Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 350 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 298 out of 350
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 350
  3. Negative: 25 out of 350

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  1. toddm
    Aug 14, 2005
    10
    This is truly a phenomenal album. The songs are lyrically and vocally interesting, and the music carries a weight that is undeniable. The album shares moments of intimacy interspersed among almost epic sounds. The album has gravitas--I can't say it any other way. Boo to the naysayers. It's the most refreshing album I've heard in years.
  2. SeyHaS
    Aug 13, 2005
    8
    At first the nasal singing was not benign to my ears, but with time I came to appreciate the vocals, as it was evidently talent I
  3. BrianM
    Aug 12, 2005
    9
    Very Impressive debut. It does have a very fresh sound. Forget about the hype and just listen to it. Enjoy!
  4. chooch
    Aug 12, 2005
    9
    i usually disagree with pitchfork ratings but i can't stop listening to this cd. The first listen was ok but it keeps getting better and better. I was getting really tired of the disco beat indie rock.
  5. StooB
    Aug 7, 2005
    9
    An amazing and refreshing album. Obviously the vocals will divide people up and make it a strongly love/hate album, but there are lots of great singers who suffer that (yorke, corgan, bjork)
  6. CarlY
    Aug 6, 2005
    9
    Wonderful. Took a while for me to warm up to it, but it's really a great record. Don't wait--act now!
  7. naja
    Aug 5, 2005
    10
    howcome no one makes music like this anymore? a breath o fresh air, i'm tired of all the over produced super treble guitar dance bands taking over the indie scene. a classic for sure, buy it!
  8. BenA
    Aug 3, 2005
    10
    This is easily one of the most fun albums of the year. Great car music. Great chill music. Great alone-time music. It's the most versatile album to come out in a long time. The production is fine. All the elements of greatness are there. I do have a feeling that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's best moments are ahead of them, but this is an exquisite album. It's refreshing and This is easily one of the most fun albums of the year. Great car music. Great chill music. Great alone-time music. It's the most versatile album to come out in a long time. The production is fine. All the elements of greatness are there. I do have a feeling that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's best moments are ahead of them, but this is an exquisite album. It's refreshing and new. It has a contagious energy. It's like discovering The Bends for the first time. And that's about as great a compliment that one can give.… Expand
  9. MarkO.
    Aug 2, 2005
    9
    An excellent debut. I can't stop listening to this album! It's the perfect blend of newcomer originality and experienced control. One of the best of the year!
  10. syazuanr
    Aug 1, 2005
    9
    much needed wake up call to all those sleeping rock giants!
  11. BrendanP
    Jul 30, 2005
    7
    overrated
  12. miketv
    Jul 30, 2005
    9
    This album is actaully worth all the hype. The guy whos complaining about his voice should stick to listening to the killers.
  13. VivianC
    Jul 29, 2005
    10
    Awesome.
  14. ckasem
    Jul 29, 2005
    9
    Sounds like if david Byrne sung lead for the Feelies or old new order. I love it
  15. Drub
    Jul 26, 2005
    9
    Absolutely brilliant piece of work, I already can't wait to hear something new.
  16. PatrickL
    Jul 26, 2005
    10
    Tremendous. Everyone wants to compare the singer to David Byrne, but to me it's more a mix between Byrne and the lead singer for James. The music is very unpredictable with clever usage of keyboards to complement unpredictably smooth guitar and bass melodies. For a self-released album, this record is well produced and mixed. CYH is this year's Arcade Fire, except it took Arcade Tremendous. Everyone wants to compare the singer to David Byrne, but to me it's more a mix between Byrne and the lead singer for James. The music is very unpredictable with clever usage of keyboards to complement unpredictably smooth guitar and bass melodies. For a self-released album, this record is well produced and mixed. CYH is this year's Arcade Fire, except it took Arcade Fire two albums to put out a complete record.… Expand
  17. Bfizzle
    Jul 21, 2005
    10
    Fuck the backlash, this album is as great as they say it is.
  18. TerrenceO
    Jul 21, 2005
    9
    Fascinating, entertaining, and catchy as hell. This group frolics perfectly amongst the current buzz bands of the indie world (ie. Firey Furnaces, Arcade Fire, Architechure in Helsinki) Theyre, cute, dancable, funny and occasionally rocking
  19. Bryce
    Jul 21, 2005
    9
    This is solid. Too bad Joe B. didn't get the memo. If you can't enjoy this you can't enjoy music. Try listening to it instead of criticizing it and being just that much cooler than the next guy so you can look back and wrongly say "I never actually liked it, even when everyone else was falling over themselves loving it". The emotional gut wrenching feelings that come out of This is solid. Too bad Joe B. didn't get the memo. If you can't enjoy this you can't enjoy music. Try listening to it instead of criticizing it and being just that much cooler than the next guy so you can look back and wrongly say "I never actually liked it, even when everyone else was falling over themselves loving it". The emotional gut wrenching feelings that come out of this music is what makes it, not the fact that so and so said it was "THE album to listen to this summer!" Give your head a shake-this is the one! Christ!… Expand
  20. Mr.Holler
    Jul 19, 2005
    9
    Bought this album because of the buzz - not what I was expecting at all...and yet...every time I listen through and put something else in, I keep stopping mid-way through and putting this back in. Either they've found a way to administer nicotine aurally or else it's a really rewarding listen. Kind of Belle and Sebastian meets David Byrne meets the Danielson Famile meets Arcade Bought this album because of the buzz - not what I was expecting at all...and yet...every time I listen through and put something else in, I keep stopping mid-way through and putting this back in. Either they've found a way to administer nicotine aurally or else it's a really rewarding listen. Kind of Belle and Sebastian meets David Byrne meets the Danielson Famile meets Arcade Fire meets I don't know what else. Something solid.… Expand
  21. AaronS
    Jul 18, 2005
    10
    Yep, it lives up to the hype. A consistently entertaining album of bright indie pop. Very eccentric and just about damn perfect. It will certainly find a spot on my ten best list this year as well.
  22. bret
    Jul 18, 2005
    9
    very good...only 1 song i'm not crazy about
  23. elizw
    Jul 17, 2005
    10
    mind-bogglingly spectacular.
  24. GraysonA
    Jul 17, 2005
    9
    This is wholly solid indie rock, combining the influences of many, leaving new listeners with something about as original as can be found in a world of copy cats.
  25. scottiec
    Jul 17, 2005
    10
    better than your mother. neutral milk hotel and the talking heads had arcade fire as their son. meet illigitamate daughter clap your hands say yeah.
  26. TravisB
    Jul 17, 2005
    8
    This album makes me wonder what radiohead would have sounded like if they stayed along the bends route. Although the production sounds somewhat low budget, the musical arrangements surpass any doubts one could possibly have about the talent of this band. Slightly overhyped, but still worthy of the stamp of approval. i won't be surprised to see this album on numerous reviewer's This album makes me wonder what radiohead would have sounded like if they stayed along the bends route. Although the production sounds somewhat low budget, the musical arrangements surpass any doubts one could possibly have about the talent of this band. Slightly overhyped, but still worthy of the stamp of approval. i won't be surprised to see this album on numerous reviewer's year end lists.… Expand
  27. KarenI
    Jul 17, 2005
    10
    Wooow! Shines!
  28. JustinC
    Jul 16, 2005
    10
    Perfect pop, extremely fun to listen to
  29. VanL
    Jul 16, 2005
    10
    A really great album that, unfortunately, comes out at a time when many people are so eager to hate "the next big thing." People that just truly enjoy Indie Rock music will thoroughly appreciate this release.
  30. NetoN
    Jul 15, 2005
    10
    Best album I've heard in ages. The self-production adds to the songs' intimacy. Voice a bit like Jeff Magnum but poppier subject-matter and melodies flying everywhere. Buy the album and support a band doing it for themselves!
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best Album of 2005
11
#11 Most Discussed Album of 2005
5
#5 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. cokemachineglow
    84
    CYHSY’s songs ring of The Bends-era songwriting, but loungier, more playful, more comfortable in their own skin.
    Read full review
  2. Pitchfork
    90
    The record is consistently, remarkably strong.
    Read full review
  3. Stylus Magazine
    83
    If there are complaints to lobby against this remarkable debut, they lie mostly in its sound-quality. Namely, it sounds like what it was: self-recorded and self-released.
    Read full review
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