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The Bright Lights Of America
by
  • Record Label:
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The Bright Lights Of America Image
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

  • Summary: The ninth album for the quartet from Pittsburg, Pa., was produced by Tony Visconti.

Top Track

Spit in the Face
How can we be free? The bloodline of kings in the house of white Lynch law abiding citizens cashing in their rights The sky is on fire, the sky is on... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Alternative Press
    80
    Bright Lights is a super-serious record that demostrates some super-serious song craft. [May 2008, p.130]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    Their thrillingly angry seventh album is a more furious companion piece to "American Idiot," raging at both social injustice and the self-righteousness of the punk underground. [June 2008, p.138]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. The New York Times
    80
    Their sound--enhanced by the energies of a second guitarist, Chris Head, and a bassist, Chris #2--literally urges participation. Every song’s chorus helpfully comes prearranged as a sing-along: no room for sullenness here.
  4. Prefix Magazine
    50
    Even if Anti-Flag’s hearts are in the right place, Bright Lights of America is too vague to be impactful.
  5. The A.V. Club
    50
    Too much of the disc, like the histrionic "The Modern Rome Burning," swipes singsong, folk-stoked stridency from Against Me! and American Steel; the rest of it throws random orchestration at the wall and misses it altogether.
  6. Under The Radar
    40
    On the Tony Visconti produced The Bright Lights of America, the band opts for the same brand of pristine song production and testosterone-soaked chants as every other mall-punk band, and, in so doing, makes it hard to discern them from the crowd. [Summer 2008]
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  7. Spin
    40
    Unfortunately, despite now working with David Bowie producer Tony Visconti, who infuses their angular, system-smashing screeds with timpani ("Good and Ready"), brass ("Shadow of the Dead"), and harmonica ("Go West"), Anti-Flag still don't possess the innate pop sensibility that's allowed Against Me! to make a mainstream move.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. Ahmet
    Apr 10, 2008
    10
    This is Anti-Flag. They're fighters of the old-school punk.
  2. Ripper36
    Sep 28, 2022
    10
    Being a huge Anti-Flag for many many years, This is my favorite AF record just behind The General Strike. I really like how all the songsBeing a huge Anti-Flag for many many years, This is my favorite AF record just behind The General Strike. I really like how all the songs flow from the 1st track to the last. Modern Rome is burning down, Spit in the face and Good and Ready are some of the best punk rock songs in the past 20 years. Everything sounds great and the aggression is still there. Great job Anti-Flag!… Expand
  4. Steve
    Apr 8, 2008
    9
    This is the first I have heard of Anti-Flag, so I have no previous work to compare to but I liked this a lot. Not necessarily punk in the This is the first I have heard of Anti-Flag, so I have no previous work to compare to but I liked this a lot. Not necessarily punk in the purest sense, but each song delivers something worthwhile.… Expand
  5. insomniactwin
    Jul 5, 2011
    5
    I was disappointed by this album overall. The sound of the lyrics was way different than previous albums, which I attribute to the affiliationI was disappointed by this album overall. The sound of the lyrics was way different than previous albums, which I attribute to the affiliation with a major label. The lyrics sound as if they were all written to be sort of anthem-esque, which is fine for a few songs, but when a whole album is written this way, it comes off overly epic. Bothered me a ton and i won't even listen to this song anymore. Its meaningful message and this bands history is this album's only saviors. I love AF... which is why I have such strong feelings about this album. And as far as punk music goes... didn't do it justice.… Collapse
  6. MaxH
    May 3, 2008
    4
    If you compare this to their later albums it is less political and less anarchy influenced. Though most of their stuff is usually pretty If you compare this to their later albums it is less political and less anarchy influenced. Though most of their stuff is usually pretty boring this hit the lowest point. Thanks for trying, Anti-Flag. Go back to Underground Network or Die For Your Government.… Expand
  7. dmdd
    Jul 5, 2008
    3
    This sucks compared to the previous albums.

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