Rock Action
by Mogwai
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Apr 24, 2001
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20

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  1. clem666
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    'Rock Action' brilliantly succeeds where some other Mogwai's albums fail. It is a far more consistent, cohesive, concise and focused effort. There are less moments of questionning void, less feelings of in-between. And even if they tend to add some more cathartic and explosive moves they remain true to themselves and make us wait for it.

    'Rock Action' was only their third studio album    'Rock Action' brilliantly succeeds where some other Mogwai's albums fail. It is a far more consistent, cohesive, concise and focused effort. There are less moments of questionning void, less feelings of in-between. And even if they tend to add some more cathartic and explosive moves they remain true to themselves and make us wait for it.

    'Rock Action' was only their third studio album yet their formula seems and sounds almost better than ever. Add this to the particular structure of the album and the sounds of instruments and Braithwait's voice and you'll get this highly-textured slow-paced acrobatics-packed project.    … Expand
  2. TheVillageDrunk
    May 17, 2011
    10
    This is a damn near perfect.

    Sine Wave opens the album with a wall of sound so powerful it nearly crushes you to death before Take Me Somewhere Nice soothes you with it's lush surge, while pondering spaceships over Glasgow. Dial: Revenge is a heartbreaking Gruff Rhys-lead tragedy of some kind. You Don't Know Jesus easily perfects the heavy build up then 2 right Make 1 Wrong glories in a    This is a damn near perfect.

    Sine Wave opens the album with a wall of sound so powerful it nearly crushes you to death before Take Me Somewhere Nice soothes you with it's lush surge, while pondering spaceships over Glasgow.

    Dial: Revenge is a heartbreaking Gruff Rhys-lead tragedy of some kind.

    You Don't Know Jesus easily perfects the heavy build up then 2 right Make 1 Wrong glories in a cinematic soundscape that would put a smile on anyone's face.

    It ends with a Secret Pint, like a drunk friend falling through your front door before opening his heart to you.

    In all seriousness, there's barely a wasted note on Rock Action, Mogwai have tried & came close, but they've never bettered it.    … Expand
  3. Tubz
    Jan 23, 2005
    10
    Very Pure. Good Album Overall!
  4. jeremyj.
    Jan 1, 2002
    10
    amazing stuff...gotta be fucking insane not like it
  5. jb
    Aug 19, 2001
    8
    Excellent. Had to listen twice in a row to allow the complexities to be absorbed.

Awards & Rankings

84
#84 Best Album of 2001
96
#96 Most Shared Album of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16
  1. The Wire
    30
    A collection of slow, moody pieces whose unexceptional nature is made more frustrating by the occasional flashes of inspiration. [#206, p.77]
  2. Pitchfork
    80
    Granted, it's not mind-blowing, and it's not nearly as masterfully executed and affecting as their earliest work. But there are only a handful of bands out there that can put out an album as well-constructed as Rock Action and still expect people to bitch and moan about it.
    Read full review
  3. Rolling Stone
    70
    Eschewing the sprawling, double-album ethos that marked the group's early entries into indie rock, Rock Action is also more concentrated and less elliptical
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