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Skying
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Skying Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 50 Ratings

  • Summary: The third album for the British rock quintet was produced and recorded by the band.
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Top Track

Endless Blue
Everyone seems so far away Glittering jewels that you never had You'll never own Everything seems so far behind See yourself in the places you've... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. BBC Music
    Jul 6, 2011
    100
    There's no fault to be found with Skying--truly, every song here hits its mark, and while The Horrors are evidently a band happy to change its spots from record to record (and steal a few licks, too), only the most ungracious of observers could deny that they've now crafted two of the finest British albums of recent years.
  2. musicOMH.com
    Jul 6, 2011
    90
    Skying feels like a watershed of sorts for the band, because if they now want to be seen as more than creators of masterful records, the whole package will need to reflect that brilliance and artistry.
  3. Beats Per Minute
    Jul 15, 2011
    87
    While Skying is not as large a leap forward as Strange House to Primary Colours was, it's still the work of a band firing on all cylinders, and an exceptional offering from a group that, out of nowhere, is quickly becoming one of the most exciting young acts around.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jul 6, 2011
    80
    If all you can see is a tangle of influences then you're standing too close to the picture, and when Skying's visions come into focus, it not only reaffirms that Primary Colours was far from a fluke, but that they could go so much further.
  5. Uncut
    Jul 19, 2011
    80
    Skying, The Horrors' third, again brilliantly confounds expectations. [Aug 2011, p.76]
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  6. The Independent (UK)
    Jul 8, 2011
    80
    Whether The Horrors will willingly pursue that same trajectory to its logical conclusion seems doubtful, but for now Skying finds them breaking free of old bindings, eyes set on the wild blue yonder.
  7. NOW Magazine
    Jul 28, 2011
    60
    Lots of bands pillage from the pop music canon; few do it with the aplomb of the Horrors.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 2 out of 9
  1. Jombler
    Oct 8, 2011
    9
    I'm unfashionably late to the Horrors disco, after being repelled by the stench of NME, but it seems I arrived just when the party was in fullI'm unfashionably late to the Horrors disco, after being repelled by the stench of NME, but it seems I arrived just when the party was in full swing. I've since dosed my speakers in their marvellous preceding albums, but while they can hold their own in a bar fight, 'Skying' magnificently transcends these albums. The album title proposes a band that have reached an artistic climax, an empryean eruption of psychedelic resonance, and indeed these Southend-On-Sea lads are surfing the clouds.

    Far from the early gothic Nick Cave/Birthday Party influences that have seasoned their early work, they have reinforced the wonderful post-punk Joy Division backdrop of their predecessor with a richer, more chromatic sound. The doors are torn down with the blinding Hacienda-tinged â    … Expand
  2. Bowiemaniac
    Dec 13, 2011
    8
    Great album, love the electronic sound of the album, very wide.
    Sure it's all been done before but who cares, what's good is good.
    Loved    Great album, love the electronic sound of the album, very wide.
    Sure it's all been done before but who cares, what's good is good.
    Loved Primary Colours also but i think this album is more in balance....    … Expand
  4. djmadi
    Oct 24, 2011
    8
    Skying is a great effort for the band, catching a sound among psychedelia, space rock and new wave - memories. Surprising...and very - wellSkying is a great effort for the band, catching a sound among psychedelia, space rock and new wave - memories. Surprising...and very - well done, lyrics are really stunning! The best alternative in Britain.… Expand
  5. JeffLebowski
    Aug 9, 2011
    8
    The third album from Badwan and co. finds them continuing the purple patch they hit with primary colours, though mostly abandoning the GeoffThe third album from Badwan and co. finds them continuing the purple patch they hit with primary colours, though mostly abandoning the Geoff Barrow/motorik influences of that album for a self-produced sound akin to a poppier My Bloody Valentine. Swathes of ectastic noise anchored by nimble drumming and simple but effective bass work characterize the record, with Badwan's richer, deeper voice becoming more of an asset every album. Definitely recommended for fans of shoegaze or quality 80s pop- and Simple Minds.....

    Best tracks - Still life, Endless Blue, I Can See Through You.    … Expand
  6. 2hip2beahipster
    Aug 9, 2011
    7
    Ever since their first album this band has continued to mature in the aspect of their sound. Faris Rotter's vocals are even more controlledEver since their first album this band has continued to mature in the aspect of their sound. Faris Rotter's vocals are even more controlled and reserved as is the music. The synths are more controlled, and have a "bigger" sound to them. Tracks like Still Life really exemplify that. This album has a few gems in it; songs that I can listen to over and over again like "Endless Blue" "I Can See Through You" and "Dive In". Overall, does this album top Primary Colours? No. Not for me. Is it a bad album? Far from it, it's a fantastic album and will definitely make top albums list when it's all said and done.… Expand
  7. jyo_tirmaya
    Aug 29, 2011
    7
    While this album seems like a further maturation and direction, it has lost some of the "human presence of emotions" with the confusing lyricsWhile this album seems like a further maturation and direction, it has lost some of the "human presence of emotions" with the confusing lyrics - as opposed to the "in your face" romantic verse of Primary Colours. I liked Primary Colours much better than this album. Primary Colours was easy to sink my teeth into and play it over and over. This album sees the band still making good music, but not the kind that I like as well as in Primary Colours.… Collapse
  8. ghostlight2
    May 24, 2013
    0
    Incredibly bland and generic. Every song sounds the same; there is not an original or interesting thought to be found on this record.Incredibly bland and generic. Every song sounds the same; there is not an original or interesting thought to be found on this record. Pretentious rubbish, only suited to Pitchfork employees and the delusional NME writers who are currently desperately trying to flog the appallingly dull Palma Violets.… Expand

See all 9 User Reviews

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