Crystal Castles
by Crystal Castles
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 121 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 109 out of 121
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 121
  3. Negative: 5 out of 121

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  1. [Anonymous]
    Mar 31, 2008
    10
    Wow! This will definitely be one of the best albums of the year. The consistency of awesomeness throughout the album is incredible. It's practically impossible not to want to get up and dance when you hear "Black Panther." And tracks like "Love and Caring," with it's angry shouting and loud noise perfectly complement more relaxed but equally incredible tracks like "Magic Spells"
  2. ThomasM.
    May 6, 2008
    10
    Who cares if previously released stuff is compiled here and there is little new material? It's all friggin' awesome.
  3. Vampire25
    Sep 26, 2012
    10
    Took me awhile to discover this band, but it was completely worth the thrill of discovering them. I'm not the biggest fan of electronic music, but Crystal Castles are unlike any electro band I've ever heard. I was completely blown away from this LP.It's a little over 50 minutes but it breezes by so smoothly and lush that you don't realize it's ended already. It's indie electroclash at it'sTook me awhile to discover this band, but it was completely worth the thrill of discovering them. I'm not the biggest fan of electronic music, but Crystal Castles are unlike any electro band I've ever heard. I was completely blown away from this LP.It's a little over 50 minutes but it breezes by so smoothly and lush that you don't realize it's ended already. It's indie electroclash at it's finest. I'll go so far to say that I loved each track, which is a little rare for me. Some tracks are very abrasive (Alice Practice) and some are very lush and beautiful (Magic Spells). All In All, probably the best electronic album I've heard since Discovery by Daft Punk. A… Expand
  4. jotaeseche
    Aug 25, 2014
    10
    Few albums have felt as coherent, cohesive, catching, striking, exquisitely tasteful and easily digestible as Crystal Castles (I), and even less at a debut. Everything here sounds magic, esoteric, broken, electronic (taking the most literal meaning the word can possibly have).
  5. actuallymevisus
    Aug 13, 2016
    10
    wow... such amazing album.. i love 8bit sound, it reminds me 2006-07... love, love, love,. Magic Spells, Vanished, Courtship Dating, Crimewave are the best. Also Trash Hologram. least fav: air war, reckless. THNX ETHAN
  6. peterev0
    Sep 29, 2019
    10
    Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love to listen for it while im going to school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  7. altmex
    Mar 25, 2021
    10
    I remember how mind-blowing this album was back in the day. 13 years later and it still sounds relevant. The noise, the screams, the dirty sound, all brought to perfection. This can't possibly be described.
  8. AndrejS
    Jun 21, 2009
    9
    Simply amazing.
  9. TylerW
    Jun 7, 2009
    9
    A shame this album isn't rated higher, by critics or 'fans'. The sample argument is weak at best, seeing as only a couple tracks used them & even then doesn't deduce from the quality. Daft Punk, for example, used samples on some of their biggest hits, and they're far superior to the original. True, CC did deny some of the samples until proven true, but that A shame this album isn't rated higher, by critics or 'fans'. The sample argument is weak at best, seeing as only a couple tracks used them & even then doesn't deduce from the quality. Daft Punk, for example, used samples on some of their biggest hits, and they're far superior to the original. True, CC did deny some of the samples until proven true, but that doesn't mean the songs were bad. Stop rating an album on the action of the band. The CD in general is a great and unique addition to a genre that already has so much great music in it. Ethan Kath, also known for various remixes, has a very creative mind for music composition, while Alice Glass brings appeal with ear splitting vocals that have no business in electronic music, but increases the quality still yet. Musically, the album is tremendous. Nearly every track is something new and surprisingly addictive. Lyrically, it has a lot of rude truth to it, but truth nonetheless. Tracks like Air War, which is easily the best literary reading(the lyrics are taken from James Joyce's Ulysses) in any song I've ever heard, Alice Practice, XXZXCUZX Me and Black Panther make the album worth the buy. There are only a couple misses with the album.. Magic Spells is a little dragged out, both musically and lyrically(which was taken from the TV show V) and sometimes, while very crucial to the music, the distorted vocals can get a bit unnerving. At the end of the CD however, you come away knowing you've heard something new. Something that'll be in your head for a long time. Something that you'll compare future bands of the same genre to. Most importantly, you'll come back for another listen.… Expand
  10. jp_fal
    Feb 21, 2013
    9
    Still my favorite Crystal Castles album after two good follow up releases. Not as dark as the 2nd and 3rd albums, I'd go so far as to call it their pop record. Contains a good mix of their sound and by being more accessible it is the best place to start if checking out the band before getting into their darker sound. It contains the noise of Alice Practice, the synth-pop instrumentals ofStill my favorite Crystal Castles album after two good follow up releases. Not as dark as the 2nd and 3rd albums, I'd go so far as to call it their pop record. Contains a good mix of their sound and by being more accessible it is the best place to start if checking out the band before getting into their darker sound. It contains the noise of Alice Practice, the synth-pop instrumentals of 1991 and Knights, the creepiness of Courtship Dating (which is further explored on later albums) and one of my favorites the delicate yet disturbing Tell me What to Swallow.… Expand
  11. HeavenlyShooter
    Jun 24, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Los sonidos de 8 bits acompañados de los vocales agresivos de Alice Glass son una combinación alucinante.… Expand
  12. JeremyF.
    Mar 29, 2008
    8
    This is a delightful little tight package of dancey, electro blips and bloops and grinds and whirs that accumulate to a victorious work. The vocals in "Untrust Us" aren't even complete words, just scraps of what were once [presumably] words. However, despite the wordlessness, this song contains the best melody of the record, and is one of the best songs of the year thus far. This is a delightful little tight package of dancey, electro blips and bloops and grinds and whirs that accumulate to a victorious work. The vocals in "Untrust Us" aren't even complete words, just scraps of what were once [presumably] words. However, despite the wordlessness, this song contains the best melody of the record, and is one of the best songs of the year thus far. "Crimewave" is pure fun electro-dance, and "Good Time" is a lighthearted bopping number. "Alice Practice" is filled with Glass' otherworldly screams and cries, while "Courtship Dating" is an even less accessible jumble of senselessness. "Magic Spells" is pretty, but too long, and aside from that, it's fine. This is a great cd with few missteps. Fun to last for years. (And it also makes me want to dust off my SNES...)… Expand
  13. LeeteF.
    Apr 18, 2008
    8
    I think this album is very nice. Very nice.
  14. Tubie
    Nov 3, 2010
    8
    Love these blip blops! Seriously love this duo so much. Deserves higher rating but like most good music it is left behind underrated just because it's a different sound. That different sound is what makes Crystal Castles so unique and great.
  15. hydrawithears
    Nov 23, 2011
    8
    Among the most distinctive acts to appear in the second half of the noughties were Crystal Castles. They are not really famous for music but for their riot-like gigs. Alice Glass, the vocalist, would scream, run, climb, dive, spit, and who knows what else. Even a serious injury could not stop her from playing. She is the face of the duo but as usual in such cases the mastermind stays inAmong the most distinctive acts to appear in the second half of the noughties were Crystal Castles. They are not really famous for music but for their riot-like gigs. Alice Glass, the vocalist, would scream, run, climb, dive, spit, and who knows what else. Even a serious injury could not stop her from playing. She is the face of the duo but as usual in such cases the mastermind stays in the shadow. Ethan Khan, the producer, is responsible for Crystal Castlesâ… Expand
  16. clem666
    Aug 2, 2020
    8
    Crystal Castles' first project strikes us very harshly. It's kind of a compilation of noisy and rhythmic sounds. Lyrics are hard to take in account because some songs are just instrumentals. And when it's not the case it is hard to undertsand because the words are shouted or over-mixed.
    Some of the tracks are really agressive and barely created in a metal way, In the opposite, other songs    Crystal Castles' first project strikes us very harshly. It's kind of a compilation of noisy and rhythmic sounds. Lyrics are hard to take in account because some songs are just instrumentals. And when it's not the case it is hard to undertsand because the words are shouted or over-mixed.
    Some of the tracks are really agressive and barely created in a metal way, In the opposite, other songs are really catchy and/or calm and ambient. Once you have discovered those tracks. it is easy to enjoy them even if you are not into electronic music.
    In conclusion 'Crystal Catsles' is an amazing album to explore. It demands to be open-minded at the beginning but then becomes rousing and deep. Released in 2008, i am still listening to it in 2020. An unavoidable piece of work.    … Expand
  17. thedarkorb
    Sep 23, 2010
    7
    The debut album from Crystal Castles makes an impression right out of the gate and goes on to take the listener for a wild ride across it's sixteen energetic tracks. Flashing back and forth from melodic 8 bit inspired tunes to screeching noise pop it evokes a sound that people either love passionately or despise; very few people fall anywhere between these two extremes.
  18. diegonelli
    Sep 21, 2015
    5
    Incredibly boring, I was falling asleep! I mean, the music isn't bad... but it bores you 56 min of listening just [same] sounds. The only songs I like are Vanished and Alice Practice. I'll listen to their next albums anyways.
  19. LukaT.
    Apr 4, 2008
    3
    Only a few new tracks, not surprised. They could have done much much better than this. The problem with Crystal Castle is that they tend to do both brilliant exciting songs and boring unbearable aborted experimentations. I was hoping they would concentrate on new fresh material for the album, including only a few "hits" from what they had made available on myspace previously. Instead, Only a few new tracks, not surprised. They could have done much much better than this. The problem with Crystal Castle is that they tend to do both brilliant exciting songs and boring unbearable aborted experimentations. I was hoping they would concentrate on new fresh material for the album, including only a few "hits" from what they had made available on myspace previously. Instead, most of the tracks are stuff we've heard before, and sadly the few best tracks are the new ones. I say sadly because it shows that if they really had worked on the album, we would have had a mass killer album full of new unheard tracks, which is not the case here.… Expand
  20. MarcR.
    May 10, 2008
    1
    Too bad the band accumulated a reputation of being innovative and building an atari-chip based keyboard while all they did is to ripp off existing songs from other people without giving them proper credit.

Awards & Rankings

90
#90 Most Discussed Album of 2008
33
#33 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. AllMusic
    80
    It's clear that Kath and Glass are already looking for more ways to expand on this familiar-sounding, edgy, innocent, menacing, bold, nuanced, and altogether striking debut.
    Read full review
  2. Alternative Press
    60
    Crystal Castles is gloriously danceable and hopelessly chic. But really, it's... hearing only...judging is... you know? [Apr 2008, p.162]
  3. Drowned In Sound
    80
    Glass’s voice, too, is the same that’s been luring lusty seamen onto the rocks for millennia, but the way it and the drums are textured--so that the machines they’re passed through sound like they’re melting away--brings Crystal Castles to the outer edges of greatness.
    Read full review
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