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Lost Riots - Hope Of The States
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. No Ripcord
    100
    From the outset, it is clear that this album is a triumph.... An album of great beauty, potential and emotional involvement.
  2. ShakingThrough.net
    92
    This most confident debut presents Hope of the States as a band for the future -- a place it'll most likely find very comfortable.
  3. Dot Music
    90
    On paper it can seem a dark, depressing combination. But what Hope Of The States bring and what, in theory, they offer up for the lost and desperate to cling onto is... well, hope.
  4. Under The Radar
    90
    This is emotional anarchy at its prime--urgent, passionate and honest. [#7]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. All Music Guide
    90
    [A] majestic soundscape.
  6. Filter
    90
    Sure politics can be a bit boring... but the intense symphonic crescedos and bombastic drums on this record are exciting enough to keep even the most apathetic of you on board. [#12, p.103]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Playlouder
    80
    From track five onwards, they rarely put a foot wrong.
  8. Drowned In Sound
    80
    The only spoiler is Sam Herlihy's lack of vocal abilities.
  9. Amazon.com
    70
    Hope of the States pull off the commendable trick of twisting avant-garde apocalyptica into bona fide pop songs. [Amazon UK]
  10. Q Magazine
    60
    A tricky, pretentious balancing act that's mostly charismatic and only occasionally hard work. [Jul 2004, p.116]
    All this publication's reviews
  11. Alternative Press
    60
    A record of bittersweet delights that resonates with the brain and the heart. [Nov 2004, p.149]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. Pitchfork
    57
    These are summer-blockbuster songs, overdriven and overproduced simply because they can be, with little-to-no actual substance behind the heavy-effects bluescreen.
  13. PopMatters
    50
    The most glaring problem with The Lost Riots is that it's just no fun.
  14. Entertainment Weekly
    42
    More contrived than climactic. [29 Oct 2004, p.68]
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  15. Uncut
    40
    The heart of The Lost Riots is drowned in bombast, and Sam Herlihy's vocals are nowhere near strong enough to compete with the melodramatic, if prosaic, arrangements they're pitted against. [Sep 2004, p.107]
    All this publication's reviews
  16. The Guardian
    40
    "One of the great British rock debuts"? Surely not.
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 2 out of 12
  1. TomMy
    10
    None of this 'first half good, second half weak' rubbish... Or vice versa. The entire album is genius. Sure, it's raw. But it's got real depth, which is lacked in 'Left', the good-but-not-brilliant follow-up. Inspired and out of the ordinary, with emotional music matched by heartfelt vocals, this album deserved so much more success than it achieved.… Full Review »
  2. CraigS
    10
    Sometimes you can only really judge the quality of an album by giving it time. Hope of the Stes fall into this category. Radiohead and Bloc Party are other examples.Quite simply, this Lost Riots is brilliant. There are no bad tracks and most are outstanding. Surely the most underated band of the past couple of years. I bought the CD when it was first released and now 16 months later I enjoy it just as much. A classic!!… Full Review »
  3. KevinH
    10
    Totaly amazing album
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