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Finelines Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

  • Summary: This debut LP for the electric English quartet was originally released in March 2001 to enough critical acclaim that Sony/Epic picked the album up for a re-release in the summer of 2002. Their sound combines harder-edged alt-rock with "shoegazing"-style noise manipulation.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. If you only buy one album this year, make it Finelines.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    A compelling collage of urgent and moody alt-rock. [28 June 2002, p.143]
  3. Alternative Press
    80
    Finelines serves up Everybody Oriented Rock, sure to be a hit with both the critics and the slamdancing fans who ignore them. [Aug 2002, p.72]
  4. It may well be too long and it might stick to its blueprint a little too faithfully, but singularity of vision can hardly be criticised on a debut record. 'Finelines' is a black-hearted but coruscating journey at speed.
  5. The Guardian
    70
    They tread a catchy path delineated by imploring vocals and shiny choruses that owe something to both Irish guitar-pups Ash and the Manic Street Preachers.
  6. This is the kind of debut that lurches into the grungy excess befitting trashcan fires, anachronistic outsider idolization, and massive Feeder collections assembled inside Southern Californian suburbs.
  7. One of the most disappointing debut albums I've ever heard.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. MurphyH
    Oct 18, 2003
    10
    One of the best albums i have heard in the last year.......great vocals, lyrics, all around great cd. A must have for any MBV fans.
  2. SamanthaC
    Aug 26, 2005
    10
    This album is the best i have bought for a long time, i play it all the time and never get bored with it. They have created an original and This album is the best i have bought for a long time, i play it all the time and never get bored with it. They have created an original and unique masterpiece in mho. Well done guys, can't wait for the next album !. Expand
  3. DaveV
    Feb 9, 2005
    10
    One of my all-time favourite albums. Never gets old.
  4. Mark
    May 28, 2005
    10
    One of the finest albums ever. My Vitriol have their own sound which only one word can describe... amazing.
  5. Nov 26, 2018
    8
    16 tracks of pure and glorious indie guitar rock. I bought this when it first came out and I still enjoy it whenever I give it a spin. The16 tracks of pure and glorious indie guitar rock. I bought this when it first came out and I still enjoy it whenever I give it a spin. The sound has stood the test of time for me. This is a top guitar album full of great hooks and licks with a really huge energetic sound. More than half the record is instrumental with very few standard verse chorus verse tracks. The vocals are the least prominent aspect of the band but work well. "Always Your Way" and "Windows and Walls" are the stand out tracks for me. There's a clear shoe gaze influence at times in the vein of My Bloody Valentine but My Vitriol are more straight rock than experimental. The most disappointing thing about the band is that there never was a follow up to this. Expand