Brilliant! Tragic!
by Art Brut
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 21
  3. Negative: 2 out of 21
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  1. Pitchfork
    May 23, 2011
    55
    At least he hasn't lost his wry sense of humor. But about this newfound singing business: Argos has discovered a voice that sounds a bit like Jarvis Cocker's, only if he'd lost it after a long night out drinking-- a little hoarse, whispering low so as not to upset the hangover.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    May 23, 2011
    60
    On 'Brilliant! Tragic!' all the usual themes crop up – loving Axl Rose, feeling sexy, the Republic of Sealand – but there's something strangely self-conscious about it all, like the way that Argos is trying to drum up, Big Brother-style, ever-stranger ideas, but without quite believing in them.
  3. Rolling Stone
    May 23, 2011
    60
    On Art Brut's fourth – and sturdiest – album to date, he delivers his wry recaps between sudden thrusts of guitar and rigid, right-angle percussion.
  5. Under The Radar
    May 27, 2011
    60
    Argos' smarm-charm remains solid, and the band behind the man can still walk the walk. {May 2011, p. 76]
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  6. Slant Magazine
    May 20, 2011
    60
    With fewer memorable songs than superior efforts like Art Brut vs. Satan or Bang Bang Rock & Roll!, Brilliant! Tragic! is neither as good nor as bad as its title suggests. In the interest of accurate advertising, I propose that the band renames the album Decent! Enough!
  7. Tiny Mix Tapes
    May 27, 2011
    40
    Oddly, he's got a ton of talent, a great band, an excellent producer, and lots of committed fans, but he still comes across as needy and overbearing.
  8. No Ripcord
    May 18, 2011
    60
    Since the lyrical content now borders on morose and even sadistic, the music also follows the leader with a muck of baseless solos and thrilling codas to compensate for the otherwise linear compositions.

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. zippo1515
    May 24, 2011
    10
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  2. colbag
    May 24, 2011
    10
    Art Brut's 4th album seems to have divided critics; there are those who don't seem to like the fact that Argos has changed his delivery style,Art Brut's 4th album seems to have divided critics; there are those who don't seem to like the fact that Argos has changed his delivery style, and seem to think that Eddie should have carried on with the 'spoken word' delivery. Then, there are those who praise the new 'singing' Eddie and see his different vocal style as a positive change. For the life of me, I can't figure out why people aren't more positive about it; it adds variety to the album and it means that the band are still challenging themselves, adapting and evolving with each album. The people who have criticised the new sound seem to want Art Brut to to continue in the same vein as their previous three albums; they don't want them to move on or change their style. The thing is, even with his new found singing voice, this album is unmistakably Art Brut; spiky riffs, wry, observational lyrics and rough, raw production.… Full Review »
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