Primary Colours
by The Horrors
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 62 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 62
  3. Negative: 3 out of 62

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  1. JoeS
    May 15, 2009
    7
    This is a very good album, and there's no denying they have made a large progression with this release. Still, I miss the sound of Strange House. It was just so much fun. I almost feel like they have given up a part of their identity by letting go of the organ. It's like Jethro Tull without the flute, you know? Overall this is a solid album, but it wasn't quite "horrific" This is a very good album, and there's no denying they have made a large progression with this release. Still, I miss the sound of Strange House. It was just so much fun. I almost feel like they have given up a part of their identity by letting go of the organ. It's like Jethro Tull without the flute, you know? Overall this is a solid album, but it wasn't quite "horrific" enough for me.… Expand
  2. EXILEQQ
    May 8, 2009
    9
    GOOD!!
  3. armandop
    May 10, 2009
    10
    This album maybe the "album of the year" but is still in fight with Merriweather Post Pavillion.
  4. MarkB
    May 17, 2009
    9
    Just great....'three decades' is incredible.
  5. CristóbalG.
    May 8, 2009
    9
    Amazing, just amazing, wasn't expecting this from The Horrors. One song is a bit boring and dull, but the rest is incredibly good.
  6. antonyA
    May 8, 2009
    8
    the horrors have grown up. excellent album.
  7. jamesc.
    May 9, 2009
    9
    A great album. Much more listenabe than their first record. Could be worshipped like phycocandy or loveless in 10 years time. granted not everyone will LOVE (I do) this but many will at least like it.
  8. MatthewF.
    Aug 25, 2009
    10
    Shoegaze is back, the best album I've heard this year.
  9. UncleE
    May 12, 2009
    9
    Excellent, best 'bum of the year thus far!
  10. karenM
    May 21, 2009
    10
    Brilliantly dark and atmospheric...I listen to this album repeatedly and never tire of it!
  11. Nick
    Jun 26, 2009
    9
    An incredible improvement from Strange House, and has the words Mercury Prize written all over it.
  12. micho224
    Oct 24, 2011
    10
    A huge step up from their debut album. In this album The Horrors have ditched their gimmicky "horror" punk style in favour of a more mature post-punk/shoegaze sound. Best songs on the album are "scarlet fields", "mirror's image" and "sea within a sea".
  13. jyo_tirmaya
    Aug 25, 2011
    8
    This album is so much fun to listen to! They sound like a cross between Joy Division and The Cure. I love this album. So far, one of my definite favorites of the year.
  14. Kernzzi
    Oct 10, 2010
    9
    absolutely amazing. one of the best albums to come out of 2009.
  15. ryfighter
    Jan 29, 2011
    10
    Primary Colours is the best album I have heard the past few years. It combines elements of shoegaze with Joy Division, creating a brooding, brilliant atmosphere that I never tire of.
  16. 2hip2beahipster
    Jul 17, 2011
    9
    Wow. I listened to the first album and I felt incredibly repulsed by the messy distorted guitars and the screaming of Faris Rotter. The album was complete chaos, and with the goth type ballads, and the way they presented themselves, I felt like the Horrors were just as gimmicky as Kiss. Them, I gave Primary Colors a listen because of the rave reviews it was getting and wow. The post-punkWow. I listened to the first album and I felt incredibly repulsed by the messy distorted guitars and the screaming of Faris Rotter. The album was complete chaos, and with the goth type ballads, and the way they presented themselves, I felt like the Horrors were just as gimmicky as Kiss. Them, I gave Primary Colors a listen because of the rave reviews it was getting and wow. The post-punk influences tickle my pickle, Faris' is more reserve and controlled as are the guitars that still have distortion in them but instead the atmosphere ins't chaos, it's more controlled and more matured. I take these guys seriously now, and I can go as far to say that I'm a fan of this band, and will completely disregard the first album. Highlights of this album are: "Who Can Say" "Scarlet Feilds" "Do You Remember" "Sea Within a Sea" & "I Can Only Think of You" those are the above average songs in this album that really make this album one of the best albums in the last five years. However, I think the only average song on this album would have to be Mirror's Image. Fantastic album.… Expand
  17. hugogc39
    Jul 24, 2011
    9
    This album is amazing, really good change. "Sea Within A Sea" is a great job, I like it.
  18. therealmogwai
    Jul 26, 2011
    10
    album of the year. excellent production. tracks range from rage to melancholy. Influences shine through but never overtake the band. Stand out tracks include Scarlet Fields, Only Think Of You, Three Decades, Sea Within a Sea.
  19. surf1ngthevoid
    Nov 15, 2020
    8
    While being an unexpected departure from his punk roots, Primary Colours opens the way that shows everything they're capable of as a band, mixing post-punk bases and vocals with shoegaze guitars and some krautrock references (the fantastic "Sea Within a Sea").

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Best Album of 2009
76
#76 Most Discussed Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. AllMusic
    70
    As bold and listenable as it is, Primary Colours is occasionally scattered, giving the impression that the band is trying on different sounds for size--although the fact that most of it works so well is actually more surprising than how different it is than their earlier work.
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  2. Drowned In Sound
    90
    Primary Colours is a reminder that young British bands can actually progress to brilliant new heights, and perhaps, just perhaps, the occasional surprise in these media saturated times isn’t as endangered a beast as previously thought.
    Read full review
  3. musicOMH.com
    90
    If there's a more surprising album this year, we'll be, er, um, surprised; Primary Colours is one of the best albums of 2009 so far.
    Read full review
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