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Cruelty Without Beauty
by
Cruelty Without Beauty Image
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

  • Summary: Yes, it's *that* Soft Cell, the English band that brought you early 80s hits such as "Tainted Love" and "Sex Dwarf." Their first release since 1984's 'This Last Night in Sodom,' 'Cruelty Without Beauty' offers 12 brand-new tracks from the reunited duo of Dave Ball and Marc Almond.

Top Track

The Night
Beware Of his promise Believe What I say Before I go forever Be sure Of what you say So he paints a pretty picture And he tells you that he needs... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Launch.com
    80
    With songs full of piss and vinegar, Soft Cell's return is triumphant and toxic.
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    It's great, with well-judged strings and horns giving full rein to some marvellously acute lyrics.... A glorious return. [Oct 2002, p.117]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Neumu.net
    70
    Cruelty Without Beauty is the sound of Soft Cell reclaiming the musical territory they staked out in their 1981 hit debut, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, offering up hooky, dancefloor-oriented synthetic soul, now jacked up into a higher gear for the clublands of the new millennium.
  4. Uncut
    70
    The finest tracks here update the duo's attitude as well as their sound, dissecting anew cultural and emotional climate with a bittersweet detachment reminiscent of the Pet Shop Boys. [Oct 2002, p.124]
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  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    As before, attempts to explore London's seedy underbelly verge on hamfisted and voyeuristic. But, again as before, Soft Cell really flourish with Marc's relationship horror stories, which happens on two songs.
  6. Blender
    60
    In updating the duo's dirty old sound, Ball makes the arrangements clunky, too clean and dangerously close to the blandness Almond bemoans. [#10, p.126]
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  7. Mixer
    60
    What Cruelty Without Beauty lacks in originality it more than makes up for with sheer wit. [Oct 2002, p.81]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. TonyB
    Jan 3, 2003
    10
    Pop Idols, listen and learn, Marc at his vocal best with music and lyrics to die for. More Soft Cell and less hard sell is just what the Pop Idols, listen and learn, Marc at his vocal best with music and lyrics to die for. More Soft Cell and less hard sell is just what the record industry needs!… Expand
  2. BTHONTHON
    Oct 16, 2002
    10
    Finally someone is writing great music again. Great lyrics, nice melodies and haunting tunes. We must tip our glasses and say thanks to the Finally someone is writing great music again. Great lyrics, nice melodies and haunting tunes. We must tip our glasses and say thanks to the boys of Soft Cell and Caligula Syndrome should be a hit - Just give it time.… Expand
  4. MikeS.
    Oct 16, 2002
    9
    Best album this year, not much time to better it......10 out of 12 tracks could easily fit onto "TAOFA" or "TLNIS", and incorporate the best Best album this year, not much time to better it......10 out of 12 tracks could easily fit onto "TAOFA" or "TLNIS", and incorporate the best of Marc's solo stuff and Soft Cell's wierd vision of the world. FANTASTIC!!… Collapse