Broken Bells
by Broken Bells
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Mar 9, 2010
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 82 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 82
  3. Negative: 3 out of 82

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  1. MattM
    Mar 9, 2010
    2
    Move along. Nothing to see/hear. The record has good production and some nice, 60's sounds here and there, but nothing memorable or interesting. The Shins' lyrics have never been more than a vehicle for great hooks, but unfortunately the hooks are absent on this record. So, you end up with dull lyrics, dull music and a dull record. It only gets good reviews from some based upon Move along. Nothing to see/hear. The record has good production and some nice, 60's sounds here and there, but nothing memorable or interesting. The Shins' lyrics have never been more than a vehicle for great hooks, but unfortunately the hooks are absent on this record. So, you end up with dull lyrics, dull music and a dull record. It only gets good reviews from some based upon the two members involved in this project. If the Broken Bells were actually Joe Indy and John Pop, you wouldn't be reading this.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Most Discussed Album of 2010
33
#33 Most Shared Album of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. AllMusic
    60
    Broken Bells is an honest-to-goodness debut album--there are as many promising flashes as frustrating moments here. Mercer and Burton have obvious chemistry, but they need to blend more for true alchemy.
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  2. Dot Music
    80
    The album finishes almost as well as it started with 'The Mall & Misery' (a bit of country, a bit of disco, lightening bolts of new wave guitar, harmonies to intoxicate), proving the album's effective inevitability is not tedious and the quality is clear whichever direction you approach from.
    Read full review
  3. Sputnikmusic
    90
    Broken Bells is the crown jewel of each musician's discography and is a necessity for fans of either one.
    Read full review
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