User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 5 out of 20

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  1. carlo
    Oct 17, 2007
    10
    This album is a great surprise from this young Madison band. Definitely worth the rating.
  2. JesseR.
    Sep 11, 2007
    10
    I've been following Pale Young Gentlemen since their first show here in Madison more than two years ago. In addition to having in my opinion one of the most unique albums of the year, they also put on pne of the best performances. The band's line up now consists of a cello and three violins in addition to the piano guitar and drums.
  3. BessieC.
    Sep 19, 2007
    10
    Pale Young Gentlemen are hands down the best band to come out of Madison in years, if not ever. Their live shows are brilliant and their self-released album holds its own against any major label indie-rock release this year.
  4. FarisR.
    Oct 18, 2007
    10
    Pale Young Gentlemen are a pleasure to listen to. Really, what beats "Clap Your Hands"?
  5. Sep 11, 2011
    10
    My favorite album of all time. The lyrics are clever, and the music is addicting to say the very least. The vocalist's voice changes perfectly with the music, and his singing style is so unique that it never gets old. It's a crime that this band isn't more popular.
  6. DavidG
    Oct 21, 2007
    9
    This album will eventually go down as among the year's 10 best albums. The Pale Young Gentlemen execute the inspired, fresh song-writing of Mike Reisenauer brilliantly. I can't help echoing the sentiments that Pale Young Gentlemen have been unfairly ignored by a music industry (labels, media outlets, radio) too rigidly self-satisfied to recognize a new talent unbelievably still This album will eventually go down as among the year's 10 best albums. The Pale Young Gentlemen execute the inspired, fresh song-writing of Mike Reisenauer brilliantly. I can't help echoing the sentiments that Pale Young Gentlemen have been unfairly ignored by a music industry (labels, media outlets, radio) too rigidly self-satisfied to recognize a new talent unbelievably still under the radar. If music industry hype magazines and websites truly want to seem like cutting edge journalism uncovering "lost gems," they should take note. What could attend to your media's credibility moreso than the initial recognition that opened up your grateful audience's attention to a great band? Some of the alleged influences given by various websites seem forced. But I will echo a few: the comparison to a young Randy Newman (the songwriter) is apt -- the lyrics often ring bittersweet and ironic, while the music is varied, well structured, with alternating touches of the melancholic and the madcap. The band is more interested in great music than hype. Also, I cannot help likening them to a couple of my favorites: The Kinks and Nina Simone. Both examples performed compositions from various genres, making something new and timely out of older forms. Furthermore, it's probably fair to say that Pale Young Gentlemen will be similarly misunderstood by the same media outlets that try to pigeon-hole musicians into a marketable commodity. Unfortunately, this leads to everyone losing. Check these guys out and you'll, no doubt, want to purchase this self-released album. Unlike all of the musicians that their music is compared, all of your purchase dollars will go directly to the band and their musical growth instead of into the pockets of one of the major labels. With this debut record, they have emerged as a real artistic presence into the world of music. Expand
  7. ErikH.
    Sep 19, 2007
    9
    The most fun album of the year and also one of the year's best. Go buy it today! The best song is "Saturday Night".
  8. ShaneW.
    Sep 22, 2007
    9
    I really like this release. Very fun and upbeat. Don't miss their live show if they come to your town. Every time I see them they get better.
  9. NickP.
    Sep 10, 2007
    7
    Fun album. I will definitely pass it along to friends. Give it a try, you'll be pleased.

Awards & Rankings

Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. The Gents waltz their way through these ten sturdy, mid-tempo numbers rarely striking a bum note.
  2. The band's eponymous debut is a classy, memorable, and swooning collection of sophisticated pop.
  3. Thoroughly theatric, Pale Young Gentlemen's measured approach is channeled by the bricolage upshot of their composition.