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No Blues
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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 23 Ratings

  • Summary: The fifth full-length studio release for the Welsh indie pop band was produced by John Goodmanson.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Paste Magazine
    Oct 29, 2013
    90
    The musical maturity is the most notable and commendable part of No Blues.
  2. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Oct 30, 2013
    88
    It's a very satisfying record, and it's the type of album where every song will probably be your favorite at some point, and you'll almost certainly have each of them stuck in your head at some point in the next week.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Oct 29, 2013
    83
    Where Hello Sadness seemed like a more mature album, No Blues finds Los Campesinos! getting a better, more pragmatic handle on aging.
  4. DIY Magazine
    Oct 24, 2013
    80
    It's one gripped with thoughts of death and yet somehow it's is the very sound of being alive. Los Campesinos! are a band who've clearly grown up, but here, that's only a good thing.
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    Oct 29, 2013
    80
    Follow-up No Blues finds the band settling into a more consistent sound.
  6. Sputnikmusic
    Oct 28, 2013
    76
    Los Camp have never sounded better or more essential, even if it’s all a little Motion City Soundtrack-ish.
  7. AllMusic
    Oct 28, 2013
    50
    Its flame flickers at best, and the feeling of deja vu that pervades the album means that Los Campesinos! need to change something before they hit the studio again, or the next record will be an even more faded copy of their glorious early days.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. destinyx
    Nov 1, 2013
    10
    Los Campesinos! needed to demonstrate to the world that they were a band with room for improvement after the mixed reviews that their fourthLos Campesinos! needed to demonstrate to the world that they were a band with room for improvement after the mixed reviews that their fourth album, Hello Sadness, received. And they definitely showed their maturation on No Blues, which is probably their best album to date. It might not be as lively as Hold On Now, Youngster... nor as atypical as the rest of their previous works. No Blues stands out thanks to its perfect balance between their most soft, 'pop-ish' sound and their more rough indie rock influence.

    In the same way, their lyrics sound much more mature despite the signature songwriting style of Gareth Campesinos!, and while they give a wink to the past in some occasions (probably on purpose though!) it's pretty clear that Gareth has taken a step forward.

    It must be noted that this album is not as straightforward as their previous albums, and it doesn't leave a strong impression after hearing it for the first time. However, it definitely gets better with a few listens and it ends up giving a stronger impression than anything the band has done before.

    All the mentioned attributes make No Blues not only the most harmonic Los Campesinos! record to date, but one of the most interesting albums of 2013.    … Expand
  2. pkindieboy
    Oct 29, 2013
    9
    I've only heard this a few times, but I really like it. It's a densely produced, high energy album with nice hooks and clever lyrics. FunnyI've only heard this a few times, but I really like it. It's a densely produced, high energy album with nice hooks and clever lyrics. Funny this was released on the same day as Reflektor; it owes a debt to early Arcade Fire.… Collapse
  4. DominicJones
    Oct 31, 2013
    9
    Full of intelligent, energetic, wry pop with huge melodies and an inherant humanism to everything they do. It'sa brilliant album and builds onFull of intelligent, energetic, wry pop with huge melodies and an inherant humanism to everything they do. It'sa brilliant album and builds on their previous 4 albums, This is a huge step beyond the shouty twee-pop the band are known for. … Expand

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