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New Long Leg
by
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New Long Leg Image
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 39 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the British post-punk band was recorded in Wales with producer John Parish.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. The Observer (UK)
    Apr 5, 2021
    100
    Dry Cleaning have a sound that is as singular as it is dazzling.
  2. Exclaim
    Apr 1, 2021
    90
    New Long Leg may not always be positive, but it's more interesting than that, more needling and necessary. It's everything at once, a record that absorbs and spits back the unending noise of the world and asks that you take a second look, every common thing somehow made brand new.
  3. Pitchfork
    Apr 2, 2021
    86
    It amounts to something tougher and more original than merely the sum of classically cool influences—a sound that activates Shaw’s disparate imagery, making the setting seem more dangerous.
  4. The Telegraph (UK)
    Apr 1, 2021
    80
    Any vocalist might thrill to engage with such sleek backing tracks, yet Shaw’s cool delivery and off-kilter lyricism occupies unusual spaces in the band’s arrangements, pushing the whole project into edgily discombobulating territory.
  5. The Guardian
    Apr 2, 2021
    80
    Shaw is the magic ingredient. Her lyrics – snippets of found text, but mostly her own writing – leap out, and have more impact from being delivered conversationally, freed from the rhythms and meter of the music. ... This is a debut to be excited about.
  6. Under The Radar
    Apr 1, 2021
    80
    New Long Leg delivers on every level, from Shaw’s lyrical attention to detail to the impeccable musicianship that surrounds her. Fulfilling all the promise shown by those early releases not to mention 4AD’s faith in signing them up, Dry Cleaning are the real deal. Potential realized in abundance.
  7. American Songwriter
    Mar 31, 2021
    70
    It’s difficult to see where Dry Cleaning goes after the defiant line in the sand drawn here. But for those willing to follow them, and especially frontwoman Shaw, it’s likely they will blaze an idiosyncratic path in the music sphere, similar to what they have accomplished on this rather remarkable, often powerful, and always challenging, debut.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. juanpmonge
    May 13, 2021
    10
    This album is so cool. The way she "sings" highlights the amazing guitar work! There's not one bad track. Impeccable. Best album of the year so far.
  2. RFResnick
    Apr 27, 2021
    9
    When the single Scratchcard Lanyard first played on my streaming service, I was stopped in my tracks. Whoa! This is, er, different. AWhen the single Scratchcard Lanyard first played on my streaming service, I was stopped in my tracks. Whoa! This is, er, different. A world-weary woman speaking in riddles over punchy guitars. Hmm. I wasn't so sure.

    After a couple more plays, I was hooked. Though Dry Cleaning obviously isn't the first to employ this style, the music feels remarkably fresh. I'm still not sure what vocalist Florence Shaw is talking about, but it seems terribly clever, and I love the delivery.

    Happily, the debut album has multiple additional amazing songs: Strong Feelings, Her Hippo, New Long Leg, John Wick ... I've been playing this album on repeat for over a week now.

    As it turns out, Dry Cleaning's two pre-LP EPs are also terrific. I'm on the bandwagon and can't wait to catch them live in the post-pandemic future.    … Expand
  4. Ffaj
    Jul 12, 2022
    9
    Отличный альбом. Пост-панк в духе Fall, немного Sonic Youth, Флоренс Шоу классная вокалистка, дебют удался, за 2021 год для меня Dry CleaningОтличный альбом. Пост-панк в духе Fall, немного Sonic Youth, Флоренс Шоу классная вокалистка, дебют удался, за 2021 год для меня Dry Cleaning – настоящее открытие. Лирика очень странная, но музыка тут превыше всего.… Expand
  5. Ricko
    May 19, 2021
    7
    It sounds good on first listen but it's only after half a dozen listens or so that it really started to bed in with me. The vocal deliveryIt sounds good on first listen but it's only after half a dozen listens or so that it really started to bed in with me. The vocal delivery works perfectly with the overall sound. Like a mix of spices coming together to make one taste, the different elements of Dry Cleaning are all equally crucial to the creation a deceptively simple yet unique sound. Album opener Scratchyard Lanyard is the album highlight for me with the cutting line "Do Everything, Feel Nothing". The rest of the album is in a similar vain, really engaging and some great hooks and riffs accompanying a really interesting collage of seemingly random lyrics.… Expand
  6. spongki
    Dec 15, 2021
    7
    The debut album of Dry Cleaning, one of the emerging bands in the post-punk paradigm of the last decade. They present New Long Leg, an albumThe debut album of Dry Cleaning, one of the emerging bands in the post-punk paradigm of the last decade. They present New Long Leg, an album with a lot of promise but still a long way to go. First and foremost, the sound that this material exhibits is already classic within post-punk; even if we include modern bands like Squid and company, who are defining said sound with aspects of Math Rock, Post-Rock, and so on, Dry Cleaning still traditional in terms of sound. This isn't to say that its sound isn't appropriate; it simply means that it lacks the variety that it could have.… Expand
  7. All_ButTrU4
    Oct 28, 2021
    5
    Sarcastic,conversational and funny. The debut burst forward so casually you barely get the opportunity to realize what exactly you justSarcastic,conversational and funny. The debut burst forward so casually you barely get the opportunity to realize what exactly you just witnessed. Wearing their guitar rock influences on their sleeves they almost channel sonic youth at its heights. But midway it begins to feel tiresome and despite the satisfying guitar work its far from something I'd revisit. Favourites:scratchcard laynard,unsmart lady,john wick… Expand
  8. 997redneck
    Apr 3, 2021
    1
    How old are you reviewers? Have you ever heard music from the 80's? The music on this is okay. The singing[really?] is like a woman readingHow old are you reviewers? Have you ever heard music from the 80's? The music on this is okay. The singing[really?] is like a woman reading the back of a sleeping pill medicine bottle with no emotion. Bad Marianne Faithful rip off. Wonder what her vocal warm ups are like? This album is flipping horrible.… Expand

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40
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