Underneath the Rainbow
by Black Lips
  • Record Label: Vice
  • Release Date: Mar 18, 2014
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
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  1. Blurt Magazine
    Apr 18, 2014
    60
    They still have that dirty, carefree, uncompromising vibe, but on Underneath the Rainbow it’s able to be tamed, morphing into melodic garage rock that’s as catchy and easily digestible as it is rugged and in-your-face.
  2. The Quietus
    Apr 14, 2014
    50
    Sadly Arabia Mountain's residual nastiness and speed is pretty much gone, replaced by slow tempos and weird deviations. It's experiments with synths and disco beats that cause some of the record's truly worst moments.
  3. Record Collector
    Mar 31, 2014
    60
    The overall effect is dizzying--a revolving door of treatments and narrators--but usually hits the spot.
  5. Mojo
    Mar 21, 2014
    60
    Heroic, to a degree, but they'd need to hurdle the rainbow to warrant any pot of gold. [Apr 2014, p.95]
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  6. DIY Magazine
    Mar 18, 2014
    60
    Seven albums in, they’re not so much shifting the formula as refining it and waiting for cult stardom to creep up on the scene.
  7. PopMatters
    Mar 18, 2014
    60
    It’s an uneven, but enjoyable ride.
  8. Exclaim
    Mar 17, 2014
    60
    While the band's earlier material sounded lo-fi out of necessity, Underneath the Rainbow disappoints due to its inauthentic attempt at sounding like an album recorded long before its time.
  9. AllMusic
    Mar 17, 2014
    50
    The songs are too weak, the sound is too good (aka lifeless), and the album feels like a career move instead of anything real or fun.
  10. NOW Magazine
    Mar 13, 2014
    40
    Just when it starts to feel like the album is continuing in a high-powered vein, the Lips start sounding like they’re steering a chuckwagon.
  11. Drowned In Sound
    Mar 12, 2014
    50
    For the most part Underneath the Rainbow lacks the acerbic wit that has underscored so much previous Lips material; there’s a handful of tracks here that really are sorely lacking in character.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Scooter4849
    Apr 23, 2014
    5
    Grimy, loose and chaotic garage rock with very strong hooks and pop edges. The real problem is that it's basically nothing new. UnderwhelmingGrimy, loose and chaotic garage rock with very strong hooks and pop edges. The real problem is that it's basically nothing new. Underwhelming in that sense, devolving even. Inferior to Arabian Mountain by far in song and production.… Full Review »
  2. Vampire25
    Apr 9, 2014
    7
    Black Lips don't stray too far away from their already established sound on "Underneath The Rainbow". The garage-rock revival sound is notBlack Lips don't stray too far away from their already established sound on "Underneath The Rainbow". The garage-rock revival sound is not nearly as great as "Arabia Mountain", but tracks like "Smiling" and "Funny" blatantly show they won't be changing their sound anytime soon, which in this case is a very good thing. Underneath The Rainbow isn't a groundbreaking record by any term, but more so a nice addition to their discography.

    All In All, Black Lips are a great rock band who've put out a pretty good record. B    … Full Review »
  3. adhamhany
    Apr 8, 2014
    7
    Interesting rock music. However, I can't really say that any track will stick with me in the foreseeable future, maybe with the exception ofInteresting rock music. However, I can't really say that any track will stick with me in the foreseeable future, maybe with the exception of "Smiling" and "Funny".… Full Review »
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