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In a Perfect World Image
Metascore
47

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 58 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the debut full-length release for the Irish rock quartet.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 9
  2. Negative: 3 out of 9
  1. Jun 12, 2013
    80
    Kodaline illustrate all the ingredients for greatness, with many a swooning chorus to invoke a thousand festival lighters held aloft.
  2. Jun 12, 2013
    70
    As real big-bucks contenders, Kodaline aren’t quite there yet. But as a debut, In A Perfect World manages to find its feet with ease.
  3. Jun 20, 2013
    70
    With time, greater individuality will come. Right now, this is an accomplished and emotive statement of intent, cinematic in scope and able to raise goose bumps at will.
  4. 60
    Kodaline offer a musical barometer of bankable current rock trends, but display scant originality on this debut album.
  5. Jun 17, 2013
    40
    For all their stadium uplift and notionally anthemic choruses, they never deliver a hook or melodic sucker punch that really floors you.
  6. Jun 12, 2013
    30
    This is boy band material dressed up in an indie band’s clothes.
  7. Q Magazine
    Jun 12, 2013
    20
    Entirely meritless. [Apr 2013, p.104]

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 3 out of 12
  1. Sep 13, 2019
    10
    That'a one of the best records that I've ever heard in a long time. Every song in the album makes you feel like you're floating into clouds ofThat'a one of the best records that I've ever heard in a long time. Every song in the album makes you feel like you're floating into clouds of happiness. MASTERPIECE. Expand
  2. Jan 23, 2020
    10
    One of the best albums I've heard in my whole life, every song give you that nostalgic feeling you need to feel alive again, just a masterpiece
  3. Apr 30, 2020
    10
    This Album deserves moreeee it's so good, the molodies, the lyrics, the message of each song are undeniably gooooodddd
  4. Jun 12, 2014
    9
    I am giving this a 9 b/c of what this band could be. The album is really a 6 or 7 but they are talented enough that all the 2 and 3 starI am giving this a 9 b/c of what this band could be. The album is really a 6 or 7 but they are talented enough that all the 2 and 3 star reviews need balanced out. Expand
  5. Jul 2, 2014
    7
    Kodaline seem to have sifted through every band that have been successful playing soft rock over the last 10 years and taken bits from each ofKodaline seem to have sifted through every band that have been successful playing soft rock over the last 10 years and taken bits from each of them to make "In a Perfect World". The likes of The Script and Two Door Cinema Club comes to mind but the bands big influences seems to be Coldplay and later Snow Patrol. Kodaline have tunes to boot and the slick production makes the album highly listenable although the album lacks any real spirit or identity. The level of songwriting is very good if completely unoriginal and while singer Steven Garrigan has a nice voice, he doesn't ever mix the delivery up and lets things go stale as the album progresses. For every good thing about this album there is a corresponding negative. If your aware of any music released prior to 2010 you might be bored, but if your a young person starting to get into music you'll find plenty to enjoy. Expand
  6. Feb 6, 2014
    7
    Genre: Alternative
    Kodaline's debut release seems to have come in for a lot of criticism in the press but there are far, far worse albums in
    Genre: Alternative
    Kodaline's debut release seems to have come in for a lot of criticism in the press but there are far, far worse albums in the charts at present. Admittedly it doesn't do anything particularly new and a few of the songs are a little bland but, thanks to songs such as High Hopes and All I Want, it offers a great piece of easy listening to sit back and chill out to.
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  7. Oct 15, 2013
    2
    Utterly bland middle of the road music suitable only for background music in cafes, elevators, shopping malls, etc. No real creativity foundUtterly bland middle of the road music suitable only for background music in cafes, elevators, shopping malls, etc. No real creativity found here, only the results of studying extra hard on 'how to write insipid indie music 101' lessons.
    Every song feels painstakingly crafted; not to convey any real feeling but to manipulate and coerce the listener into feeling something heart-wrenching. But it is so painfully obvious that you are being duped because Kodaline are unable to collectively gather a shred of real emotion with which to back up their songs. They must have High Hopes indeed if they think anyone will remember them by the time album two arrives and the music world has gotten over this infection of emo-indie whingers; see Passenger, 1975, etc.
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See all 12 User Reviews