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Tarot Sport
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Tarot Sport Image
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 55 Ratings

  • Summary: The second album for the rock duo from Bristol was produced by Andrew Weatherall.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. The A.V. Club
    91
    For most of the songs amassed here, it still takes around 10 minutes to get the job done--threading those thick synthesizer blasts and all that skittering digital manna through a brick wall of guitar fuzz--but Fuck Buttons succeeds at turning its unpredictable epics into masterpieces of pacing and strange beauty.
  2. Urb
    90
    Tarot Sport goes far beyond it's sonically daunting reaches and succeeds at being a deeply emotional experience.
  3. musicOMH.com
    90
    And such are the music's joyous highs, subtle thrills and rich and deep layers, they can undoubtedly be judged one of the most worthwhile and special bands currently at large.
  4. Q Magazine
    80
    With Tarot Sport, Fuck Buttons have made a career-defining album that will resonate with anyone who has ever spent a night with their head in the speaker stacks and gone home marvelling at the ringing in their ears. [Nov 2009, p.106]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Slant Magazine
    80
    Tarot Sport makes its mark: easy and challenging at the same time, a mix of harsh and smooth sounds that mirrors the prickly juxtaposition of classic jazz.
  6. AllMusic
    80
    A more hypnotic and lulling ride overall, Tarot Sport may lack some of "Street Horrrsing's" pure visceral impact, but it's just as satisfying on its own terms, as well as an impressive step forward for Fuck Buttons.
  7. Dusted Magazine
    60
    The main problem with Tarot Sport is that it sometimes seems to be trying too hard, building drama into repetitive riffs by sheer force, urging greater and greater effort on listeners who are already a bit out of breath.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 22
  3. Negative: 3 out of 22
  1. CH
    Nov 29, 2009
    10
    Just amazing stuff...really bringing drone back into the discussion when it comes to electronica genres. Great.
  2. MichelleF.
    Oct 23, 2009
    10
    This album is sick in the best possible way. No other band is culling these kinds of sounds to the transcendent payoff that F**k Buttons are. This album is sick in the best possible way. No other band is culling these kinds of sounds to the transcendent payoff that F**k Buttons are. Tarot Sport is both an electronic and post-rock masterpiece, with each track flowing seamlessly into the next to form one glorious record. I was afraid the rest of the record wouldn't hold up to the great opener, "Surf Solar", but it does. Oh, it absolutely does. If you're a fan of both Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Justice, you would be crazy to skip this one.… Expand
  4. robertj
    Nov 5, 2009
    10
    There's no reason i wouldn't recommend this album. it's different than anything I've ever heard. sounds like mogwai just There's no reason i wouldn't recommend this album. it's different than anything I've ever heard. sounds like mogwai just from like 30 years in the future. some of it is similar to M83's first record. there's more risk-taking here though and the music is powerful. John W obviously isn't on board with progressive music so fuck buttons him anyways.… Expand
  5. ThomasV
    Nov 14, 2009
    9
    The opening notes of Surf Solar took me back to the 70's Klaus Schulze and then charges forward. The Fuck Buttons combine old school The opening notes of Surf Solar took me back to the 70's Klaus Schulze and then charges forward. The Fuck Buttons combine old school electronic washes, power electronics muscle with crunchy beats and opaque rythms. The Lisbon Maru, with its military march recalls Vangelis' To The Unknown Man. I dig the rhythmic jerkiness of Phantom Limb. They've gone for the big beat and left the wonderful denseness of OK, Let's Talk About Magic behind.… Expand
  6. CurtisB
    Nov 24, 2009
    9
    Excellently recorded. Carefully crafted. Beautiful symphonies of noise.
  7. LukeK
    Oct 28, 2009
    8
    So John W., why don't you just do it and make a critically acclaimed album? Good music has nothing to do with how well you can play your So John W., why don't you just do it and make a critically acclaimed album? Good music has nothing to do with how well you can play your instrument, surely punk rock has taught us that. It has to do with song structure, creativity, and wordplay. Actually, I haven't heard this yet, but since the band name rules and I like the color green, I'll give it an 8.… Collapse
  8. JohnW.
    Oct 24, 2009
    1
    WOW really? This is not good at all...it doesn't take much these days to be highly acclaimed does it? Just push a bunch of "buttons" and WOW really? This is not good at all...it doesn't take much these days to be highly acclaimed does it? Just push a bunch of "buttons" and make noise no one has to have any real musical talent to play this crap..I could make better jams on garageband using apple loops!… Expand

See all 22 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Best Album of 2009
58
#58 Most Discussed Album of 2009

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