Kish Kash
by Basement Jaxx
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. E! Online
    100
    Simply awesome.
  2. The A.V. Club
    100
    An album that sets the bar for density and imagination almost unreasonably high.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    The richest and most fervent music the Jaxx have ever made. [24 Oct 2003, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Pitchfork
    91
    Some of the most propulsive, ferocious music of the year as well as some of the most poignant.
  6. Uncut
    90
    A truly exhilarating 50 minutes of music. [Dec 2003, p.122]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Dot Music
    90
    Three albums in and Basement Jaxx are still so far ahead of the pack that they're a barely visible dust cloud on the horizon.
  8. AllMusic
    90
    Kish Kash may be the best dance record of 2003, but it's the least imaginative LP the duo have ever released.
  9. PopMatters
    90
    Quite how or where the new album fits into the contemporary music landscape isn't clear, but what's recognizable and of import is that somewhat out of time, Basement Jaxx have produced their best sustained effort so far.
  10. Launch.com
    80
    A funky good time from two house music smarty pants with a future.
  11. ShakingThrough.net
    80
    A downbeat, surprisingly ruminative affair, less concerned with dance-floor breakouts than the inevitable post-party comedown.
  12. Stylus Magazine
    80
    Review 1:Kish Kash suffers from a surfeit of ideas and sounds; quite simply there is too much going on here. [score=70] Review 2:It is simply how dance music--natch, pop music--should be done. [score=90]
    All this publication's reviews
  13. Q Magazine
    80
    Most of Kish Kash sounds like the album they intended to make after Remedy. [Nov 2003, p.106]
    All this publication's reviews
  14. Village Voice
    80
    It's not stretching to suggest that they've complicated house music's ease so effectively that Kish Kash often resembles, well, postpunk.
  15. Playlouder
    80
    As far as style and technique go, it's more of the same; quite literally MORE. 'Kish-Kash'? Mish-mash: Basement Jaxx make dancefloor monsters, Frankenstein's monster stylee.
  16. Blender
    80
    Their most violently inventive album yet. [Nov 2003, p.109]
    All this publication's reviews
  17. Rolling Stone
    80
    The energy never sags and ideas never flag.
  18. Under The Radar
    80
    A kaleidoscopic dance record that borrows a bit from Remedy and Rooty but... has a labyrinthine identity all its own. [#5, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews
  19. Mojo
    80
    Truly, a glorious noise. [Nov 2003, p.128]
    All this publication's reviews
  20. Urb
    80
    Pushes the boundaries so far it's difficult to even call what they do "house" anymore. [Nov 2003, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews
  21. Spin
    75
    Where Basement Jaxx's diversity used to serve a club-DJ flow, here they let it off the leash, with mixed results. [Dec 2003, p.126]
    All this publication's reviews
  22. The Guardian
    70
    There's a recurring sense of enforced jollity.
  23. Vibe
    60
    Each song here is crammed with all kinds of Kool & the Gang hand claps and Chemical Brothers bass drops. [Dec 2003, p.218]
    All this publication's reviews
  24. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    A naggingly problematic record, with a void at its heart that no amount of cool celebrity mates can quite conceal.
  25. Drowned In Sound
    40
    Struggles to offer the same level of excitement that previous Jaxx albums provided.

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Best Album of 2003

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 23
  3. Negative: 2 out of 23
  1. TedD
    Jan 22, 2005
    9
    great album
  2. orinj
    Dec 7, 2010
    7
    Lacking the fun of Remedy and Rooty, this album sets out to disappoint longtime fans for better or worse. Although the songs in general areLacking the fun of Remedy and Rooty, this album sets out to disappoint longtime fans for better or worse. Although the songs in general are great, few songs are distinctive and many feel like filler. Very well-thought out filler.

    That being said, there's very much to love on Kish Kash - the powerful vocals in Good Luck, the sleek style of Right Here's The Spot, the wild experimentation on Lucky Star, the fun of Supersonic and the ultra-catchy tune Plug It In. Although it sags in the second half, it's still a must listen.    … Full Review »
  3. RodrigoA
    Apr 28, 2006
    10
    Basement Jaxx go for the next level: awersome , danceable post punk electronica and romatic beats doing the background...
See all user reviews »