Ritual
by White Lies
  • Record Label: Geffen
  • Release Date: Jan 18, 2011
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 24
  3. Negative: 2 out of 24
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  1. Paste Magazine
    Jan 20, 2011
    84
    In context, Ritual is the wrong title -- very little here feels repetitive or procedural. The album is a flight of fancy most listeners will want to take again and again.
  2. Mojo
    Apr 4, 2011
    80
    The album delivers on the promise. {Feb 2011, p.104]
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  3. Q Magazine
    Feb 1, 2011
    80
    The Ealing doom merchants come of age. [Feb. 2011, p. 110]
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  5. BBC Music
    Jan 18, 2011
    80
    Despite being disabled with rotten cover art, Ritual is a sturdy affair, and one that should continue White Lies' steady ascent towards something serious and important.
  6. AllMusic
    Jan 18, 2011
    80
    A welcome surprise in all of this comes by way of White Lies' ability to break up the gloom with the occasional soaring moment.
  7. Beats Per Minute
    Feb 18, 2011
    74
    Ritual is an enthralling album, highlighting a band flexing their musical muscles, trying to grow and add new sounds to their existing palette.
  8. Alternative Press
    Jan 19, 2011
    70
    Taken individually, Ritual's songs can meander too much; as a whole, however, the album is a success. [Feb 2011, p.90]
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  9. Clash Music
    Jan 18, 2011
    70
    They've mastered the anthemic choruses; all they need to work on now is the consistency.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 35
  3. Negative: 3 out of 35
  1. coldplaz
    Jan 22, 2011
    8
    Not as good as TLML but definitely not that bad!
    so track by track:
    Is love? - boring from the start but then it shows as one of the album's    Not as good as TLML but definitely not that bad!
    so track by track:
    Is love? - boring from the start but then it shows as one of the album's highlights
    strangers - catchy but unoriginal and repetitive
    bigger than us - great choice for first single one of better songs    … Full Review »
  2. Chris_A
    Aug 19, 2013
    7
    A reasonable album, but not as good as the first album, The album seems to be missing a really decent tune that To Lose My Life had withA reasonable album, but not as good as the first album, The album seems to be missing a really decent tune that To Lose My Life had with Death. Overall though it's not as bad as the critics say.… Full Review »
  3. safcgac
    Oct 26, 2011
    10
    Do not listen to the critics. There is a reason this band play sell out shows and this is it. Totally immense. The album starts strong and itDo not listen to the critics. There is a reason this band play sell out shows and this is it. Totally immense. The album starts strong and it ends strong, it just never lets up. A must have.… Full Review »
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