User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Primary Colours
by
Primary Colours Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 62 Ratings

  • Summary: The second album for the British rock band was produced by Portishead's Geoff Barrow.

Top Track

Who Can Say
I never meant for you to get hurt And how I try, oh how I try I could never give you just what you deserve Another man would surely learn I know... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Urb
    100
    If The Horrors began as a Halloween novelty, Primary Colours is like a twisted ending right out of the Twilight Zone--a hype beast that turned out to be a real monster.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    90
    Time will tell how Primary Colours stands up to the likes of "Loveless" or "Psychocandy," but right now, this feels like the British art-rock album we’ve all been waiting for.
  3. 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.
  4. Uncut
    80
    The quintet's transformation from schlocky garage urchins to ambassadors of thrilling new-wave can largely be attributed to Portishead's Geoff Barrow, who, alongside Chris Cunningham, produced "Primary Colours," uncovering a formidable band beneath the haircuts. [Jun 2009, p.86]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Mojo
    80
    The Horrors are operating at a way more advanced level, dragging rock, feedback-drenched, electronic and electrifying, into a new decade. [Jun 2009, p.101]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. cokemachineglow
    71
    The pure emotion and aggressiveness isn’t suppressed or transformed into something else, but rather just given room for some thought, allowed to open itself up and find the strange flowers within.
  7. PopMatters
    50
    At times exhausting, at other times exhilarating, Primary Colours is more an experience than an album and, despite its flaws, one that deserves to be heard.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. 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 matureA 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".… Expand
  2. karenM
    May 21, 2009
    10
    Brilliantly dark and atmospheric...I listen to this album repeatedly and never tire of it!
  4. 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,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.… Expand
  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. Nick
    Jun 26, 2009
    9
    An incredible improvement from Strange House, and has the words Mercury Prize written all over it.
  7. UncleE
    May 12, 2009
    9
    Excellent, best 'bum of the year thus far!
  8. 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 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

See all 19 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

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