Couples - The Long Blondes
Couples Image
Metascore
73 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 72 Ratings

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  • Summary: The quintet from England uses influences from 1980s pop on its sophomore album produced by Erol Alkan.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Dot Music
    90
    Couples is simply a successful attempt to sound both different and better.
  2. Mojo
    80
    They've forged a sound that's ambitious and close to unique. [May 2008, p.109]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Drowned In Sound
    80
    With Couples they've managed to turn two years of inter-band heartache into an ambitious, forward-thinking pop record that tops their debut by quite some distance.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    Despite the occasional flashes of brightness, it sounds like they’ve taken that brief (an homage to the mundanities of love) to heart.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 33
  3. Negative: 22 out of 33
  1. AnoushkaP.
    10
    This album is perfection. I think some reviewers have very narrow taste, and I'm hardly surprised that NME didn't think much of it. The rag is full of useless shouty bands with expensively dishevelled hair masquerading as an image/personality/talent.… Expand
  2. JeremyF
    7
    Not a bad album. Opener 'Century' is like the worst one though, and it goes nowhere over it's long 5 minutes. 'Guilt'; and 'The Couples' are two of the best, that wouldn't have much of a problem being on their debut. Tag-team 'I Liked the Boys' and 'Here Come the Serious Bit' don't really do much for me, but 'Round the Hairpin' is the best song here, with it's incredible instrumentation and great vocals, (follower 'Too Clever By Half' also contains great vocals, a chilling, airy product.) Now, 'Erin O'Connor' and 'Nostalgia' are bother pretty good, and 'I'm Going to Hell' is fun, even if it is an awkward closer. COUPLES is nowhere near the caliber that their debut was. Their debut is incredibly catchy, brilliantly produced, had good lyrics, and her voice was showed off more I think. It lived more. Now, this is sort of a disappointing followup.… Expand
  3. JassF.
    4
    Totally disappointing follow-up. I'm afraid to say the Long Blondes have gone terribly wrong.
  4. NoelS.
    4
    I love their first album - it's on constant play on my iPod. However, this new one sounds like a bunch of quickly thrown together Blondie b-sides. I mean, seriously, it's really not that good.… Expand

See all 33 User Reviews

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