Gangs
by And So I Watch You from Afar
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. raelt
    May 20, 2011
    10
    The best 44' of music in 2011 so far, huge guitar riffs and changes of pace. Forget about math or post rock, just listen to it w/o prejudices of any kind and enjoy: brilliant!
  2. staubin
    May 31, 2011
    10
    this is not what i would consider an inflated metascore. this is a fantastic instrumental album. it's a total genre blend of everything that makes rock and roll great. sometimes it's almost atmospherically awesome, but most of the time it is face meltingly awesome. either way, that's awesome.
  3. thisthomas
    May 31, 2011
    10
    An obvious example of a record by a band at the top of their game. From start to finish the album sounds like a celebratory parade complete with riffs and noises to kill a man.
  4. qotsa328
    Jun 17, 2011
    10
    I didn't think they could make a better album than their first one... and then they did, wow. This album is beyond amazing. I love every single track.
  5. Ricko
    Aug 22, 2019
    8
    An absolutely incredible live band and while some of the madness is lost in the transfer to record, they still pull it off once again on album number 2. There isn't a single lyric on either this or their self-titled first record and sometimes this makes the tracks hard to differentiate from one another. Most songs are 5 minutes plus of dense guitar and while this is enjoyable, you do haveAn absolutely incredible live band and while some of the madness is lost in the transfer to record, they still pull it off once again on album number 2. There isn't a single lyric on either this or their self-titled first record and sometimes this makes the tracks hard to differentiate from one another. Most songs are 5 minutes plus of dense guitar and while this is enjoyable, you do have to be in a particular mood for it. It's not necessarily something I personally would listen to very frequently but when I do throw on "Gangs", I'm blown away every time. It's too heavy to be just enjoyed backround music like some instrumental bands. The band have never failed to impress me on a live stage and if you ever get the chance, make sure and check them out.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Mar 15, 2012
    40
    Considering that most songs poke past five minutes, they're oddly unmemorable, featuring hooks with infinitesimal life spans, as well as guitars and electronics that all shoulder one another for room with too much hyperactivity to crunch into one song.
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  2. AllMusic
    Jan 12, 2012
    70
    Unfortunately, by tailoring their sound to the stage, they sacrificed some of the beautiful flow and elegant dynamics that made their self-titled effort so effortlessly brilliant.
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  3. PopMatters
    Jan 5, 2012
    70
    Though these guys may not have quite perfected their excellent formula just yet, Gangs is nevertheless a step in the right direction.
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