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Outside Closer
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Outside Closer Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

  • Summary: The Leeds, England band follow their acclaimed 2001 release 'Cold House' with this 10-track effort which, like its predecessor, combines acoustic guitars and some glitchy electronica elements into moody indie rock.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Drowned In Sound
    90
    Do yourself a favour and eschew fashion for something with real substance: Outside Closer is an album of the year, fact.
  2. Urb
    90
    The distorted pop ambience of Outside Closer could very well make these Brits the Notwist of 2005. [Mar 2005, p.118]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Filter
    86
    Their most realized album yet. [#15, p.101]
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  4. No Ripcord
    80
    Outside Closer weaves an oddly distinctive set of roundelays between the Air-like poppiness and cheery melancholia of the negatives and the Massive Attack jams with The Clash in Reykjavik melancholia of winter 72, concluding with two of the most depressing songs I’ve ever heard.
  5. Almost Cool
    80
    If their last album seemed like a drastic change to their longtime fans, then Outside Closer will seem like more of a logical succession of sound.
  6. Q Magazine
    70
    A modish conflation of acoustic guitars, violins, subtle electronics and artfully detached vocals, located somewhere near Amnesiac-era Radiohead. [Feb 2005, p.104]
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  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    50
    Genre-bridging should excite, thrill, agitate; yet... Hood are--still--hipster-miserablist Pet Shop Boys fans threatening suicide during rainy countryside walks. [15 Jan 2005, p.43]
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See all 27 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. [Anonymous]
    Feb 10, 2005
    10
    PHENOMENAL! Hood keep getting better and better. Don't wait another 4 years for the next record, guys!
  2. AlexW
    Feb 9, 2005
    10
    the sound of falling snow. beautiful. an atmosphere no other band could create.
  4. VernB
    Feb 8, 2005
    9
    Fuck NME! Damn stupids!!
  5. RandallG
    Feb 10, 2005
    9
    it is amazing, NME and Junkmedia(read full review) manage to speak of nothing on this album.. Glitch-rock???, hardly or better yet barely.. it is amazing, NME and Junkmedia(read full review) manage to speak of nothing on this album.. Glitch-rock???, hardly or better yet barely.. how did they miss 7 out of 10 of the tracks.? honestly every track on this album has it's own character yet the album holds together. outside,closer contains Hood's past and at the same time is a complete leap forward into new complex/complete song structures. it has been wowing me for nearly two months. petshopboys???? try mixing neworder, talktalk(late) and this really god damned amazing band called Hood… Expand
  6. Anandgyan
    Mar 18, 2005
    9
    Recognizable from a snippet; yes they do have their sound and it's so nice. I cal it elegiac electronica with sprinkles of prog rock ... Recognizable from a snippet; yes they do have their sound and it's so nice. I cal it elegiac electronica with sprinkles of prog rock ... well they do have drums and guitars but I'll be daydreaming before dancing.… Expand
  7. Linda
    Mar 5, 2005
    8
    Actually I'd never heard of Hood before Outside Closer was album of the week on a local Sydney Aust. community station. I'd hear Actually I'd never heard of Hood before Outside Closer was album of the week on a local Sydney Aust. community station. I'd hear tracks in the on my way to work and they would stick in my mind all day. On the way home I'd hear them again and they would stick in my head while trying to get to sleep. Not sure why I like it so much, but I do. And is that all that counts in the end?… Collapse
  8. ChristianB
    Mar 14, 2005
    6
    I like Hood. The new album seems to have too much texture and doesn't feel as organic as Cold House. I have listened to it numerous I like Hood. The new album seems to have too much texture and doesn't feel as organic as Cold House. I have listened to it numerous times and it seems to wear on my nerves. I do not know why I feel this way because I want to like it so much. I do feel that it is getting way to many high marks and reviews. This album just might be the ultimate grower. I do think that Hood are very talented and have alot of great ideas, maybe too many.… Expand

See all 9 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

91
#91 Best Album of 2005

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