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. AllMusic
    Dec 19, 2011
    70
    Brilliant! Tragic! is a little uneven in its mix of new and familiar ideas, but for a band as clearly defined -- and sometimes confined -- by its approach as Art Brut is, to start changing the formula is a big step forward.
  2. Paste Magazine
    May 27, 2011
    62
    Argos' delivery on Brilliant! Tragic! is a necessary and not unwelcome change, a way to keep the songs compelling and unpredictable.
  3. CMJ
    May 26, 2011
    80
    The lyrics are undoubtedly tragic, but they are what give Brilliant! Tragic! its brilliance.
  5. The A.V. Club
    May 24, 2011
    67
    That said, the serviceably catchy yet unobtrusive indie-rock instrumentation on Brilliant! Tragic! is some of the finest the group has offered, starting with the first couple of songs, which explore charted territory.
  6. Consequence
    May 24, 2011
    70
    While the album is again principally focused on Eddie Argos, it's not exactly the same Argos. He has his quieter moments, his darker moments, even a rare, purely happy one. It's not a huge difference, not one that makes this seem like it's somebody else's album, but it's a difference nonetheless.
  7. PopMatters
    May 24, 2011
    70
    Accept the band for what they are: ironic sort-of-punkers-but-mostly-jokesters who like to pun Axl Rose and play Pixies-infused squelch-rock-which is exactly what they do on their new album, Brilliant! Tragic!
  8. Beats Per Minute
    May 24, 2011
    64
    With some great tracks, and some tracks that are only just okay, Brilliant! Tragic! is definitely worth listening to at least once or twice this summer.
  9. Drowned In Sound
    May 23, 2011
    70
    Nobody is suggesting that Brilliant! Tragic! isn't a flawed album, but it is also one which delivers some of the richest, fullest thrills of Art Brut's career.
  10. Spin
    May 16, 2011
    70
    The results vary: "Lost Weekend" is some kind of romantic peak, while the Lennon-esque "I Am the Psychic" is not.
  11. Uncut
    May 23, 2011
    80
    Art Brut's fourth album marries attractively sloppy garage-rock riffing to boozy bad-sex confessionals and bittersweet self-examination. [Jun 2011, p.77]
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  12. Mojo
    May 16, 2011
    80
    Brilliant! Tragic! soars on the crumbling wings of an Adverts-brand art-punk and Argos's much-improved bellow. [Jun 2011, p.96]
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  13. Alternative Press
    May 16, 2011
    80
    On Brilliant! Tragic!, Argos has channeled his inner Johnny Rotten, seemingly vacillating between contempt and boredom. Fortunately, the band play with a similar sense of toughened rawness. [Jun 2011, p.106]
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User Reviews

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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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