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...

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Some songs are intensely gripping, like the instrumental rave-up "Chemistry," which drives along like Mogwai never happened. Others are plain weird.

Read Full Review >

Billboard

Aggressive yet soulful, "War" doesn't just straddle the line between rock and electronica—it destroys it.

Read Full Review >

Los Angeles Times

The result is a stormy set of dark, synth-streaked psych-rock jams that carries a whiff of tomorrow while looking back to the stomping proto-metal of Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer.

Read Full Review >

Hot Press

If there’s a central problem with War Stories, it’s that at times it strays too close to rock orthodoxy and loses the offbeat stylistic flourishes that made Unkle such an exciting proposition to begin with.

Read Full Review >

Dot Music

So, once again UNKLE have produced another good rather than great album that sounds ahead of the curve.

Read Full Review >

Sputnikmusic

War Stories is another win for Lavelle.

Read Full Review >

All Music Guide

Amid the many features and incredible dynamism that mark every UNKLE full-length, there are no songs to grab onto and little of real essence.

Read Full Review >

Magnet

Unfortunately, on the rest of War Stories, Lavelle plays it safe by sticking close to poppy electro-dance tunes.

Read Full Review >

musicOMH.com

There are enough excellent moments on War Stories to judge it a success, but there's another sense of missed opportunity hanging over the album.

Read Full Review >

The Guardian

While the results aren't entirely successful, "Twilight," especially, by Massive Attack's 3D, proves that Lavelle can reimagine 'soul' like no one else.

Read Full Review >

Filter

The overall atmosphere is grey, too blah and insular to be colorful.

Read Full Review >

Spin

War Stories feels more like a random compilation than a fresh exploration. [Aug 2007, p. 110]

PopMatters

The album as a whole is something of a grab-bag. One track can be great, the next stunningly mediocre.

Read Full Review >

Under The Radar

A whole album featuring Astbury or Clark would be spectacular, but the remainder of War Stories sounds like paint-by-numbers remixes. [Summer 2007, p.85]

New Musical Express

It's solid enough, but given the imagination they once possessed, it sounds like UNKLE are trying too hard.

Read Full Review >

Pitchfork

War Stories is the most unadventurous, most typically rock UNKLE release to date.

Read Full Review >

Lost At Sea

It falls flat, offering little hope for the listener; after a few disappointing rounds of thinking that the next track simply HAS to be solid, the album exits as if it were never really there. Without a doubt, War Stories is the weakest and most disappointing UNKLE release to date.

Read Full Review >

cokemachineglow

Every track on this record grows into some such perfectly orchestrated climax, surging as a function of the production alone and with nary a hook or clever turn of phrase or structural complication in sight.

Read Full Review >

Blender

A turgid modern, progressive rock with superficial hip-hop sheen. [August 2007, p.119]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 29 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Patrick H. gave it a9:
So good it hurts. Great workout music. And you should hear them perform it live.

Jimmy H. gave it an8:
There really aren't too many weak points on this album, i have no clue why it's getting the critical mauling that it is. Unlike Never, Never, Land, these tracks are actually bearable to some extent, which was the main weakness with UNKLE's second album. The highlight of this album is either Josh Homme's Restless or Persons And Machinery from Autolux, both are some of my favourite songs of 2007. I definitely recommend this album.

N S gave it a9:
This was the first cd I'd bought in some time. And it was initially dissapointing when I listened to it. I don't know what I was expecting, but I had hoped for something along the lines of "Edit Music for a Film". It's nothing like that, and I was ambivalent about it. Then, over time, the songs began to creep into my head when I was driving or sitting at home rewiring electronics, and other times. I'd suddenly hear a melody in my head and wonder what it was, finally realizing that UNKLE was doing some awesome subliminal stuff. This album plays on emotion and adrenaline, and after 2 months, it's become my favourite cd. It's phenomenal.

Margie R gave it a10:
Amazing! Just saw them @ the Echoplex in L.A , they were worth the wait, blending dance, electronica, Rock was their best move yet. Unkle rocks my world.

John B. gave it a10:
One word, amazing.

Ad P. gave it a9:
I've read a lot of reviews about this album that give it a warm to tepid rating complaining about Lavelle's departure from synth to being to close to commercial rock. Um, thats the point! His experimenting with this genre works for me, the fact that he has lower ratings means his in front of the curve, as one critic put it. Notice the subtle deep links in the lyrics to the title. Some critics seem to be a bit closed minded, but what do you expect!. Also notice the contrast between the critics and the users rating, speaks for itself.

Jon V. gave it a10:
Somehow this album found its way into my cd player and it just doesn't seem to come out. Strange. Oh wait, maybe it's because I didn't know Unkle beforehand and wasn't surprised by their Rock influences. I just love this Album. Especially the songs with the Clayhill singer, just awesome.

Music

Upcoming &Recent Releases

War Stories

Album Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases