Riot On An Empty Street
by Kings of Convenience
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 33
  3. Negative: 5 out of 33

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  1. Ivan
    Oct 20, 2004
    10
    Yes, yes, yes!
  2. RC
    Aug 12, 2004
    9
    An excellent follow to a great album. Has not left my car cd since I picked it up. Two soft voices blended in perfection.
  3. MrAuty
    Aug 15, 2004
    9
    Awesome
  4. LawrenceP
    Aug 1, 2004
    7
    Their best so far. Alot of S&G going on, but still good. I still think they should go the electronic route.
  5. AshleyM
    Sep 1, 2004
    9
    I really love this album. It's melancholy and awkward and simply lovely in its simplicity. The only critic being that there's not much in the way of groundbreaking. But sometimes that's perfect.
  6. JStocker
    Nov 8, 2004
    10
    One of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard
  7. AshleyG
    Dec 10, 2004
    10
    Just a brilliant album just as good as their Quiet album. Though this one is more upbeat it still completely the sound of Kings of Convenience. I love it!
  8. VinceH.
    Jul 27, 2004
    8
    Not as consistently brilliant and enthralling as their first album (which is a masterpiece and one of my all-time fav albums) but this is still really fun to listen to. These guys are brilliant with melody & harmonic vocals that sound beautiful together. This is catchy folk/pop/Nick Drake type-stuff that only these damn Norwegians seem to know how to do. Drags a bit in the middle, but Not as consistently brilliant and enthralling as their first album (which is a masterpiece and one of my all-time fav albums) but this is still really fun to listen to. These guys are brilliant with melody & harmonic vocals that sound beautiful together. This is catchy folk/pop/Nick Drake type-stuff that only these damn Norwegians seem to know how to do. Drags a bit in the middle, but overall a fitting follow-up to a masterpiece.… Expand
  9. FrancescoA
    Jul 28, 2004
    10
    Simply wonderful. Romanti, melancolic, hushed and with beautiful melodies. Sad but warm.
  10. Hannaj
    Jul 29, 2004
    10
    I really liked misread and i'd rather dance with you.
  11. woodentopztopz
    Aug 3, 2004
    8
    sure it has a flavour of Simon & Garfunkle, but isn't it good to know that someone's still out there feeling like that...?
  12. AliC
    Dec 4, 2005
    9
    One of the finest records of the decade to date, and probably the most under-rated. They are hardly fashionable, sounding more like Simon and Garfunkel than anyone else: but they are at least as good as that duo. The two line guitar arrangements are some of the best you will ever hear. The vocals are haunting, with beautiful, poetic lyrics: 'Homesick, 'cause I no longer know, One of the finest records of the decade to date, and probably the most under-rated. They are hardly fashionable, sounding more like Simon and Garfunkel than anyone else: but they are at least as good as that duo. The two line guitar arrangements are some of the best you will ever hear. The vocals are haunting, with beautiful, poetic lyrics: 'Homesick, 'cause I no longer know, where home is'. And no, I am not Norwegian.… Expand
  13. Frank
    Apr 25, 2005
    10
    As a child, dad used to sing Simon and Garfunkel songs to me in the car when we went on drives. Track one of this cd made me smile and fondly remember those road trips. That kind of warm fuzzy, taken with a good cup of green tea when settling in to read a good book...this is what the album seems to have been written for.
  14. Andy
    Aug 16, 2006
    10
    My favirote album of the past five years, no joke. This album doesn't seem to be understood by critics, its the perfect mix of folk, jazz, and shoegaze. The instrumentation is gold.
  15. AH
    Jun 21, 2007
    10
    The first time i played this record i thought it was just good...But this is the kind of record that has the quality to reveal more of its qualities, every time you listen to it. Then you'll discover what a beautiful, rare diamond it is. This is one of the truly great records of recent pophistory. 22 July 2007
  16. BertL
    Sep 27, 2009
    10
    The albums released by Kings Of Convenience have been some of the most beautiful and mis-understood of this decade. Critics seem to miss the obvious point that they want their music to sound like it sounds, and they inforce their own production restrictions, to keep it to the minimum needed. It's the same with Erlend's other project, The Whitest Boy Alive, ctics seem to thing The albums released by Kings Of Convenience have been some of the most beautiful and mis-understood of this decade. Critics seem to miss the obvious point that they want their music to sound like it sounds, and they inforce their own production restrictions, to keep it to the minimum needed. It's the same with Erlend's other project, The Whitest Boy Alive, ctics seem to thing that their chosen minimalism is some sort of lack of song writing ability or effort, but in their case less is definately more. But it really doesn't matter what the critics say, these albums go out and are played for years by people, as their soothing, haunting melodies are timeless and don't need the usual hype that today's music relies on. They're just great, simple songs.… Expand
  17. NickD
    Jul 26, 2004
    9
    I wasn't to keen on 'Quiet', but this is a great album...slightly smoked-jazz influence and some fantasticly understated songs...possibly the second best acoustic album of recent years, behind Turin Brakes' first effort.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Playlouder
    80
    Given how many of their contemporaries have attempted to xerox a winning sound and got it so far wrong, the fact that the Kings can still turn their hand to such magnificent lost hits as 'Misread', spin out obtuse, imaginative imagery as they do in 'Surprise Ice' and sculpt such tender ruminations as 'Stay Out Of Trouble' is cause for serious celebration.
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  2. The Guardian
    80
    This new album picks up exactly where the Kings left off, with warm melodies and exquisitely detailed ruminations.
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  3. AllMusic
    80
    If you sort of liked the first record but wished it was more interesting, that it had more punch of both the sonic and emotional variety, then your wishes have come true.
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