- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Feb 2, 2012A tremendously heartfelt celebration of music as a force for transformation, togetherness, love, and personal expression.
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Jan 20, 2012Be Strong, in short, is superb: a joyous amalgam of disco textures and dancefloor stylings which never fail to bring a big grin to your face.
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Feb 1, 2012Be Strong is a rather exhaustive album when consumed in one sitting, but if you've got the fortitude to reach the closing track "The Church" during that listen, it can be a very euphoric climax.
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Jan 23, 2012Sounding like club music for grown-ups wanting a decadent summer of love return without wanting their troublesome kids tagging along... Likely to be a hit in the woods and beyond.
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Dec 13, 2012The dozen songs on here make for a brilliant affair of subtly great electronic music that blends a fresh brand of styles into one compelling presentation.
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Feb 10, 2012Be Strong may not offer any invention or progression but as a collection of exuberant, joyful and uplifting dance music it is certainly the perfect record to light up those dark winter nights and look forward to the summer.
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Jan 25, 2012Just enjoy their album for what it is, an absolute blast.
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Feb 1, 2012Their charisma lets them make a few risky moves (such as the African percussion on the extended closer "Church") and yield massive returns.
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Feb 10, 2012You'd have to be fairly joyless not to find the lighthearted lyrical content and unifying party vibes infectious.
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Jan 19, 2012The 2 Bears possess charm aplenty in their music making, and with its sheer love of light comic touches, Be Strong is certainly not short on that.
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Jan 26, 2012The end result is an album full of tracks that sound so warmly familiar that they instantly seem like old friends.
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Jan 26, 2012Although the first half relies on straight-up classic house beats and lyric imperatives to be stronger, work harder and get higher, they upend the formula with an oddball-pop sensibility, beautifully crafted melodies and general silliness.
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Jan 30, 2012The guys' commitment to music-as-fun and big, croon-y hooks (Goddard's velvet vocals sound as good as ever here) keeps it enjoyable throughout.
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Q MagazineJan 10, 2012A downright joyous debut. [Feb. 2012 p. 101]
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Jan 19, 2012Just as Joe Smooth's Promised Land or Ce Ce Rogers's Someday derived their immense emotional impact from the fact that their optimism feels wistful and cautious, so Be Strong is shot through with a nagging undertow of sadness.
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Jan 27, 2012With feelgood lyrics of fellowship allied to pulsing electro twitches, Sister Bliss-style piano vamps, sample fragments and sunrise synthscapes, there's a flavour of The Beloved to "Warm & Easy" and "Bear Hug."
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Jan 30, 2012Unashamedly uplifting songs about working hard and loving music.
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UncutJan 18, 2012Be Strong is warm and easy comfort food for recessionary midlife ravers. [Feb 2012, p.90]
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Feb 2, 2012While not as complete or precise as any major release from Hot Chip, this is a strong debut album, even after factoring in the slightly elevated expectations based upon Goddard's previous successes.