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It's A Bit Complicated
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  • Record Label:
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It's A Bit Complicated Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the second album for the tongue-in-cheek English band fronted by Eddie Argos.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. The Guardian
    100
    Full of the kind of bathetic genius English pop used to excel in, Art Brut are life-affirming - and are worth 500 of almost every other new guitar band.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    88
    As good as much of the new British rock can be, it is experiencing a creeping seriousness these days. "It's a Bit Complicated" is a welcome corrective.
  3. Spin
    80
    Complicated shows a real grasp of musical history. [Jul 2007, p.99]
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  4. The A.V. Club
    75
    With Argos still writing gems and the band stepping up musically, Complicated should be as irresistible as its predecessor. For newcomers, it may be. For fans, it's still enjoyable, but familiar.
  5. Rolling Stone
    70
    It all adds up to something lovably unpretentious – and pretty unique.
  6. PopMatters
    70
    It’s a Bit Complicated doesn’t quite live up to the thrill of [the] debut, but it’s still just as good as its predecessor.
  7. Village Voice
    30
    Here and there, Complicated sets up some promising scenarios—worrying about a platonic friend's reaction to a mix tape, or trying to initiate sex for the sake of outdoing a girlfriend's exes—but they never pan out.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. Colin
    Jun 20, 2007
    10
    They've done it again, another brilliant album. And technically better than the first album, the snobs who shunned that may have to eat They've done it again, another brilliant album. And technically better than the first album, the snobs who shunned that may have to eat their words.… Expand
  2. MycroftW.
    Jun 27, 2007
    9
    Good clean fun all round, which should land these guys a bunch of hit singles
  4. colbag
    May 5, 2011
    9
    Eddie Argos is a stalwart of English eccentricity, to be mentioned in the same breath as Jarvis **** Mark E. Smith, Luke Haines and Ian Dury.Eddie Argos is a stalwart of English eccentricity, to be mentioned in the same breath as Jarvis **** Mark E. Smith, Luke Haines and Ian Dury. The second Art Brut album only confirms this fact.… Expand
  5. DavidA.
    Jun 27, 2007
    8
    On first listen, I was sadly disappointed. I was such a fan of the first's satricial bravado, the rawness of the music. This one sounded On first listen, I was sadly disappointed. I was such a fan of the first's satricial bravado, the rawness of the music. This one sounded just less than. However, on repeated listens, songs like direct hit and post soothing out have left a real impression that this band was more than a one trick pony.… Expand
  6. AndrewT
    Jul 17, 2007
    8
    Cool album, would not be without it.
  7. SeanD
    Jul 29, 2007
    6
    Definitely not as good as the first but its not without its merits. lyrics are still gold, music is now stale
  8. CharmlessMan
    Jun 20, 2007
    2
    This album sadly lacks the charm of the original, both musically and lyrically. On the musical front, the departure of original guitarist This album sadly lacks the charm of the original, both musically and lyrically. On the musical front, the departure of original guitarist Chris Chinchilla has diminished the playfulness of the guitar riffs. Everything now sounds heavier and more overdone. Lyrically, much of the humor is either missing or too blatant and forced to be funny. Whilst the songs' themes would fit on the debut, their treatment here is heavy-handed and cloying. Argos' insecurities, previously self-mocking, now seem all too serious, particularly on a track such as Jealous Guy, where he describes his frustration that his girlfriend may have had sex more often with previous boyfriends. Whilst we may sympathise with the remnants of a schoolboy crush, such as on Emily Kane, listening to a grown man describe his sexual insecurities (which also feature here on Nag*4. Likewise, two cloying and nostalgic songs about making mixtapes (Nag*4 and Sounds of Summer) do no add up to one My Little Brother. Argos' perspective on sex and relationships have been dealt with more interestingly by bands such as Pulp and Arab Strap. Oh and Art Brut are about as punk as this website.… Expand

See all 12 User Reviews