User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 223 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 154 out of 223
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Mixed: 29 out of 223
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Negative: 40 out of 223
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Jun 21, 2018A lot of people complaining kinds of leon sold out on this one, I don’t see it. Great album from start to finish. Best songs, closer, crawl, I want you and cold desert.
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Dec 12, 2017
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Jun 9, 2015Kings of Leon in this album are no longer a band, but a brand capable of making lots of money. There are stadium-rock silly songs, rock songs, pop songs and a lot of useless songs. It's really hard to feel this record. Its strength relies on the fact that there are some great songs, as the single Sex on Fire, or the languid opener of the record Closer.
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Oct 30, 2013There is no denying that kings of leon changed their sound on this one but it worked. Closer and crawl are two of the best songs they have ever created. Other stand out tracks are I want you and cold desert.
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Oct 11, 2013
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Nov 1, 2012Very good album. The songs are diversified, relaxing but still rocking. Caleb Followill's voice is groovy, the guitar and bass riffs are remarkable and the lyrics also got me. You should go and hear this!
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Jun 29, 2012A very solid alternative rock album. Yes its sound is much more commercial then their previous efforts but to that I'd say, "so what". If an album is good it's good. An there is nothing wrong with change, those who alienate them were never really fans to begin with. Crawl is unequivocally the best song on this Lp.
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Apr 27, 2012I see reviewers writing whole essays about this album, but I think one word can easily sum up Only By The Night: tame. "Crawl" is actually pretty good, though.
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Feb 19, 2012To say Only By The Night is a horrible album would be a bit ignorant. Coming after their best album Because Of The Times this album feels underwhelming and very disappointing in the arena-rock direction they took.
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May 29, 2011Soul-crushingly bad.
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May 6, 2011
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Mar 14, 2011Inconsistently excellent. Only By The Night is a good album with some good tracks, some great tracks, some outstanding tracks, and some terrible tracks.
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Mar 4, 2011kol have made a great soft rock album here. i do prefer the earlier sound but bands change, thats what bands do. Crawl, i want you, manhattan, cold desert and revlery are the stand out tracks.
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Dec 15, 2010
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Oct 21, 2010def the worst album outta the five though its far from bad. still some great songs on this album, sex on fire, cold desert, manhattan, crawl and i want you are great kings songs.
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Oct 10, 2010absolutely **** terrible, to put it bluntly. because of the times was easily one of, if not THE best album of the decade. This would be one of the worst considering the potential this band has shown they have. only half decent song is Crawl which resembles because of the times
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Oct 4, 2010Never has an album stripped the credibility from a band in such dramatic fashion. 'Crawl' is probably the worst, weakest at the knees and ill-timed stab at political commentary ever written. Kings of Leon: I don't believe you.
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RickyP.Jan 25, 2010This is perhaps one of the biggest sell out albums (if not THE biggest) of the past decade. A band with much talent goes and releases drivel in order to please people in clubs. There is no intelligence involved and no insight that made previous efforts worthwhile. Truly disappointing, in the context of their talent.
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SmittyOct 15, 2009For my 1st time listening to any of their albums, this was well composed. Every song offers a taste of their live performance whereas you could imagine seeing them on stage. It stands out b/c they have a sound almost bigger than any other band that's been out as long as they have.
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JoshH.Oct 15, 2009I keep being told this album is a clean representation of a band selling out. "Sex On Fire" will be the thing that ultimately destroys what was a half-decent band. Commercial will love it though, god what don't they love.
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RhysOct 6, 2009
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TomASep 25, 2009
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fredr.Sep 24, 2009This album has been at or near the top of the Soundscan album sales chart since its release. KOL obviously know what they are doing. It makes me wonder whether their critics were paying customers.
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JonGAug 28, 2009Comical that critics pounced on this for being, ohmygosh, commercially successful. Meaning if a lot of people like it it must be dumb, because all people besides me, the critic/hipster, are dumb. Actually, this is a fantastic album, not going to appeal to the NPR/Paste magazine set but great rock music, with well constructed well written songs. Not for fans of The Decemberists.
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DmitrySAug 3, 2009Great album, remind me of u2 achtung baby and other great stuff. Very accessible, good music. don't care about words much though.
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BrianBJul 23, 2009
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EvanT.Jul 23, 2009The songs are well crafted, but kings of leon take no risks with this album. The lyrics are completely mindless though. And they picked the worst song on the album as their lead single. But overall its pretty good, at least as in what i was expecting.
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JamesJul 20, 2009I was a fan of Kings of Leon until this album. It represents the opposite of everything they were built on.
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danielcJul 11, 2009Having loved the first three records i wasn't impressed upon first listn and i still belive that the best album they made was Because of the Times but after a while this record has grown on me it's more experimental than before and if you forget about there other efforts that you find that it acctully suites them well. this album deserves more time and rewards it quite well.
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VinceG.Jun 15, 2009Use Somebody was one of the worst songs I've heard in years. The rest of the album wasn't much better. The music doesn't change, it's just the same thing over and over again. Overall this album is terrible.
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StephenWJun 12, 2009
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SouthernRockerMay 25, 200910..an easy 10. This album is great all the way through. Excellent lyrics. Expertly produced. Some may not like the progression and changes bands go through, but if album 4 sounds just like album 3, wouldn't that be a little boring? I can't put the CD down. Guess I'll play it again!
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ChrisHMay 6, 2009One of the best rock albums in recent memory. with a taste of 80's beat and feel that somehow works. Well done
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JohnVMay 4, 2009Wow. One of the best albums I have ever heard. Very creative, groovy, and powerful all at the same time. Calebs voice is amazing.
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MattH-CApr 23, 2009This is a very solid album, Caleb's vocals are on fire.
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MateoGMar 22, 2009Very nicee record... One of my favs albums of the year... I know they've changed from their roots, but all bands need to change so we as fans don't get bored with the same music released with every new album... Very creative!
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MarliseGMar 19, 2009K.O.L. (Kings Of Losers) makes the worst alternative rock albums from 2008, and the Grammy and Brit Awards gave awards now, for the losers and biggest mediocrity and terrible music that exist in this planet.
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ChristianCMar 19, 2009thanks to this awful album Kings Of Lion was died for me and many people who loved their music, They can makes One Hit Wonders and going to disappear like Kaiser Chiefs. R.I.P. Kings Of Leon.
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ChrisSMar 19, 2009Only two words to say about it: HORRIBLE ALBUM.
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JuanPMar 19, 2009This album killed me too!, I liked KOL music, but its terrible album, boring awful, horrible, i don't understand why wins a grammy and a brit awards, its awards for the mediocrity and merchandise plastic music? I'f Metacritic makes negative points i gave to it -10.
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JoseRMar 16, 2009This album killed me. I love KOL, I've seen them live 2x, but this album seems like a record execs idea of what they should sound like in order to sell some records toa more mainstream Audience. Gone is the raw sound and energy of Youth and Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heart Brake, instead we get sappy, boring songs. This CD hurts, Lord knows I tried to like it.
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MariaBMar 10, 2009This CD is raw, seductive and hypnotic. Love it, Love them.
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OzzLMar 6, 2009
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JhonatanYFeb 24, 2009This album despite and is less than the previous albums, now Kings Of Leon sounds like a mediocrity copy of My Morning Jacket or a average alt rock band like Hinder or Nickelback, This album is one of big fakes of the decade.
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SatanicMFeb 10, 2009
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EarlLJan 15, 2009So disappointing; that a band I loved so much could be reduced to producing such dross nearly brought me to tears. It sounds at best like the worst efforts of all the bands I hate, and at worst like a terrible, shallow immitation of all the bands I love.
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MegBJan 11, 2009Great album! They may have side stepped some of the down home grit that made their audience love them early on but the polish of this album showcases how they are maturing as musicians. Caleb Followill's vocals have never sounded better.
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CribbBJan 2, 2009Kings of Leon are getting worse by the album. This has nothing on youth and young manhood or aha shake heartbreak. The band may have improved but the music they have produced for this album is just full of radio-friendly drivel with little redeeming aspects. Sellouts.
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ZachPDec 21, 2008It's a shame that this is the album that will make them famous. It's solid and incredible but pails in comparison to the epic-ness of their three previous. Still, all 13 tracks (counting bonuses) are incredible and the album is probably perfectly mixed.
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AdamCDec 19, 2008The year's biggest disappointment. Being a huge fan of KOL's two first albums and a so-so fan of their third, I was hoping for a return to their rougher sound. However, they've set aim for the commercial market and produced their worst album by far. What a joke that this album has ended up on many critics end of year polls.
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MarkPDec 18, 2008The first play through of this album may have been promising but on repeat listens it is clear that KOL have traded in their unique and exciting style for meaningless crap which appeals to anyone who doesn't like good music.
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LisaZ.Dec 4, 2008
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ethancDec 3, 2008Kings of leon are one of the best bands out there and this album is amazingly produced. they build the songs with their of the raw and thick sound. a perfect album some of the best tracks are "be somebody" "i want you" "closer" "revelry".
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RandySNov 28, 2008I don't believe in judging CD's on the coverart alone, but i feel like if i judged this CD on musical quality I would end up with a broken keyboard, bloody hand, and an annoying headache. So, on a scale of 0-1, 0 being a CD with coverart not similar to previous KOL CDs, and 1 being a CD that resembles coverart from previous KOL CDs, I give this CD a 1.
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ChrisB.Nov 18, 2008
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ThomasGNov 17, 2008
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HazHansonNov 10, 2008here is the deal. this album is good....at best. However, i just saw KOL live and they did play several songs on this album, including Closer, Crawl, Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, Manhattan and Cold Desert and the songs sounded amazing. They sounded a million times better live than on the album. The only way to appriciate this album, unlike the Kings last three efforts, is live.
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JyotirmayaD.Oct 25, 2008I play this album much more than the previous two albums by KOL. I lke the fact that they sound different and have toned down the sometimes irritating "boogie-ing." Very good effort.
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FredP.Oct 24, 2008It's different than their previous albums but still a solid piece of recognizable music of a very talented band.
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CameronOct 22, 2008KOl of my favourite band and i was eagerly anticipating this album yet apart from 'Use Somebody', 'Crawl', 'Cold Desert' and perhaps 'Closer' the rest is not up to their colossal standards that were shown on the last 3 albums. To me it seems rushed with too many leftovers from their last album.
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JesJ.Oct 16, 2008Very strong record - catchy songs - good production - their best so far.
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RyanP.Oct 14, 2008Solid, not spectacular.
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GaryC.Oct 11, 2008Fantastic Revelry is probably song of the year.
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GrenL.Oct 8, 2008Took the risk to become stars. One of the best bands out now. Sex on fire is one the best rock songs in the last 5years.
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CoryB.Oct 4, 2008One of the strongest rock vocal albums in a while.
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StevenH.Oct 2, 2008Anybody could have writtent this album. Anybody. It's so weak compared to previous albums. It frustrates me that it's being reviewed so highly, do we really need to encourage Kings of Leon to be the next Coldplay or U2? I wish they'd just be Kings of Leon.
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MattL.Sep 30, 2008Sex on Fire, Be Somebody, Manhattan, Notion, I Want You, and Be Somebody are good.
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FilazaferXSep 29, 2008This album sounded like a classic the first time I heard it. Many critics don't like music that is radio-friendly. But, good music is good music, period. An excellent cd.
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erikeSep 29, 2008A turd by any other name would still be a turd...good god, what a piece of crap. all the promise of aha shake heartbreak is a distant memory at this point...this is a complete and total embarrassment...if i wanted to listen to a nickelback album, well...i would shoot myself...if you don't like radio friendly, cookie cutter, paint by numbers garbage...stay as far away from this as possible.
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NickSep 29, 2008
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MislavSep 27, 2008
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JasonSep 26, 2008Not at all like what i was expecting. I can see why some people are a little turned off by the new direction but after a few listens its really growing on me a lot.
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VincentB.Sep 26, 2008Grows on you, like all good music.
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DanSep 26, 2008If this weren't by the Kings of Leon, I'd be impressed. However, after 3 outstanding albums, each one better than the last, this pretty good album is still a dissappointment.
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ColinR.Sep 26, 2008Not perfect, but the closest album to it that I've heard this year. No fillers, although some songs do take a while to grow on you but give it a few listens and you'll be hooked.
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StuP.Sep 25, 2008Still a good album, but nothing on the first two KOL albums or even Because of the Times! They're turning into U2 and its definitely not a good thing. What happened to their trademark southern swagger and indie guitar riffs? Way too processed.
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Jean-PhilippeD.Sep 25, 2008Shocking demonstration from a formerly well hung rocking quartet. I haven't heard such a disappointing records since U2 "All That You Can't Leave Behind"... though everyone already expected that one to be a mere pile of teenage spitle. Sellouts!
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DavisF.Sep 25, 2008Not their best ... but a couple of songs will rock as though they were!
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NicoleG.Sep 25, 2008Love the depth & torque of this album!
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sarahsSep 25, 2008Excellent cd - love it from beginning to end.
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TimTSep 25, 2008Definitely not the Kings of Leon that we love and are used to.
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KennyMSep 24, 2008Why do Kings of Leon suck now?
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ArnA.Sep 24, 2008Great album...better than the poser band Coldplay and their disgraceful garbage of an album.
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AlanL.Sep 24, 2008
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ReubenS.Sep 24, 2008It's the kangs. That's why.
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zoySep 24, 2008Well i think it's great album,i can't get enough of specialy the first 3 tracks.in this album kings of leon look more relaxed and more focused.i think it deserves a little more appreciation and a good listen. enjoy it.
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[Anonymous]Sep 24, 2008The album is a good album for any random college band. But Kings of Leon could have made a good album wihtout losing their grit. That grit is exactly what was charismatic about their music before. I all for well-developed song structure, but you can still hold on to your roots. This is a frustrating album at best. A band with potential selling it's soul for stadium approval.
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JoshKSep 23, 2008
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TomBSep 23, 2008Loving it!!
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DanielC.Sep 23, 2008Strong effort. After hearing "Sex on Fire," I felt like giving these guys another chane. My purchase was well worth it. Don't buy the negative reviews. These guys are trying to be nothing more than they are. Who cares if they have left garage-rock for arena rock? I consider this a better sound for them.
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CailyD.Sep 23, 2008Pure cock rock drivel for scenesters. Why does the UK and Australia dig this banal crap so much?
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LewisR.Sep 23, 2008
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OwenP.Sep 23, 2008I really like the route they took on this album. Nothing wrong here. It's a pleasure to listen to straight through.
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MichaelM.Sep 23, 2008Not their best but certainly the best rock music around!
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andyhSep 23, 2008To make it quick and easy - this is my favorite album of 2008. You must give it a listen.
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MattJSep 23, 2008A brilliant album, but a grower. The only low mark i can partly agree with is mojo in that it will help when this is in context of future albums however this is still a great album!
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ChKSep 23, 2008Pure greatness. It's almost as good as their debut.
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Awards & Rankings
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MojoOnly By The Night is best viewed as a transitional record from a band who have quite literally done their growing up in public. [Oct 2008, p.98]
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The dreamy 'Cold Desert' is the perfect maudlin end to this short, sharp, 42-minute, no-filler album, revelling in every miserable blues-rocker cliché as Matthew's guitar goes all shoegazey and then briefly threatens to turn the whole thing into a 'Purple Rain' wig-out.
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As it is, it's a very fine record from a band who are seemingly growing in stature, confidence, and ability by the day.