Native Speaker - The Braids
Native Speaker Image
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Canadian quartet delivers experimental, post-rock dream pop on its new album.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Prefix Magazine
    Jan 18, 2011
    90
    If there's ever been an advertisement for allowing bands to develop before they blow up, Native Speaker is it. You'll probably listen to more immediate albums this year, but few will have the down-the-rabbit-hole quality that marks Native Speaker for success.
  2. BBC Music
    May 11, 2011
    80
    A rich debut (but brief at seven tracks) that sums up all that is beautiful and base in both music-making and love-making, Native Speaker consumes you like those lost hours spent locked away in a bedroom with a new lover.
  3. Q Magazine
    May 18, 2011
    80
    Rarely do teenage kicks result in such eloquent, nuanced records as this. [May 2011, p.118]
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  4. Uncut
    May 13, 2011
    60
    This still-teenage quartet writes heady songs that luxuriate in bubbling electronics, lagoon-diving reverb and layered harmonies. [Jun 2011, p.79]
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See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. pkindieboy
    5
    I like the overall sound of the album, but ultimately there's not enough going on harmonically to keep me listening. Playing a lot of loops and layers over one or two chords can work if the songs are short enough and there are other points of interest, but I don't feel that is the case here. Also, it sounds way too much like Animal Collective.… Collapse

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