Blue Lights On The Runway
by Bell X1
  • Record Label: Yep Roc
  • Release Date: Mar 3, 2009
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Paste Magazine
    91
    Their new record Blue Lights On The Runway has the potential to turn X1 into a stateside #1.
  2. Billboard
    80
    The Irish quartet holds up its end with an album of melodically memorable and inventively arranged songs, most clocking in at more than five minutes and massaging listeners with a wash of keyboard and guitar textures.
  3. PopMatters
    80
    In short, Blue Lights on the Runway has it all.
  5. AllMusic
    80
    Blue Lights on the Runway is one of those rare albums that you can pretend to like for its alt-credibility while secretly just enjoying it for the hooks.
  6. Q Magazine
    80
    It once again showcases just how satisfying a Talking Heads obsession coupled with an ability to craft uncommonly graceful ballads can be. [Apr 2009, p.97]
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  7. No Ripcord
    70
    Bell X1 has found an absorbing but unshaven sound, set apart by ease and experimentation and yet inevitably spoiled by them.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. JT
    Apr 1, 2009
    7
    Genuinely enjoyable, but if "The Great Defector" is what drew you to the CD, not much else on the album sounds like it. At times the lyrics Genuinely enjoyable, but if "The Great Defector" is what drew you to the CD, not much else on the album sounds like it. At times the lyrics were odd enough to cross over from arty to just plain weird.… Full Review »
  2. Ricko
    Nov 2, 2011
    8
    A great record. This marks a distinct change in style from the bands first 3 albums. They still have the beautifully gentle ballads mixed inA great record. This marks a distinct change in style from the bands first 3 albums. They still have the beautifully gentle ballads mixed in with some upbeat pop-rock tracks, they still have the quirky (albeit sometimes dubious) lyrics, but on this record they do push themselves in terms of the sounds they experiment with. This was the bands first independently released record and no longer under the control of a major label, you can hear the relief and freedom in the tracks.… Full Review »
  3. AnneC.
    Mar 16, 2009
    10
    Fantastic beautiful and FUN.
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