• Record Label: V2
  • Release Date: Mar 29, 2005
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Negative: 1 out of 25

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  1. MarcD.
    Apr 16, 2005
    8
    You'll sing out loud to this big, dark, crazy rock fest. Its hauntingly beautiful and seems to blast through in a myriad of colours.
  2. LouiseL
    Apr 5, 2005
    10
    Absolutely fantastic, best album ever!
  3. JMan
    May 3, 2005
    2
    the stereophonics are the british crap equivalent to american crap-rock bands like Creed. This album sucks pretty hard, which of course means its chart-topping stuff. I hope they like their paychecks.
  4. ScottA
    Jul 19, 2006
    8
    I've never liked the Stereophonics that much until this one arrived last year, with most of their past singles theyve always seemed to churn out radio friendly material which eventually got overplayed to hell here in the uk. Hardly the british equivalent of truly dull bands such as the Creed (no matter what anyone says, since the Stereophonics can actually write.!). and although I've never liked the Stereophonics that much until this one arrived last year, with most of their past singles theyve always seemed to churn out radio friendly material which eventually got overplayed to hell here in the uk. Hardly the british equivalent of truly dull bands such as the Creed (no matter what anyone says, since the Stereophonics can actually write.!). and although they've never been truly dull, some of their work hasnt always inspired.. This album is different. Although not exactly a Marilyn Manson style shout-fest (although edgier tracks such as Deadhead come close) this LP is easily the hardest and most interesting they've ever released. If youve never liked the Stereophonics and/or have lent towards much more rockier material, give this album a go- you might just be surprised. Expand
  5. monicaq
    Mar 31, 2005
    10
    the best ever?
  6. NorthFreedomFighter
    Apr 10, 2005
    8
    The best Phonics to date, it's bolder, edgier, and better crafted. You could tell they don't give a fuck anymore at what critics or anyone else has been saying about them. They're now off to do their own thing (which at times sounds like other people's things), but for the most part they've crafted their own angry and partially beautiful works.
  7. CaptainKirk
    Apr 19, 2005
    9
    Great raw, British guitar sound with a warm fuzzy feeling. Stumbled onto these guys recently and really like this album. Much better than what reviewers are saying!
  8. Tanya
    Apr 23, 2005
    10
    Amazing. Different from previous albums, but it makes this one great.They've shown that they are still in form. This is the great comeback.There is something that makes you want to listen to this album all the time, again and again... Brilliant lyrics and Kelly Jones's voice wonderful as always. I just love it!
  9. musicfan
    May 17, 2005
    6
    An overall improvement on their last effort with more energy and the odd great track. However lyrically terrible
  10. lordlord
    Mar 31, 2005
    9
    A dramatic departure from last rather dense and often dull album, fresh, invigorating and great for playing loud. Superman for example is heavy, simple and about very little but it SOUNDS brilliant. And clearly with a single like Dakota going in at no.1 in the charts, this album is only really lacking in filler.
  11. arianag
    Mar 31, 2005
    10
    excellent comeback, great bit and drummer...
  12. RossJ
    Apr 11, 2005
    10
    Absolutely fucking amzing. Love It.
  13. Dec 10, 2016
    8
    This was the point that Stereophonics became a globally recognised band - and rightfully so. It perfectly demonstrates proper British Rock. Every single Phonics album has a few humdingers, but this seems to have the least. It's loud, proud, raw-yet-structured and shows just how stunning Kelly's distinct voice can be when used correctly. Like albums by other modern-day Brit-rock iconsThis was the point that Stereophonics became a globally recognised band - and rightfully so. It perfectly demonstrates proper British Rock. Every single Phonics album has a few humdingers, but this seems to have the least. It's loud, proud, raw-yet-structured and shows just how stunning Kelly's distinct voice can be when used correctly. Like albums by other modern-day Brit-rock icons (Oasis, Manic Street Preachers, Arctic Monkeys) it may not be perfect, but that's what makes it quintessentially British.
    This was the album that assured their legacy.
    Expand
  14. Sep 3, 2019
    7
    Stereophonics are one of those bands who over the years have garnered a reputation for being boring. After showing early promise in their career, they've slid off the credibility scale a bit now. So when Dakota came out it was a bit of surprise to hear such a vibrant track from them. It's one of their finest moments and it gave their flagging career a 2nd wind. "Dakota" is undoubtedly theStereophonics are one of those bands who over the years have garnered a reputation for being boring. After showing early promise in their career, they've slid off the credibility scale a bit now. So when Dakota came out it was a bit of surprise to hear such a vibrant track from them. It's one of their finest moments and it gave their flagging career a 2nd wind. "Dakota" is undoubtedly the high point of the record but there is more to the record than that song. Overall its a consistently strong album with predominantly rocky numbers carrying you through the record and at least 3 other top end Stereophonics songs to go with that lead single. Their best since "Performance and Cocktails" and this record will make sure that people will keep interested in future Stereophonics releases just in case there is another Dakota in them. Expand
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 14
  2. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. A darkly, slathering record of frustration and disillusionment, “Language. Sex. Violence. Other?" may, in time, even come to be seen as one of the true masterpieces of the noughties guitar revival.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    An excellent modern rock record. Dense, intelligent, user-unfriendly and challenging. [12 Mar 2005, p.57]
  3. Stereophonics have in effect 'done a U2', packing in the arena-filling songs but with added AOR. Elements of rock dinosaurs such as ELO, Chicago and Fleetwood Mac all crop up over the course of 11 songs.