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The Back Room
by
The Back Room Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 112 Ratings

  • Summary: The Birmingham, England post-punk quartet is the latest band to have the UK music press in a tizzy, with this debut LP drawing the usual comparisons to Joy Division and Echo & The Bunnymen. (Actually, they just sound like Interpol.)

Top Track

Munich
I'm so glad I've found this I'm so glad I did I'm so glad I've found this I'm so glad I did People are fragile things, you should know by now Be... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. E! Online
    91
    The Back Room is a fine album that proves you can look backward while paving the way forward.
  2. musicOMH.com
    90
    It's an album of consistently high quality from start to finish.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    A debut that will endure.
  4. Billboard
    70
    It is such a perfect counterfeit that it feels like the genuine article.
  5. Q Magazine
    70
    As much as The Back Room is a victory for style, it also strikes a blow for substance. [Aug 2005, p.135]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Under The Radar
    70
    Editors' sound is deeply and thoroughly derivative, to be sure. But they do it so well that by the time each chorus rolls around, you won't even notice your Robert Smith mascara running. [#10, p.110]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. The A.V. Club
    58
    The album starts repeating itself and the returns start diminishing.

See all 23 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 63
  3. Negative: 3 out of 63
  1. TrekD
    Feb 27, 2007
    10
    Love this album! Clearly, one of the best debuts ever.
  2. BLJay
    Jun 11, 2007
    10
    The best British album since the Stone Roses brilliant debut.
  4. Edgar
    Apr 30, 2007
    10
    Truly spectacular!
  5. Eneas
    Aug 17, 2005
    9
    Great album. Almost perfect. As good as "Antics" and far better than "turn on the bright lights" althougth they have their own sound.
  6. pl
    May 3, 2007
    8
    interpol is crap. while editors are a very promising band despite the fact that they are truly not too original. let's just wait and see interpol is crap. while editors are a very promising band despite the fact that they are truly not too original. let's just wait and see how their upcoming album goes.… Expand
  7. PeteF
    Oct 1, 2005
    8
    I'm quite disappointed with the ratings, I believe most people judge an album right after the very first listening. I've heard both I'm quite disappointed with the ratings, I believe most people judge an album right after the very first listening. I've heard both - otherwise really great - Interpol albums (which also said to be a fascimile of Joy Divison's works); while Interpol have an obvious american favour, Editors is truly british band and this has to be clear for every serious listener even for the first time. Many negative critics are from narow-minded people who are alway looking for correspondences with other bands. You will always find some... There are no music without influences and influences are not equal to expressions like stealing. Otherwise, new styles rarely born after The Beatles - to be a bit ironic.… Expand
  8. KreshnakKrake
    Aug 15, 2005
    2
    It's a great pity that Editors try to copy Interpol this bad. I think a band should have it's own style. And i'm pretty sure It's a great pity that Editors try to copy Interpol this bad. I think a band should have it's own style. And i'm pretty sure Editors would be creative and inspiring if they would try to develop their own style. But they don't. Too bad. This band doesn't inspire me at all.… Expand

See all 63 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Most Discussed Album of 2006
49
#49 Most Shared Album of 2006