CGOL but the whole, Phil Spector-WallofSound thing they tried is too much. If it was the point to overproduce the record to sound like Spector, it wasn't a good point. The songs are though and 'Great Love Sound' has to be among the best singles of the year.
Jason A gave it a 9:
Personally, I think that this album is great. Simple, perfect, pop melodies with a bit of distrotion thrown in to mix it up a bit. The Raveonettes definitely remind me of The Jesus And Mary Chain at their best. Think JAMC meets The Ronnettes
