There's A Fire - Longwave
Metascore
63 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. 90
    Takes The Strangest Things' dark, occasionally scattershot pop and refines it with sharper songwriting and a slicker approach. [#69, p.100]
  2. 86
    This is beautiful, intense music, trapped in their tiny, distraught world. [#16, p.93]
  3. There are a couple snoozy and wonky moments among the hits, but Longwave is definitely worth warming up to.
  4. Brit-leaning space-pop that switches rhythmic gears with pleasing regularity from dreamy to driving.
  5. At once introspective and indisputably catchy, their complex dynamic and easy likeability should certainly satiate the radio gods.
  6. Neither as good nor as boring as you might think. [#10, p.112]
  7. What strikes most is a sense of uncomfortable suspension, and what keeps the album afloat remains a true mystery listen after listen.
  8. Fire's beauty often feels distant and untouchable. [Sep 2005, p.164]
  9. Eloquently combines elements of pop, spaced-out electronic rock and even dirty garage. [Aug/Sep 2005, p.121]
  10. The songwriting grows less challenging as the album unfolds, often lacking the kind of vocal performances that provide real traction.
  11. These songs are buoyant and polished, but the lyrics range from bewildering to lame and an afternoon of Schlitz's voice gets tiresome.
  12. The band still wants to rub shoulders with the its moody English influences, but dabbling in styles you're ill-equipped for, weaving unnecessarily recurring themes into the songs, or piling on incidental effects-pedal sounds for atmosphere aren't going to inherently elevate your music.
  13. At their best they write strong, clean, melodic rip-offs of classic British indie rock and at their worst they write weak, clean, melodic rip-offs of classic British indie rock.
  14. There's a Fire is neither innovative nor exciting; rather, it's a bit boring.
  15. Despite a few arresting moments, such as the big-muscled title track, the band never stumbles on much that's recognizably its own.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Firstyoulookedsostrong
    9
    This band is so much better than most of its reviews. Better than the bands they open for, as underrated as My Favorite.
  2. amalia
    9
    beautiful and heart-felt.... real. something i haven't heard in most other bands in a long time
  3. Simon
    4
    Apart from the first song, this album is a majority of troughs. It’s no where near as solid as Longwave’s debut album and even that fell a fair way short of anything their contemporaries were releasing at the time. Full Review »