The Balcony
by Catfish and the Bottlemen
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 51
  3. Negative: 8 out of 51
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  1. davim
    Feb 28, 2015
    2
    Indie rock has never sounded so washed out and dated. An attempt to copy the style of band's like Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys in their early days. Whilst some of the instrumentation is good, none of these songs really stand out as having any star quality about them at all. The horrible ringing capo guitar tone doesn't help its cause either, and is evident in just about every track.Indie rock has never sounded so washed out and dated. An attempt to copy the style of band's like Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys in their early days. Whilst some of the instrumentation is good, none of these songs really stand out as having any star quality about them at all. The horrible ringing capo guitar tone doesn't help its cause either, and is evident in just about every track. The past has been and gone, upcoming bands need to take indie rock to the next level. Catfish and The Bottlemen certainly don't achieve that here… Expand
  2. himynameiswill
    Sep 14, 2015
    3
    User score inflated by people that have no idea what a 10 album is. I can't see how anyone can give this album anything above a 5. It is average at its very best. The album seems to be going for a generic indie sound and fails at it. The vocals are painful at times. Incredibly whiny and shaky. The guitar work is very uninspired and sometimes don't seem to match the tone of the song at all.User score inflated by people that have no idea what a 10 album is. I can't see how anyone can give this album anything above a 5. It is average at its very best. The album seems to be going for a generic indie sound and fails at it. The vocals are painful at times. Incredibly whiny and shaky. The guitar work is very uninspired and sometimes don't seem to match the tone of the song at all.

    Indie rock is slowly becoming very boring to me I'll admit, and it is probably because albums like this are what are being hyped the most. If you want a poor early Arctic Monkeys cover band, here you go. If you want anything else look elsewhere.    … Expand
  3. Jacklunn
    Oct 9, 2015
    0
    Washed out, bland, boring. The worst popular indie rock has to offer, if these guys can make it then I worry for Indie music. Who is rating this album a 10? seek help - musically speaking.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    Dec 19, 2014
    40
    ‘The Balcony’ is informed both by their struggle and their noughties indie elders. All this adds up to a dated sound.
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  2. Q Magazine
    Dec 19, 2014
    40
    The Balcony is a debut as polite as potpourri. [Oct 2014, p.106]
  3. The Guardian
    Dec 19, 2014
    40
    Daft and dated, but with plenty of energy.
    Read full review
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