Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
  • Record Label: Virgin
  • Release Date: Apr 3, 2001
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. Neumu.net
    60
    They're merely using Psychocandy as a workaday aesthetic strategy and, despite loads of melodrama, they never sound pretentious about it either.
  2. HOB.com
    70
    A flawless blend of acoustic-turns-into-fuzz guitar work and backbeat rhythms that create the aural equivalent of fog.
  3. AllMusic
    80
    This self-produced major-label debut boldly plunders a reverb-and-white noise course previously trampled underfoot by long-gone British bands of the late '80s and early '90s (the Jesus & Mary Chain, the Verve, Ride, the Stone Roses, etc.).
  5. Alternative Press
    80
    There's a defiance to BRMC's carefully crafted mix of brooding vocals and blurred melody that unites disparate musical elements into blasts of noisy cohesion and howling passion. [#155, p.72]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Q Magazine
    80
    What makes BRMC extra special and what steers them well clear of parody drone-rock territory is their three-dimensional sound. [Jan 2002, p.103]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. CDNow
    70
    Although the album lags somewhat in parts and is bogged down a bit by an overarching sameness, this is a promising start.
  8. Blender
    60
    Always dark, sometimes lovely. [Jun/Jul 2001, p.105]
    All this publication's reviews
  9. Wall of Sound
    86
    These songs don't require repeated listening to foster appreciation; they affect immediately -- and relentlessly.
  10. Dot Music
    20
    Either they've been taking too much heroin or not enough, but 'Black Rebel Motorcycle Club' is as limp as a soggy spliff the ragged morning after.
  11. Mojo
    70
    All BRMC really have in common with The Strokes is hype and haircuts, but their music lives up to both. [Feb 2002, p.92]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. Pitchfork
    82
    Consistently excellent and deserves to be heard by fans of 70's glam and shoegazer alike.
  13. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    All of these incredible songs shimmer and vibrate with the riotous majesty of 'Psychocandy' without a trace of the Mary Chain's post-'Honey's Dead' self-parody.
  14. Uncut
    40
    One Lupine Howl is already too much, thanks. [Feb 2002, p.111]
    All this publication's reviews
  15. Launch.com
    80
    B.M.R.C. deliver potent, intelligent, memorable melodies that are both subtle and provocative.
  16. Magnet
    80
    This California band seems to be one of those rare times when the major labels get it right. [#50, p.80]
    All this publication's reviews
  17. Trouser Press
    60
    When it pays off -- which is more often than not -- BRMC's fuzzed- out angry shoegazer stance reaches levels of sonic brilliance unmatched by any of their peers.

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Most Discussed Album of 2001
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2001

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 26
  3. Negative: 2 out of 26
  1. kit
    Nov 24, 2005
    10
    quite possibly the best album of all time
  2. lennys
    May 10, 2005
    10
    best blend of rock for thee ages... and such
  3. BenT
    Jan 22, 2005
    10
    pedal to the metal, dark, layered rock that vairies from the desolate brilliance of Awake to the viceral progression of Whatever pedal to the metal, dark, layered rock that vairies from the desolate brilliance of Awake to the viceral progression of Whatever Happened...album of 2001… Full Review »
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