User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Universal Audio
by
Universal Audio Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

  • Summary: The fifth and final album from The Delgados (released on the band's own Chemikal Underground label) was co-produced with Tony Doogan. It ditches the strings of its orchestral predecessor, 'Hate,' to take a much poppier approach.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Stylus Magazine
    90
    It all sounds nice enough to start with, but as you hear it more and more you love it more and more, the simple charms showing themselves to be more and more complicated but no less delightful.
  2. Splendid
    90
    They've truly hit their stride on Universal Audio.
  3. AllMusic
    80
    Like all Delgados records, it takes repeated drives along the city outskirts to sink in, but when it does there's no going back, and the listener is rewarded once again with something rich, happily overcast, and strangely intangible.
  4. Junkmedia
    80
    If you like your indie rock sweet and sophisticated with undertones of despair, you'll want to cuddle up with Universal Audio.
  5. Pitchfork
    76
    Even if Hate stands as their most visionary statement, Universal Audio has a subtler strength.
  6. Under The Radar
    70
    A surprisingly adept three-minute pop formula record. [#7]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Tiny Mix Tapes
    60
    Melodies are practically nonexistent, leaving the music almost completely ignorable.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. RyanH
    Mar 3, 2005
    10
    I didn't think they could top Hate, but they may have done it. The Delgados are the masters of dark, melodic music. While this album is I didn't think they could top Hate, but they may have done it. The Delgados are the masters of dark, melodic music. While this album is less dark than Hate, it still retains a that bleak, almost spooky feeling that sets the Delgados apart from other top notch pop artists. The two exceptions to this, Everybody Come Down and Girls of Valour, are so catchy and well-written that their unremarkable style is easily forgivable. Despite being a relatively straight up pop record (the strings that lent Hate such sweeping grandeur are mostly missing) repeated listens richly reward. This band is severely underrated.… Expand
  2. angelag
    Feb 19, 2005
    10
    UNIVERSAL AUDIO an album of true understated beauty. GENIUS
  4. [Anonymous]
    Oct 2, 2004
    9
    A substantial departure from The Great Eastern and Hate, but undoubtedly a fantastic album. The Delgados have acheived the elegant and A substantial departure from The Great Eastern and Hate, but undoubtedly a fantastic album. The Delgados have acheived the elegant and pulsing orchestrations from their previous two albums but with the more raw instrumentation from Peloton. If this album has a downside, it's that it comes off as poppy and unmemorable upon first listen, while subsequent listenings reveal its depth. … Expand
  5. DanielP
    Sep 29, 2004
    9
    A departure from their last two albums. It may seem like a simple pop album, but it's far from that. There is amazing depth here. The A departure from their last two albums. It may seem like a simple pop album, but it's far from that. There is amazing depth here. The Delgados are a tremendously underated group, who with this album have shown how talented they really are. A very good record that will hold up quite nicely.… Expand
  6. DanB.
    May 5, 2005
    9
    I've listened to it six times in a row now and it's getting better each time.
  7. AliC
    Jul 14, 2005
    9
    Predicatably, The Delgados, one of Britains most consistently brilliant (and consistently underrated) bands strike gold once again. The Great Predicatably, The Delgados, one of Britains most consistently brilliant (and consistently underrated) bands strike gold once again. The Great Eastern remains my favourite record by a British group, but this comes damn close. What's so great about the Delgados is the way each new album strikes off in a new direction, whilst retaining they're amazing song writing abilities and superb arrangements. They've even got a killer guitar solo (well, almost) on 'Everyone Come Down' my favourite summer song of 2004. Best track, though, is 'Sink or Swim'. If they're ever in your town, see them live: Emma Pollock, for such a wee lass, belts them out, and they are incredibly tight.… Expand
  8. DavidG
    Sep 28, 2004
    8
    The Delgados make excellent pop records. This, their fifth if memory serves me correctly, is a breath of fresh air after their recent The Delgados make excellent pop records. This, their fifth if memory serves me correctly, is a breath of fresh air after their recent string-laden epic releases. Although not immediately obvious the songs collected together here have wonderfully subtle arrangements which grow with time - especially the beautiful second half of the album. Like your pop with a dash of intelligence, a whole heap of tune and lyrics so bleak it makes Morrissey sound like a kids party entertainer? Yes? Well this album is highly recommended.… Collapse

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Best Album of 2004

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
89 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
All Current Music »