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Baby 81 Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 59 Ratings

  • Summary: After sitting out an album, drummer Nick Jago rejoins his BRMC bandmates, who return with a harder-edged recording than their 2005 acoustic departure 'Howl.'

Top Track

Berlin
Have a little love, as were fighting with each other aint no use in crying like the others were fools in need, fools to believe, there are fools in... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 29
  2. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Revolutionary? Not really. But another strong turn.
  2. Spin
    80
    [BRMC] have never sounded more self-assured. [May 2007, p.84]
  3. Urb
    80
    Still clenching its beloved Americana, BRMC spits a familiar noise that has transformed from a mountain of stifling volume into a dense layering of sophisticated references. [May 2007, p.93]
  4. Magnet
    70
    Baby 81 finds BRMC back in control of the street corner, cigarette squints and rock'n'roll swagger intact. [Summer 2007, p.90]
  5. "Baby 81" isn't an all-out fuzz free-for-all, though, and the California trio retains some of the gentler ideas it explored last time out.
  6. In the context of their seemingly blinkered attempts at finding some source of inspiration they've produced an entertainingly atmospheric, melodic record to bracing and accessible effect.
  7. A painfully disappointing artistic failure.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 36
  2. Negative: 1 out of 36
  1. LianeC
    May 2, 2007
    10
    Baby 81 is a strong album with a variety of styles on it. Each song is distinct and combines powerful lyrics with music that ranges from rock Baby 81 is a strong album with a variety of styles on it. Each song is distinct and combines powerful lyrics with music that ranges from rock to soul. Expand
  2. dana
    May 17, 2007
    10
    by far their best album, didnt like the old stuff, too slow. but this album is a proper rock album, every track a good one. i love; cold by far their best album, didnt like the old stuff, too slow. but this album is a proper rock album, every track a good one. i love; cold wind, berlin and americanx Expand
  3. AfrofromAbove1979
    Jul 27, 2007
    10
    Glorious Glorious Glorious!!! My favourite of 2007... American X: a masterpiece of 9:11 minutes... Baby 81: a masterpiece of 60:26 minutes... Glorious Glorious Glorious!!! My favourite of 2007... American X: a masterpiece of 9:11 minutes... Baby 81: a masterpiece of 60:26 minutes... BRMC: a masterpiece forever. Expand
  4. Accapella
    May 2, 2007
    9
    The first listens were a bad download version, but on CD the songs really come alive. Definitely up there with BRMC and TTOOYO but a The first listens were a bad download version, but on CD the songs really come alive. Definitely up there with BRMC and TTOOYO but a different vibe - nice to see a band grow but still kick ass. Some tracks are headkickers - awesome! Collapse
  5. scotta
    May 15, 2007
    8
    The guitar playing is good. I like it very much. The singing part is pretty good also. I stole this album from a best buy, so it was The guitar playing is good. I like it very much. The singing part is pretty good also. I stole this album from a best buy, so it was definitely worth the money. Expand
  6. JustinS.
    Jun 6, 2007
    7
    Take a Pitchfork review for what it is worth which is about as much as a 200 year old dead guys impression on a newly released album.
  7. JonathanB
    May 21, 2007
    3
    This is... unfortunate stuff. I've been following the boys from the beginning and it seems like every two albums the band either hits it This is... unfortunate stuff. I've been following the boys from the beginning and it seems like every two albums the band either hits it hard on the head like in their original album and Howl, or they just go all out horrible like their sophomore piece Take Them On On Your Own or this current schleck. What can I say? This is unoriginal compared to Howl. AMG hit it square on the nose. Howl was a step in the right direction. Where did they go wrong?! Expand

See all 36 User Reviews