User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Employment
by
Employment Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 89 Ratings

  • Summary: Stephen Street (Blur) produced this debut disc for the Leeds, England five-piece.

Top Track

Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa Na Na Na Na Naa Na Na Na Na Naa Na Na Na Na Naa It does not move me it does not get me going at all Na Na Na Na Naa Na Na Na Na... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. The Guardian
    90
    That Employment is derivative is both undeniable and irrelevant. It is so confident, so smart, so full of life, that a more enjoyable 45 minutes is hard to imagine.
  2. Spin
    83
    Frontman Ricky Wilson is an average singer but an extraordinary melodist. [May 2005, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Urb
    80
    They have a clever way with words and pleasantly surprising musical depth. [May 2005, p.92]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Drowned In Sound
    80
    Try not to worry too much about where it comes from, or who else it may or may not sound like. Instead, enjoy a record that is quintessentially British, without pretension and most importantly, a whole lot of fun.
  5. Los Angeles Times
    75
    It's also a nice change of pace that the Chiefs avoid the '80s post-punk clichés so much in fashion with their peers, though you have to wonder about the instincts of a band that leads off with its most gimmicky and least involving songs and buries its best toward the end. [10 Apr 2005]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Prefix Magazine
    70
    There are no bad songs on Employment. There are maybe a couple not-good ones toward the end, but even those are so tightly wound and polished they could end up lodged in your head for days.
  7. PopMatters
    50
    If Franz Ferdinand were Pearl Jam, these guys would be the Stone Temple Pilots.

See all 27 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 52
  3. Negative: 4 out of 52
  1. Elfionnio
    May 14, 2012
    10
    Amazing best album of the 2000s it just takes Punk gives it a modern spins puts in a bit of quirky Kaiser Chiefs magic and makes in greatAmazing best album of the 2000s it just takes Punk gives it a modern spins puts in a bit of quirky Kaiser Chiefs magic and makes in great there would be no audience for bands like Arctic Monkeys and Vaccines if this didn't hit as punk died out.… Expand
  2. voodoocookie
    Apr 21, 2005
    10
    The best album of the year without a doubt! Definitely one of the most enjoyable acts to come out in a long time and they definitely crank up The best album of the year without a doubt! Definitely one of the most enjoyable acts to come out in a long time and they definitely crank up the fun factor in music to the max!… Expand
  4. KateB
    Apr 6, 2006
    9
    The best album in my CD rack at the moment! Although it takes ideas from bands in other decades, Employment is catchy and entertaining, and The best album in my CD rack at the moment! Although it takes ideas from bands in other decades, Employment is catchy and entertaining, and all of them are good musicians. Ricky Wilson is a great lead singer, and a thouroughly nice person. Everyone should get this album and support this British band so they can go far!… Expand
  5. VJay
    Apr 20, 2005
    8
    I'm riding the Brit Pop wave.
  6. AndrewT
    Jun 19, 2005
    7
    This is poor pop, it does not pretend to be anything else. It will never be on your top ten all time critical favourites, but it is pure This is poor pop, it does not pretend to be anything else. It will never be on your top ten all time critical favourites, but it is pure unadulterated fun. How many records can you say that about?… Expand
  7. JamieM
    Mar 17, 2005
    7
    There are a few real belters on 'Emplyment' and one or two mediocre songs too. One or two that get annoying... Overall good though!
  8. CraigJ
    Sep 18, 2005
    0
    every song just sounds the same

See all 52 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

73
#73 Most Discussed Album of 2005

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 If I don't make it, I love u - Still House Plants
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
88 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
87 Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker
All Current Music »