Strange House - The Horrors
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 22
  2. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. The band bolster their indie credentials by touching on everything from Joe Meek (Thunderclaps) to the B-52s (She Is the New Thing) and the Fall (Excellent Choice).
  2. Herein lies the beauty of this band: geeky record collectors they may be, but they're quick to impose their feral energy and fierce individuality on proceedings.
  3. 80
    Connoisseurs of punk's darker corners and post-punk's experimental extremes will have their socks rocked off, totally. [Apr 2007, p.108]
  4. 80
    It's complex, uncompromising stuff. [Apr 2007, p.106]
  5. Better then anyone could have hoped.
  6. As fun and full-on as it gets right now.
  7. Although packed full of nerdy Sixties tributes and Spider Webb's dizzying antique organ sound, it's not stuck too far in the past.
  8. It's a surprise that it delivers on more than just shock value.
  9. Cool cover or not, 'Strange House' is a strong debut from a band who, many sceptics believed, were at their best in front of a camera rather than behind instruments.
  10. Their brilliance lies in writing the crassest, most obvious, lowbrow hooks.
  11. 70
    An undeniably good record. [May 2007, p.95]
  12. What the Horrors do, they do well. [Jun 2007, p.148]
  13. Despite the occasional misfire and the sometimes overcooked lyrics... this a lean, aggressive and assured debut.
  14. Strange House is actually an intriguingly intelligent debut.
  15. While their particular brand of retro goth garage is obviously built on an extremely derivative foundation of 60s garage, the Cramps, and the Damned, they're infinitely more interesting in practice than the majority of beige-rock being pushed by the UK music press.
  16. 64
    If only there were tunes to back up the sounds, styles and references. [#25, p.92]
  17. The Horrors make some thrilling music on Strange House. [Summer 2007, p.80]
  18. After eleven songs, the band's inability to stretch their sound starts to take its toll.
  19. They don't get what their industrial-punk forbears like the Cramps, the Birthday Party, Ministry and NIN knew: It takes soul to be weird.
  20. 50
    The Horrors are too shackled by kitsch to scare life into such creaky punk posturing. [Jun 2007, p.94]
  21. Strip away the Victorian undertaker drag, and Strange House is disappointingly insubstantial. [Apr 2007, p.116]
  22. The Horrors aren't horrifying and Strange House is nowhere near strange enough.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Negative: 2 out of 16
  1. JonnyW.
    10
    A terrifyingly brilliant album from on of my new favourite bands ,who would have thought the organ ,big hair,more style than well anyone , and a hell of a lot of screaming could mix together to make make a masterpiece. Full Review »
  2. AmurabiM.
    7
    A gorgeous and strange blend of punk, surf and gothic organs, "Strange House" is an album that makes us discover a whole genre: the indie goth. Of course, that gothic music is not new but with this album, this guys introduce us to this genre with a contemporary touch. With the spooky organ and a great camp humor, The Horrors get a good debut. But makes us think: Is this the triumph of style over substance? Let´s check the sophomore album. Full Review »
  3. seand
    7
    not bad but a little boring and retro mining 60s nuggets bands