Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever
by The Cribs
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 36
  3. Negative: 1 out of 36

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  1. StephenC
    Oct 16, 2007
    10
    Men's needs is their best song to date !
  2. sk
    Jul 26, 2007
    10
    best indie pop album of the year. every song could be a single.
  3. mills
    Jul 26, 2007
    8
    A strong album - I have been a fan since their first and they keep making fun, interesting music. A well made album.
  4. LiamF
    Jul 28, 2007
    9
    This album is a brilliant manifestation of everything the cribs have built towards so far, full of pop sentiments but snarling social commentary and fuzzy yet superbly executed music. I agree with Juan above, where the hell are those reviews, hardly a representative metascore is it If yuo're missing out deserved 8s and 9s?!
  5. karenak
    Aug 11, 2007
    10
    love it!
  6. BrianG.
    Jan 6, 2008
    10
    In looking at the critics Best of 2007 lists, and to anyone who has had the good fortune to buy this album, it is clear that this is one of the great overlooked albums of 2007. It stacks up alongside the best, including the Arctic Monkeys, Les Savy Fav, Blonde Redhead, the National, Okkervil River, Bloc Party, the Battles, LCD Soundsystem, Radiohead and the rest of what I collected this In looking at the critics Best of 2007 lists, and to anyone who has had the good fortune to buy this album, it is clear that this is one of the great overlooked albums of 2007. It stacks up alongside the best, including the Arctic Monkeys, Les Savy Fav, Blonde Redhead, the National, Okkervil River, Bloc Party, the Battles, LCD Soundsystem, Radiohead and the rest of what I collected this year. For me, the true test of this wonderful album is the fact that it keeps finding its way into my car's CD changer. Let's face it, there is always a tough decision as to what should be fit into a limited number of slots - this album has a way of displacing great albums time and time again. This is a record that will beg you to play it. I think Metacritic got this one wrong.… Expand
  7. JoshuaD.
    Feb 16, 2008
    9
    Bursting into Our Bovine Public, once again, The Cribs mean business. Lyrics to make the indie-posing bands quake in their boots and dazzling guitars to make them wish they could make up a riff as catchy but still so simple. On this album they attack indie bands, indie fans, misogynists, their home town and even the fakes, liars and stars of films (Moving Pictures). A dazzling third Bursting into Our Bovine Public, once again, The Cribs mean business. Lyrics to make the indie-posing bands quake in their boots and dazzling guitars to make them wish they could make up a riff as catchy but still so simple. On this album they attack indie bands, indie fans, misogynists, their home town and even the fakes, liars and stars of films (Moving Pictures). A dazzling third record from the real fighters for real indie music, by a real indie band. 9/10… Expand
  8. philg
    Oct 16, 2007
    10
    what a fantastic album, album of the year for me. fantastic, agonizing and gripping lyrics with fantastic guitars, all made barely listenable by alex kapranos himself whilst retaining its sense of individuality and rebelliousness. fan.tastic.
  9. EvK
    Dec 21, 2007
    9
    As far as pop-rock goes, this is easily as good as I've heard all year, this album features some very catchy tunes. My only complaint is that it's a little over-simplistic, not enough depth
  10. JuanHise
    Jul 25, 2007
    10
    An amazing Britrock album that is a beholden to the La's as it is to Nirvana.... by the way where are the reviews from NME, Playlouder, and Drowned in Sound that will bring this albums numbers up to their deserved average (deseved If that average is in the 90s)
  11. AmurabiM.
    Jan 24, 2008
    7
    With some help from Alex Kapranos, The Cribs with this album has become in the next band-to-watch. They are playing without this sense of urgency that permeates in the British indie rock bands nowadays. They are playing to themselves, and in the meantime, they are mocking the scene, their sound, their fans and themselves. This is not a deliberate movement. They are trying to get With some help from Alex Kapranos, The Cribs with this album has become in the next band-to-watch. They are playing without this sense of urgency that permeates in the British indie rock bands nowadays. They are playing to themselves, and in the meantime, they are mocking the scene, their sound, their fans and themselves. This is not a deliberate movement. They are trying to get themselves away from the wave of conformism and mediocrity of the real indie scene. With this album they are playing like never before. They are not trying to get success; it feels that this is more punk attitude than a commercial strategy. With Lee Ranaldo in the stunning "Be Safe" that remembers that monologue from Trainspotting, and some catchy tunes like "Men´s Needs" and its counterpart "Women´s Needs", the album feels glorious. But there are a problem. It notices than the primal influences like The Strokes or The Libertines still keeps permeating the sound of the band. And Kapranos or someone else can´t help, than the band still fights with their intern demons, that it reflects into this derivative sound. This could be a great album if they are trying to forget those bands and focus more often into themselves.… Expand
  12. SteveH
    Dec 31, 2007
    9
    A great rock and roll record that is certainly in contention for album of 2007 - certainly in the top five. Lots of energy, great tunes and stunning guitar.
  13. Armington
    Nov 30, 2010
    7
    There are many good tracks here, the first four in particular, but I much preferred 'The New Fellas'. That album was packed with fantastic song-writing (mostly scorning the lame, generic indie scene in the uk) and riotous energy. They've maintained the biting attitude on Men's Needs... but this album isn't anywhere near as fun. Solid listen nonetheless and, yes, still miles better thanThere are many good tracks here, the first four in particular, but I much preferred 'The New Fellas'. That album was packed with fantastic song-writing (mostly scorning the lame, generic indie scene in the uk) and riotous energy. They've maintained the biting attitude on Men's Needs... but this album isn't anywhere near as fun. Solid listen nonetheless and, yes, still miles better than dross like The Pigeon Detectives.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. AllMusic
    70
    With each album, the Cribs have gotten a little sharper and more focused, and nowhere is this clearer than on the brilliantly named Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever, the band's major-label debut.
    Read full review
  2. Blender
    60
    Singer-guitarist Ryan and Gary Jarman comport themselves ably through these dozen distortion-cranked, rhapsodically sung bits of power pop. [2007 Aug, p.110]
  3. Pitchfork
    67
    But all the marquee names in the world wouldn't mean a thing if the Cribs didn't step up in the songwriting department, and the trio answer Kapranos' ready-for-prime-time production with chart-gazing tunes.
    Read full review
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