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The Underside of Power
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The Underside of Power Image
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 60 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length release for the quartet based in Atlanta was produced by Portishead's Adrian Utley and and Ali Chant.
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The Underside of Power
Broken shards All that we are at sometime Scattered around What you try to control all your life It's not a matter of fate, it's just a question of... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. musicOMH.com
    Jun 26, 2017
    100
    The Underside Of Power is righteous, vicious and vital. If the world is a stage, then at the moment it’s hard to think of a better house band than Algiers.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 22, 2017
    90
    It’s disarming, actually, how an album this heavy can be so kinetic, so compulsive, so--the word seems wrong, but funky.
  3. The Line of Best Fit
    Jul 5, 2017
    90
    Algiers crafted a unified, cautiously optimistic record that rises above the vitriolic din.
  4. No Ripcord
    Jun 23, 2017
    80
    There’s a confrontational energy to The Underside of Power that encourages conversation, and not just rapturous abandon. It’s an unorthodox approach that immediately distinguishes them.
  5. Dusted Magazine
    Jul 13, 2017
    80
    The Underside of Power is even more powerful than Algiers’ debut, starker, more violent and yet leavened with an uplifting surge of gospel.
  6. The Observer (UK)
    Jun 26, 2017
    80
    It’s not an easy listen, but it is a rewarding one.
  7. Pitchfork
    Jul 5, 2017
    58
    Algiers have produced a record that is timely and necessary but also scatterbrained and messy, one that is so over the top it becomes a political melodrama, undercutting the issues it seeks to amplify.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. HugoPavi
    Jun 23, 2017
    9
    A step-up from their (already really good) debut in just about every way. Not sure if a couple of the almost vocal-less electronic tracksA step-up from their (already really good) debut in just about every way. Not sure if a couple of the almost vocal-less electronic tracks needed to be on here, but this is a damn good and necessary album that I see myself returning to a lot for the rest of 2017. The title track and "Cleveland" especially are two of the very best songs I've heard this year.… Expand
  2. EdenIsNotHere
    Feb 2, 2018
    9
    I feel bad for listening to this record now, it's incredibly good! I think the gospel vocals, soul and industrial elements add a lot for theI feel bad for listening to this record now, it's incredibly good! I think the gospel vocals, soul and industrial elements add a lot for the record, decorated with subtly noisy synths and pianos that are well executed and, for my surprise, it's more accesible than I really expected. Production and mixing it's standout while maintaining a certain lo-fi quality to it. An unorthodox approach to post-punk and blues that I rarely seen before in the past, and keeping it with a certain uncertainty, optimism but also criticism and somewhat dark, great lyrics. This is a necessary, inventive and original album that you have to listen now.

    STANDOUT TRACKS: Walk Like a Panther, The Underside of Power, Death March, Animals, Plague Years, Hymn for an Average Man, The Cycle/The Spiral, Bury Me Standing.    … Expand
  4. Wendigoat
    Jul 17, 2017
    7
    Really amazing band fusing elements of Post-punk with gospel and soul. Unfortunately a bit weak at the end. Standout tracks are Walk Like aReally amazing band fusing elements of Post-punk with gospel and soul. Unfortunately a bit weak at the end. Standout tracks are Walk Like a Panther, Underside of Power, Death March and Mme Rieux. Very interested to see where they go next.… Expand

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