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Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
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  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Friendly Fires songs are all manufactured to a similar formula but there's a whole lab shelf lined with addictive variants.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    80
    Assured, short and ultimately sweet, Friendly Fires is a glib reminder that you don't need an M6 underpass, New York penthouse or guestlist to have an all night disco party, and remind us there's no shame in getting your groove on.
  3. Uncut
    80
    Their debut reveals a band bristling with ideas who've taken the time to streamline their influences into a syrupy white funk. [Nov 2008, p.98]
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  4. The Guardian
    80
    Lyrically, they veer between odes to suburbia, such as 'Photobooth,' and dreaming big dreams ("One day we'll live in Paris"); either way, they couldn't be more likable.
  5. Pitchfork
    79
    Friendly Fires is teeming with ideas, and although the record's consistent sound can be exhausting--there is no release, no relaxation in tempo--it's encouraging to locate a new band with too much passion, so much that it can hardly execute its ideas on one page.
  6. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    Eclecticism like this can be a drag when it's forced or disingenuous, but Friendly Fires' enthusiasm is disarming.
  7. Under The Radar
    70
    Given the humble, lo-fi beginnings of Friendly Fires, the sheer breadth and scope of the band's gloriously funky, expansive sound is quite remarkable. [Fall 2008, p.75]
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  8. Rolling Stone
    70
    At heart, they are strict pop formalists, packing each track with peppy hooks ('On Board,' as heard in a Wii ad), gushy New Romantic choruses ('Jump in the Pool') and Talking Heads-style nerd funk.
  9. Spin
    70
    The trio offers copious catchy bits, more tonal variation than the usual guitar-plus-beats norm and an appealingly pleading frontman in Ed Macfarlane. [Nov 2008, p.91]
  10. musicOMH.com
    70
    Quite what has held back the milieu of meandering morons that make up the music scenes mid range, mid class, middlemen is probably this intelligent and creative leap; crossing genres and keeping your opus open and fresh.
  11. All Music Guide
    60
    When the results are as fun as this album is at its best, it's hard to slam them too much for being derivative; better just to enjoy Friendly Fires as fleeting fun.
  12. Q Magazine
    60
    Their debut, recorded in frontman's Ed Macfarlane's parents' garage, is a tuneful affair. [Oct 2008, p.142]
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. ValM.
    9
    The album is amazing. I'm listening to it already for one month and love it more and more. Visited their concert at San Francisco - so cool and energizing! What I like on CD - it's fresh, interesting, melodic and of course so rhythmic!… Full Review »
  2. dand.
    9
    Young band, with a lot of passion, lot of energy. An addictive album. And that useful thing an almost perfect album to work out to!
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