Underachievers Please Try Harder
by Camera Obscura
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Jan 20, 2004
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14

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  1. [Anonymous]
    Feb 7, 2004
    9
    This is jaust a wonderful album. Full of dreamy pop. Kindergarten-friends of Belle & Sebastian. Pure Love!!!
  2. zeebee
    May 11, 2005
    8
    The album beautifully occupies the intersection of Belle & Sebastian and 60's girl-bands. It conveys both the outdoor sunshine and bedroom lonliness of summer. To me it's a much more satisfying listen than Saturday Looks Good To Me, which seems to work similar ground and makes a much better point of reference than B&S.
  3. shygazerE
    Jul 20, 2006
    10
    Imitation is the best form of flattery stupid! This album is not only the best album of the decade but it's better than anything B&S has ever recorded. Besides every band borrows from their infleunces. Look at the Stooges and Aerosmith with the Rolling Stones or Oasis with the Beatles.
  4. JeffA
    Jan 27, 2004
    1
    This is ridiculous. Just listen to Belle and Sesbastian and Leonard Cohen instead of this weak carbon-copy. Just listen to "Suspended From Class" and it will tell you all you need to know - you'll swear you were listening to a Belle and Sebastian song that didn't make the cut for one of their albums. Apparently these guys can't write a song unless they're imitating This is ridiculous. Just listen to Belle and Sesbastian and Leonard Cohen instead of this weak carbon-copy. Just listen to "Suspended From Class" and it will tell you all you need to know - you'll swear you were listening to a Belle and Sebastian song that didn't make the cut for one of their albums. Apparently these guys can't write a song unless they're imitating someone else. Unfortunately for them, it makes more sense to listen to the original band and not this lame rip-off. Boo!… Expand
  5. pedalphilia
    Feb 1, 2004
    9
    pure pop genius, fools.
  6. selenita
    Feb 16, 2004
    5
    Really looks like Belle & Sebastian 100%
  7. TimE
    Jan 13, 2005
    9
    Some of the greatest pop songs you'll ever hear period. Yes they imitate B&S from time to time and they even have a little of The Sundays in them as well but who better to imitate than some of the greatest bands on the planet.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Uncut
    80
    Revitalising indie-pop. [Feb 2004, p.78]
  2. Rolling Stone
    60
    Not emo, exactly -- more like twee-mo.
    Read full review
  3. Launch.com
    80
    A shimmering example of wistful chamber folk-pop.
    Read full review
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