User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
The New Romance Image
Metascore
74

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

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

  • Summary: The Seattle hard rock band's sophomore album was produced by Phil Ek (Modest Mouse, Built To Spill).
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 23
  2. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. Alternative Press
    100
    At once daring and danceable, The New Romance is the best Talking Heads record Bikini Kill never made. [Oct 2003, p.120]
  2. Outburn
    90
    Feel[s] immediate and experimental all at once. [#23, p.98]
  3. The album exists in that scarcely inhabited rock-and-roll world where technical prowess coexists peacefully with clear and simple songcraft, the former never forgoing the latter.
  4. Spin
    75
    Pretty Girls believe in anthems, which would be irritating if they didn't make you believe, too. [Oct 2003, p.107]
  5. PGMG is at its strongest when trafficking in one particular base emotion: Anger. It's when the band attempts to emote on a frequency dominated by the likes of Bright Eyes and Dashboard Confessional that the group gets into trouble.
  6. Mojo
    70
    They present a united, often more supple front. [Nov 2003, p.131]
  7. Magnet
    30
    Tepid, predictable.... It's sleek and stylized, the spastic, jittery punk replaced by impassioned, searching guitar lines. [#60, p.110]

See all 23 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. BrandanC
    Aug 13, 2005
    10
    MMM
  2. JesseT
    Oct 11, 2003
    10
    This disc is excellent. Play it three times and you're hooked on every song.
  3. DrunkenMaster
    Jan 12, 2005
    9
    "The New Romance" delivers exactly what the title promises -- intelligent, beautiful, independent rock music with a strong sense of literary "The New Romance" delivers exactly what the title promises -- intelligent, beautiful, independent rock music with a strong sense of literary values. The name of the band comes from a Kerouac novel! Highly recommended. Collapse
  4. wackyman
    Jun 19, 2004
    9
    a little treasure, beautifully carved songs, with such a great feel, a cd that sets itself apart from everyday boredom, re-inventing the cool a little treasure, beautifully carved songs, with such a great feel, a cd that sets itself apart from everyday boredom, re-inventing the cool of rockmusic Expand
  5. TheLoveofDerekFudesco
    Feb 24, 2005
    9
    Absolutely sublime. I agree, fresh with every listen, bright and anthemic. Kookier than Good Health, but individuality is never a bad thing. Absolutely sublime. I agree, fresh with every listen, bright and anthemic. Kookier than Good Health, but individuality is never a bad thing. A fantastic live band too! Expand
  6. BenD
    Sep 24, 2005
    9
    A great rock record. Everything fits together perfectly. The guitars are fast and screaching, but they don't detract from the vocals or A great rock record. Everything fits together perfectly. The guitars are fast and screaching, but they don't detract from the vocals or the rest of the song Expand
  7. MisterRoboto
    Feb 9, 2005
    9
    Nothing short of a masterpiece. Razor sharp talent that doesn't give itself over to pomp. Craft and creativity at their finest. Nothing short of a masterpiece. Razor sharp talent that doesn't give itself over to pomp. Craft and creativity at their finest. I've been playing it for 2 years now and it only gets better. Expand