Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. The lyrics, insincere as they are, grate somewhat, but the spastic grove cannot be denied they're a bit like a pervy, conservative Devo, with more earwax.
  2. Blender
    60
    Liars are more about energy than solid songwriting, but these spastic, jagged grooves are powerful enough to inspire a sea of awkward punk-rock dances. [#9, p.150]
  3. Q Magazine
    60
    Sometimes they're studenty when they think they're being menacing, but there's promise and ideas aplenty here. [Sep 2002, p.109]
  4. Resonance
    60
    Savvy listeners won't find anything revolutionary. [#36, p.62]
  5. It's grating and electrifying in equal measure.
  6. The Wire
    60
    They're at their best on tracks like "Nothing Is Ever Lost[...]," where they conjure the wheeling claustrophobia of PiL circa Metal Box. [#223, p.66]

Awards & Rankings

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. May 20, 2022
    7
    A bit too long at some parts this record still manages to impress with it's creativity! A much needed pulse to indie overstuffed corpse.
  2. BobG
    Aug 3, 2006
    9
    Does everybody who ranked this album have a last name starting with G?
  3. less_success
    Aug 3, 2006
    8
    Liars' debut is aggressive, but still dancey. Personally I think this is the best album to come out of the New York "dancepunk" thing. Liars' debut is aggressive, but still dancey. Personally I think this is the best album to come out of the New York "dancepunk" thing. By the way, roman k's posts that Liars were dead after pat and ron left the group was a slight miscalculation. Full Review »