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The Airborne Toxic Event Image
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 48 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the debut album for the Southern California rock quintet.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. You'll find an occasionally derivative album that's enthralled with guitar noise, overflowing with lit-mag lyrics, and unafraid to be ugly. It's also sewn through with an endearing passion that screams of potential.
  2. The LA sextet's debut album is packed with widescreen rock of very high quality – does it matter if every single element of it has been heard elsewhere?
  3. The Airborne Toxic Event’s gift is two-fold -- they manage to take the little things, the day-to-day ellipses of modern romance and elevate them to a level of art.
  4. As debut albums go--and while compiling the record the band disposed of nearly thirty songs--this is a fine, upstanding introduction to the tormented world of The Airborne Toxic Event and one that vivaciously whets the appetite in anticipation of what might come next.
  5. The Airborne Toxic Event is the sound of a band that’s not exactly sure what it wants to sound like, trying on different styles and approaches for size. It so happens that, more often that not, those approaches make for a good fit.
  6. 60
    On the album’s best moments, he pours his hopeless longing into sweaty, inebriated celebrations of love’s boundless optimism.
  7. The Airborne Toxic Event is an album that's almost insulting in its unoriginality.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 21
  2. Negative: 4 out of 21
  1. zzz
    Aug 19, 2008
    10
    This band is awesome... there music is fresh... there music evokes emotion. They are at their best Live... 5 amazing musicians who clearly This band is awesome... there music is fresh... there music evokes emotion. They are at their best Live... 5 amazing musicians who clearly loe what they do! The album is chock full of great tunes... allow yourself to take the journey. Expand
  2. RichB.
    Sep 10, 2008
    10
    Finally~ A band that appeals to people over 18. Congrates to a Great New Band and Record... It's about time!!!
  3. BradP
    Jan 4, 2009
    10
    Just heard these guys- Can't believe how good they are! I think they are the Best Band this year.. Wouldn't be suprised if they Just heard these guys- Can't believe how good they are! I think they are the Best Band this year.. Wouldn't be suprised if they were nominated for a Grammy this year!!! Sometime around Midnight, Gasoline and Innocence are all worthy of Number 1 hits. Expand
  4. CharlieQ.
    Sep 20, 2008
    9
    A haunting, energetic & atmospherically fuzzy debut w/ litery lyric references. Snobby Pitchfork review aside, I find this one to be A haunting, energetic & atmospherically fuzzy debut w/ litery lyric references. Snobby Pitchfork review aside, I find this one to be compelling and a real grower. Expand
  5. DylanA-C
    Oct 5, 2009
    8
    TATE is a strong opening album, with catchy and inventive songs, interesting lyrics, and strong musicianship. It really bothers me how TATE is a strong opening album, with catchy and inventive songs, interesting lyrics, and strong musicianship. It really bothers me how Pitchfork seems to be doing its best to drag this album down. I can understand all the other reviews on the site, but Pitchfork's...ah, well... 1. They did NOT steal the drumbeat from Arcade Fire's Neighborhood #1. Frankly, as much as I love Arcade Fire, that song embodies one fo the absolute most generic drum beat possible. Is Arcade Fire stealing from We Are Scientist, then? Are they stealing from the Arctic Monkeys? As a jazz drummer, I was so glad to hear some decent drumming in TATE...not notable for innovation, but not generic, and with enough improvisation to keep me interested and impressed. 2. Emotional vocals are hardly unique to Bright Eyes. 3. Neither is a distorted microphon unique to the Strokes. 4. Accusing TATE of being inspired by success rather than musical talent is based on nothing but angry speculation (and possibly displeasure at TATE's um...success) I could go on, but as all music inevitably borrows from others, I find it odd that Pitchfork accuses of TATE of not giving birth to their own sound...when, by combining certain characteristics of the bands that they "ripped off," they indeed to create their own sound. It is inspiration, not theft. I don't enjoy having to spend a review responding to another, but Pitchfork should not so easily asign a damning value to a decent up-and-coming band. Expand
  6. MusicMaven
    Aug 12, 2008
    8
    Their debut album varies in style quite a bit. It goes from 80's alternative ("Wishing Well") to SoCal punk ("Gasoline") to dance-rock Their debut album varies in style quite a bit. It goes from 80's alternative ("Wishing Well") to SoCal punk ("Gasoline") to dance-rock ("Happiness Is Overrated") to garage-rock ("Does This Mean You're Moving On?") all within the first half of the album! To their credit, it's all very interesting and listenable. The second half doesn't make as much of an impression, although the epic "Sometime Around Midnight" manages to elevate seeing your ex at the club to high drama. Overall there's a lot to like here -- it's a great first step for a band that'll hopefully be around for a while. Expand
  7. BrianS
    Oct 2, 2008
    0
    A band that just does not "get it." They take themselves so seriously I can't help but be sort of embarrassed for them. This music is A band that just does not "get it." They take themselves so seriously I can't help but be sort of embarrassed for them. This music is the definition of tacky. Everything about these guys just feels fake. From the overproduction to the wannabe "hipster" costumes, to the lyrics plagiarized straight out of the alterna-junk handbook. Yeah, they like a lot of bands that were cool to like over the last few years. That's clear because they've ineptly attempted to copy a lot of their sounds. But the end result is something I can't imagine anyone who actually likes the bands they're ripping off enjoying. Smells of "poser" from a mile away. Expand

See all 21 User Reviews