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- Summary: The debut album for the group fronted by Reverend and The Makers' Jon McClure, featuring Joe Moskow; Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders and Andy Nicholson; Babyshambles' Drew McConnell; and UK hip-hop artist Lowkey.
- Record Label: Wall of Sound
- Genre(s): Indie, Rock
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 0 out of 6
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Mixed: 4 out of 6
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Negative: 2 out of 6
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Q MagazineSo while the agit-prop lyrics say little new, the best tracks--'Barcode,' 'Hit From The Morning Sun,' 'Julian' and the title track--are convincingly atmospheric. [Mar 2009, p.102]
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UncutLaced with grime squelches, riot-inducing raps and dark dub, it tackles gun crime, political deceit and terrorism--but also features enough tunes to sugar the pill. [Mar 2009, p.87]
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Even at best, though, something rings false about Better Than Heavy. It never sounds like a self-funded album made by angry people.
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MojoThis lot recall mid-'90s crusty combos like Senser and Back To The Planet, their politics naive and hectoring, their music, frankly, pretty ghastly. [Apr 2009, p.108]
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Unfortunately for the oh-so-cleverly named Mongrel are nothing more than a patronising exercise in telling the poor listener what they already know: that governments can be corrupt, war on the whole is not pleasant and we all have a right to freedom.
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Lazy attempts at grime and rapcore are consigned to the doghouse courtesy of some well-meant but terrible political raps.
Score distribution:
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Positive: 1 out of 1
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Mixed: 0 out of 1
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Negative: 0 out of 1
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Feb 18, 2011
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