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Celebration Castle
by
Celebration Castle Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: Steve Albini produced album #2 for the Chicago post-punk outfit.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
    91
    Their second album isn't quite as good as their first album because its hooks are slightly less inescapable.... But the difference is slight, and other differences are positive.
  2. Neumu.net
    90
    Part of what makes this album work so well is that Gummere is willing to cede the mic to other bandmembers whose contributions contrast nicely with his own vocals.
  3. Blender
    80
    What raises them above the hordes of young revivalists is their way with a cranky bon mot. [Jul 2005, p.121]
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  4. Magnet
    70
    Its songs rest at the tipping point between melodic and atonal without seeming like middle-of-the-post-punk-road accords struck between dissenting intraband camps. [#68, p.106]
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  5. Prefix Magazine
    70
    Cruising through a quieter set of cornfields than its predecessor, Celebration Castle never fully grasps the energy of Laced with Romance, but its songwriting and guitar work are equally as strong.
  6. Uncut
    70
    Although less immediately catchy, Celebration Castle... soon warms up. [Jul 2005, p.94]
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  7. Dusted Magazine
    50
    They’ve attempted to tighten up where their debut hung slack – shorter, less songs, less room to drag. Yet dragging is all that Celebration Castle does, falling deeper into the garage-meets-new wave dichotomy that looks good on paper but would require considerably more talent to execute.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. JoeC
    Jul 1, 2005
    10
    Love the second release. Even better live!!!!!
  2. Francis
    May 17, 2005
    9
    Their sophomore LP is really great, more post-punk than Laced With Romance . . . it's tome for them to get on the front page. Nice Their sophomore LP is really great, more post-punk than Laced With Romance . . . it's tome for them to get on the front page. Nice album, greats songs . . . already a 2005 hilight !!… Expand
  4. axelb
    Apr 10, 2006
    9
    as always if you love a first album and the follow up is coming up you start wondering if it won't be an enormous disappointment as the as always if you love a first album and the follow up is coming up you start wondering if it won't be an enormous disappointment as the first album had it all, didn't it? well, this one is one of those rare albums that adds without taking away.....it adds colour and doesn't lose it's addictively driven rock and roll feel....i gotta say: I love the Ponys a whole lot ... and more.… Expand
  5. mikes
    May 15, 2005
    8
    Album is real good: fun, catchy, and smart second release from the ponys.