Hello [EP] - Karmin
  • Band Name: Karmin
  • Record Label: Epic
  • Release Date: May 8, 2012
Metascore
43 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 2 out of 4
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  1. All Music Guide
    May 30, 2012
    30
    There's always a sense that she and Noonan believe they're lowering themselves to sing pop music, that they are better, smarter, funnier than the music they're making...and that alienating smug entitlement is impossible to shake even when the productions are appealing, as they are through half of Hello.
  2. Boston Globe
    May 30, 2012
    50
    On its official debut, Karmin sidesteps creative expectations by simply sounding like every other pop act going.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    May 30, 2012
    75
    Their debut delivers seven tracks of adorkable hip-pop originals. [11 May 2012, p.67]
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  4. Rolling Stone
    May 30, 2012
    30
    Karmin can make you hate pop music.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.5 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. NeoGabox
    10
    Explosive, catchy and fresh pop/rap/dance music... :3 sometimes old formulas work well even if artists only mix up some of the ingredients...
  2. kendylmau5
    4
    As their EP's breakthrough lead single, "Brokenhearted", can exemplify, Karmin are charismatic and capable of making irresistible pop melodies, however, the rest of Hello focuses on catapulting lead vocalist Amy as a rapper, which turns out to be the EP - and this duo's - biggest downfall. Lyrical content is underwhelming and often laughable, as proven in its second single "I Told You So". Let's hope criticism steers this Sonny and Cher-wannabe couple into the right direction.… Full Review »
  3. Mab_987
    6
    Like pretty much everyone else I first heard about this duo through their YouTube videos, and even though I never subscribed to their channel I liked the few videos I did see. Still it wasn't until their impressive performance on SNL that I really began to take interest. I forgot about them for a while but then after seeing a video about how much Brokenhearted sucks compared to the rest of the album, I figured I'd give this a listen. ---

    Walking on the Moon: The music's good but that and the solid lovestruck chorus are ruined by the verses which are just filler bragging & as a result the whole song just feels unfocused, misleading & annoying. 6/10. --- Brokenhearted: Probably the most generic pop song here. It's catchy & all but nothing special. 5/10. --- I Told You So: One of my favorites from this album. The rapping especially is some of the most impressive here. My one complaint is that hearing this version was a let-down after hearing the version with more emphasis on guitar & drums on the SNL performance. Still, it's a good one. 7/10. --- Too Many Fish: This song just annoys me because 1) it's annoyingly repetitive, and 2) the whole "fish in the sea" metaphor is just driven into the ground so much it loses effect quickly. The whole thing just reminds me of Single Ladies. Nuff said. 4/10. --- I'm Just Sayin: Most of the same compliments I gave I Told You So can also be applied here. Everything about it just works, especially the more personal lyrics. 8/10. --- Coming Up Strong: First of all this is this only track here where Nick sings lead, and I really hope that happens more often in the future since he's got a good voice. The track continues lyrically in the same vein as I'm Just Sayin while also taking away some of its mildly obnoxious elements that kept it from being a 9. This is my favorite track from here. I wish for tracks here felt this sincere. It just takes all of Karmin's potential and magnifies it more than any other song here, and I hope they go more in this direction for their next album. 9/10. --- Hello: This isn't produced by David Guetta but it sounds like every David Guetta song ever, right down to the way it builds up to the chorus, which is an embarrassing "homage" to Smells Like Teen Spirit and also sounds exactly like that Evacuate the Dancefloor song from a few years back. Again, nuff said. Not a good way to end the album at all. 3/10. --- Overall this album shows potential but there's a little too much label influence to call it a complete success. --- Favorites: I Told You So, I'm Just Sayin', Coming Up Strong.
    Least favorites: Brokenhearted, Too Many Fish, Hello.    … Full Review »
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