The Decline Of British Sea Power
by British Sea Power
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 42
  3. Negative: 3 out of 42

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  1. ahmose
    Sep 24, 2005
    10
    This a great album. Great lyrics, melodies. A classic.
  2. G
    Nov 23, 2006
    10
    A truely astounding album.
  3. nickd
    Jan 9, 2004
    10
    See, people who say "the emporer has no clothes" should be shot for music fascism. Fantastic record, bombasic, pompous (14-minute long tracks and 41-second monk chanting, anyone?). It's not that arty, it's just great music. Now excuse me, I'm just off to murder the idiot who gave it 2.
  4. McScary
    Jan 31, 2014
    9
    A truly original and stunning record. Comparisons with Joy Division are nonsense. They are musically more gifted than that. Testosterone addled worshippers of dumb ass cock rock who have mistakenly picked up this record and slagged it off on this site go and stick your heads in the oven.
  5. AaronS
    Sep 30, 2003
    10
    A stunner of a debut album.
  6. MusicMaven
    Oct 19, 2003
    9
    A very promising debut album showcasing cryptic lyrics and an edgy, melodic sound, rooted in British post-punk. More guitar heavy than most of the other bands mining similar influences.
  7. Vander
    Dec 6, 2003
    10
    Fantástico. Cheio de idéias, imagens, sons e um geito de cantar que lembra Morrissey em seus melhores momentos.
  8. luluvixx
    Oct 21, 2003
    10
    this album is a masterpiece.
  9. MartinT
    Oct 20, 2003
    9
    An absolute gem, packed with originality and charm, manic and achingly beautiful. One of the most accomplished, uncompromising debut albums you are ever likely to hear, simply brilliant. The emperor does indeed have new clothes, they just happen to be WW1 uniforms festooned with branches.
  10. GuyM-S
    Dec 4, 2003
    9
    Brilliant
  11. jasona
    Sep 24, 2003
    9
    Excellent cd, i live in the uk so i got a chance to buy this before it came out in the states. I also saw them in concert at the Leeds festival. Great band. On stage they have stuffed owls and lots of tree branches scattered around for ambience...i guess. Anyhow, great cd, i hear a little bit of joy division and echo and the bunnymen as influences but otherwise totally originally. My wife Excellent cd, i live in the uk so i got a chance to buy this before it came out in the states. I also saw them in concert at the Leeds festival. Great band. On stage they have stuffed owls and lots of tree branches scattered around for ambience...i guess. Anyhow, great cd, i hear a little bit of joy division and echo and the bunnymen as influences but otherwise totally originally. My wife thinks one of the tracks sounds like Bruce Springsteen! LOL, its called Remember Me. Standout tracks are The Lonely, Remember Me, Carrion, and Blackout. this is definitely a must have!!… Expand
  12. [Anonymous]
    Dec 8, 2003
    10
    It's fantastic
  13. RANDYF
    Jan 27, 2004
    9
    Not just great songs. It's a great album. My favorite since Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
  14. WO
    Feb 22, 2004
    9
    This is such a great album. The only problem I had with it is I felt it began to lose momentum at about song 7; however, it picked up in a big way towards the end.
  15. Ricko
    Oct 29, 2014
    7
    BSP introduced themselves with a record that shows a musical and thematic ambition you just don't get very often on debut albums. It's straightforwards drums and bass playing with layers of sharp, sometimes dirty, guitars on top. Wilkinson is a more than capable vocalist although his style makes it quite difficult to hear what he's saying. This is a solid album, sequenced perfectly with aBSP introduced themselves with a record that shows a musical and thematic ambition you just don't get very often on debut albums. It's straightforwards drums and bass playing with layers of sharp, sometimes dirty, guitars on top. Wilkinson is a more than capable vocalist although his style makes it quite difficult to hear what he's saying. This is a solid album, sequenced perfectly with a handful of excellent tracks that grab you along the way. Highlights include "Apologies to Insect Life", "Something Wicked" and the great trio of tracks found in the centre of the album where the band hit you with "Fear of Drowning", "The Lonely" and "Carrion" in the space of a quarter hour. If only I could here those lyrics.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best Album of 2003
97
#97 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Austin Chronicle
    100
    An enchanting, rhapsodic album of uncommon depth.
    Read full review
  2. Magnet
    80
    As confusing as it is ultimately compelling. [#61, p.89]
  3. The Guardian
    80
    British Sea Power's slightly camp, wholly menacing, startlingly audacious debut is unlike anything you'll hear this year.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »