These Were The Earlies - The Earlies
User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25

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  1. ChisL
    Feb 18, 2005
    6
    OK to listen to but it goes nowhere.There is nothing at all memorable on it.
  2. HerveB
    Sep 8, 2004
    10
    Absolutely brilliant in a Mercury Revesque kind of way... By far my favourite album of the year alongside Micah P. Hinson
  3. NickW
    May 4, 2005
    9
    Stunning debut, they're living the dream!
  4. ryanc
    Aug 11, 2004
    8
    pretty good, but not the classic that certain magazines would like you to believe
  5. NeilG
    Aug 10, 2004
    6
    Seriously overrated record that although having it's moments of melodic nous leaves the listener underwhelmed. It has drawn comparison with the likes of Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips but it's songs are not in the same league. Shows some promise but not the finished article by a long way.
  6. chriss
    Jan 25, 2005
    10
    a beautiful album
  7. AndrewS
    Mar 10, 2005
    10
    Excellent album. Dreamy, mesmerising and uplifting. Excellent live band: saw them last month - superb
  8. Nugget
    May 24, 2005
    10
    So many albums promise a journey, but leave you sitting on the footpath waiting for a ride. The Earlies strap you in, give you a loving peck on the cheek, and let you follow a man's redemption in quadrophonic harmony. Perfect marks for a concept album? Sounds crazy, but you'd better believe it.
  9. noodlesc
    Sep 7, 2005
    10
    beautiful record and amazing live
  10. JimO'Rourke
    Jan 26, 2006
    5
    Really pretentious and utterly forgettable, aside from 2 songs.
  11. AndyR
    Aug 16, 2004
    8
    Well, sure you can trash this album if you expect it to be the sequel to "Soft Bulletin". However, these songs are more diffuse and meandering than the work of the bands with which they have been compared, but its an album of beautiful moments. Like Manitoba, this will grow on you
  12. Carlo
    Sep 14, 2004
    10
    makes the doves and air feel wanting
  13. EmilyB
    Nov 12, 2005
    10
    This albums transience took my breath away. I suspected them to be great-I have been hearing a buzz about this album for a while, but this blew me away.
  14. jamesd
    Nov 22, 2005
    10
    The depth of sound on this album is incredible. So many bands strive to be either a good live act or good studio band but The Earlies seem to succeed effortlessly at both. Future classic.
  15. SeanT
    Dec 11, 2005
    8
    pretty damn good experimental pop with good orchestration and sound samples.
  16. Dan
    Oct 31, 2005
    9
    The Flaming Lips plus great tunes.
  17. RyanM
    Jan 19, 2006
    10
    Stellar first album
  18. LawlessR
    Jan 25, 2006
    6
    some songs have promise, but most of it is damn boring.
  19. AlexA
    Jan 26, 2007
    5
    Boring and pretentious.
  20. BenjaminBunny
    Dec 26, 2004
    6
    Listenable in the sense that it's hummingly inoffensive, but the Earlies are never as inspired as their obvious influences (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev) and the result is pleasant, only occasionally striking psychedelic background music. Could be the most "cutting edge" music you'll hear at the Gap or Starbucks this year.
  21. SWM
    Dec 21, 2005
    9
    One of the best albums of the year, the sheer amount of different trippy sounds on here in mind-numbing.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Mojo
    80
    A band who aim foolishly high but always return, wings intact. [Sep 2004, p.92]
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    100
    This music is the electronic, Warp-inspired answer to Brian Wilson's 'Smile.' [31 Jul 2004, p.41]
  3. ShakingThrough.net
    68
    It's not half-bad, providing you can get over the fact that the Earlies have yet to find a sound to call their own.
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