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Clues Image
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The debut album for the group is led by the Unicorns' Alden Penner and Arcade Fire member, Brendan Reed.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. As two musicians who may have gotten slighted, their self-titled album is an accomplished and impressive debut.
  2. Uncut
    80
    'Cave Mouth' rocks with something of Fugazi's technical heft, while 'Perfect Fit' matches Penner's quavering vocals to dancing Klezmer piano and swells of cymbal. [Aug 2009, p.88]
  3. The purpose of Clues wasn’t to outshine Penner or Reed’s past successes, but to make great new music. And on Clues, they do just that.
  4. The result is far from flawless, but Clues sparkles in the rough.
  5. One hears a variety of influences on this 2009 release, including no wave, psychedelic rock, art rock, 1980s post-punk, Brit-pop, and even folk at times; all of those influences serve Clues well, and all of them add to the intrigue on their promising debut album.
  6. Clues offer precisely that: hints at considerable future potential, and, for any budding gumshoes keen to probe the mysterious fate of The Unicorns, arguably something of smoking gun.
  7. Yet get past the grating AF-isms and there’s some good tunes.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Jul 18, 2022
    10
    Strong and consistent album with no visible weak spots. interesting creative transitions and songs development. "Ledmonton" in very cool roughStrong and consistent album with no visible weak spots. interesting creative transitions and songs development. "Ledmonton" in very cool rough dark ages vibe. "Perfect fit" is just perfect ^-^ Expand
  2. TaterNuts
    Jun 20, 2009
    9
    Smart, fun album. "Haarp" and "Ledmonton" radiate wicked energy. A little on the gimmicky side with the medieval themes, so it's not for Smart, fun album. "Haarp" and "Ledmonton" radiate wicked energy. A little on the gimmicky side with the medieval themes, so it's not for everyone, but I really dug it. Expand