User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever
by
Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever Image
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 36 Ratings

  • Summary: The English trio of brothers look to leave a mark in the US with their third album.

Top Track

I'm a Realist
I'm a realist I'm a romantic I'm an indecisive piece of shit I'm a realist I'm a romantic I am indecisive and that's about it And you dream that's... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Drowned In Sound
    90
    Ultimately, Men’s Needs… is brighter, sharper and just plain better than anything The Cribs have produced to date.
  2. musicOMH.com
    90
    There's absolutely nothing indecisive (or indeed shit) about this album. It's swaggering, full-throttle, full-throated genius.
  3. Rolling Stone
    80
    Finally, the Cribs deliver the tour de force they had in them, and it's about time.
  4. PopMatters
    70
    Produced by Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos and mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, At the Drive-In), the disc sounds great, bursting with angular guitar riffs and shout-along choruses.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Under The Radar
    50
    The Cribs are doing an admirable job of copying garage bands, but that is all it is, a facsimile. [Summer 2007, p.79]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. 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 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
  2. StephenC
    Oct 16, 2007
    10
    Men's needs is their best song to date !
  4. 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 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.… Expand
  5. 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 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… Expand
  6. 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 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
  7. 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 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.… Expand
  8. 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 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

See all 13 User Reviews

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
All Current Music »