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Think of it as more of a mix tape because the British quintet's jam-band explorations dip into everything from Beatles-esque pop and Delta-blues-influenced ballads.
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For those who have been waiting for Gomez to come up with something that truly rivals their amazing debut Bring It On, wait no longer. This one is great.
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In Split the Difference, Gomez has not lived up to, but surpassed, their initial success.
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In looking beyond pure innovation, Gomez have poured some heart into their blues.
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FilterRather than trying to funk up and freak out the tunes with oddball sonic contributions, the fivesome rely heavily on the strength of their three-part harmonies and the head-bouncing guitar hooks. [#10, p.90]
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The British answer to Fountains of Wayne.
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They're such a pleasure to listen to because they hear the past and thrive on it, learning from what musicians did before them, and not repeating all of the same mistakes.
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If only all stupid rock music could be this intelligent.
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Entertainment WeeklyWhile the hooks could be sharper, [Tchad Blake's] hand clearly makes the Difference. [28 May 2004, p.124]
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Rolling StoneOn most of Split The Difference... Gomez pour on the punch that makes their live shows such a gas. [27 May 2004, p.82]
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Split The Difference isn't as strong as In Our Gun, but it does show Gomez continuing to explore relaxed, earthy songwriting, with fruitful results.
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As an album it’s so random and erratic that it’s neither a brave step forward nor a disastrous wrong turn; just an entertaining detour while they workout where they’re actually going.
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Split the Difference simply isn't very engaging.
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If you've enjoyed Gomez's musical direction in the last six years, you're sure to take pleasure in listening to Split The Difference.
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UncutTracks such as "Where Ya Going?" and "Chicken Out"... make them sound like Southport's answer to ZZ Top. But there's plenty more going on that doesn't involve such dumbing-down. [Jul 2004, p.107]
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Q MagazineUnusually direct. [Jun 2004, p.98]
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So Split the Difference is an opportunity missed, with Gomez settling into a safe, well-worn ocean colour scene at a time when an adventurous indie/jamband hybrid might've clicked with Lollapaloozers.
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Unfortunately, whereas sounding out of place in the late 90s worked in their favour, in the mid-noughties the lack of pretty faces, Converse Allstars and - perhaps most important of all - any half-decent tunes is unlikely to bring Gomez first prize even in their local pub’s battle of the bands.
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MagnetBy stripping away the symphonic, avant edge... [Gomez] loses much of what made it unique in the first place. [#64, p.96]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 14 out of 17
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Mixed: 1 out of 17
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Negative: 2 out of 17
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Apr 15, 2011
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timeAug 9, 2006Their finest work to date. One of the best albums of the decade. :-)
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AshBApr 6, 2006Gomez at their best. Dig these songs... Catch Me Up, Do One, These 3 Sins