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Mechanical Wonder Image
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

  • Summary: The fifth album from the British rockers is their first U.S. release in five years.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Possibly the band's best album yet, destined to be loved by fans and loathed by critics, 'Mechanical Wonder' will be the soundtrack of spliffed up barbecues and boozed up afternoons with your mates for this summer and beyond.
  2. OCS is quite simply straight-up and ultra-refreshing, expert in crafting great pop songs and equally adept at letting the music do its talking.
  3. The Cliff's Notes of classic rock.
  4. The problem is that the songwriting has gotten a little mannered, a little undistinguished, and the performances, while sturdy, tend to be slightly flat.
  5. Yet despite the quality of Can't Get Back To The Baseline and the Kinks-like Give Me A Letter, several semi-acoustic fillers -- of which the dreary, You Are Amazing is the worst offender -- water down the album as a whole.
  6. 50
    Overall, the pickings are too thin for a band of their capabilities.
  7. Alternative Press
    20
    In one word: lackluster. In two words: dead boring. [Aug 2001, p.90]
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. jill
    Sep 13, 2004
    10
    this album is excellent, i give it a ten.... i can get 'if i gave you my heart' out of my head...amazing music to chill to. x
  2. LeeC.
    Aug 2, 2001
    10
    measures up to mosely shoals and marchin already. possibly their best musically not generaly publicly album so far
  3. KiaraS.
    Nov 8, 2001
    10
    I vote 10 even though it's not my favourite, but i think it's great! Songs like Sail my boat, You're amazing.... it's I vote 10 even though it's not my favourite, but i think it's great! Songs like Sail my boat, You're amazing.... it's beautiful music Expand
  4. hippychick
    Jun 1, 2001
    9
    fantastic, mechanical wonder and give me a letter are me favourites. Go OCS
  5. StuartR.
    Jan 26, 2002
    9
    A fine crafted album with a variety of textures and great for a spliff on a saturday afternoon.
  6. MarkF
    Feb 12, 2005
    3
    Well - I will have to give this album another good listen. I love O.C.S but thought this album was awful! (Far too down with no substance) I Well - I will have to give this album another good listen. I love O.C.S but thought this album was awful! (Far too down with no substance) I got to say though that I can't believe what I'm reading here (alot of good ratings) so maybe my view is a wrong one? Other albums by O.C.S have been more absorbing. Still - after reading what people think here makes me wonder if I should listen to mechanical wonder again! - mmmmm - I wonder? Expand