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Return The Gift - Gang of Four
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Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: It's nearly impossible to read an indie music review these days without seeing the words "Gang Of Four" pop up, but that influential band hasn't been around to take advantage of its newfound fame. Until now, that is, as the reunited Gang (in its original lineup for the first time since 1981) returns with newly re-recorded versions of 14 of its classic songs.… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Alternative Press
    100
    This revisitation of the band's canon burns brighter than a thousand nuclear-rector accidents. [Nov 2005, p.218]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Shows the Gang still do it best. [28 Oct 2005, p.84]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Pitchfork
    60
    Bottom line is that if you've got the old albums and you want to experience Gang of Four again, better to shell out for the actual show than for the disc that approximates it.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. MichaelJ
    10
    Assertive, confident, crisp, live, energetic, timeless. and tight.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. VoltMeter
    9
    Bummer that there's no new material here. But these guys are still amazingly tight. I saw them at every Boston venue with the original lineup. If anything, the new versions have a harder edge to them: Hugo pounds like a piledriver and Andy Gill shreds blistering funk feedback. I love this CD. But I just wish that they'd follow the cue of one of their touring mates from '79-'81 (Mission of Burma) and put forth some new material. I'd like to see what sonic mayhem the crew would make after 24 years (when Dave Allen left). Dave Allen's funk bass was in my humble opinion the cement of GOF. He and Hugo were one of the tightest rhythm sections I've ever seen. After he and Hugo left, Gang of Four became a rather boring affair. Pop won out over hard funk. But the past is...well, the past. I love the re-recordings. At least it might introduce GOF to a new audience. The kid who rang up my purchase had never heard GOF. And this was at a shop that prides itself in being the most progressive (small) chain of music stores. With all the rehashed "post punk" rip off bands out there, it would be nice to see the granddaddies of post punk get their due props.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. slawekk
    8
    sometimes uneven but the general opinion is definitely positive. i like their paranoic sound. the second song would be a number 1 on some alternative chart.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 4 User Reviews

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