Fall Heads Roll
by The Fall
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. AllMusic
    70
    If you hack off the misguided finish, Fall Heads Roll proves they can still live up to their legend.
  2. Blender
    80
    The arrangements pound and lurch through acrid garage-punk riffs with crazy sureness. [Dec 2005, p.145]
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  3. cokemachineglow
    73
    Yes, the album stretches itself a little thin towards the end and some of Smith’s slurred lyrics are truly unintelligible, but essentially this record is joyously, thankfully, inexplicably, after all these years, still the sound of the Fall.
  5. Magnet
    80
    Equitable with the Fall's bossiest, most brazen moments. [#70, p.94]
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  6. Mojo
    70
    Proves Mark E. Smith's gang have lost nothing of the power to surprise. [Nov 2005, p.104]
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  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    The Fall are actually at their most settled, stable and plain rocking in years. [1 Oct 2005, p.47]
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  8. Pitchfork
    78
    A grab-bag of a Fall album with brilliant highs and scattered lows.
  9. Playlouder
    80
    'Fall Heads Roll' as a whole might not quite scale the heights of 'The Real New Fall LP', but there's no doubt that elements of it are up there with it.
  10. PopMatters
    80
    Fall Heads Roll sounds more like the work of an emerging artist than it does an established band catering to a core audience.
  11. Q Magazine
    70
    [Smith's] curiously magical songwriting skills... remain undimmed by time and drink. [Nov 2005, p.124]
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  12. Spin
    75
    If there's a method to this madness, you definitely won't find it here. [Nov 2005, p.101]
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  13. The Guardian
    100
    [Fall Heads Roll] is of head-turning quality.
  14. Tiny Mix Tapes
    80
    Overall, a handful of great songs, no clunkers, and one absolute classic is more than should be expected of any album.
  15. Uncut
    70
    Contains the usual assortment of slurred tirades and workmanlike riffs, but it also features a smattering of minor Smith classics. [Nov 2005, p.96]
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  16. Under The Radar
    70
    Serves notice the band isn't going away anytime soon. [#11, p.106]
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Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Best Album of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. MarcusB
    Dec 17, 2005
    8
    Incredibley Consistant Return To Form After A Few Ropey Releases. Plus Another Glamourous Wife In The Band! Powerful Live Interpretations
  2. PopeJohnPaul
    Oct 29, 2005
    8
    As Mark Twain once said, "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated" (In this case, read that as Are You Missing Winner). As Mark Twain once said, "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated" (In this case, read that as Are You Missing Winner). Contrary to all rational thinking, M.E.S. is still going, and Blindness alone should be more than enough to make even the cynics glad.… Full Review »
  3. WX
    Oct 28, 2005
    8
    The Fall aren
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