User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
Universal High Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 2 more ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length release for the British indie rock band was influenced by 1970s soul music and was recorded in Atlanta with producer Ben H. Allen III.
Buy Now
Buy on

Top Track

Californian Light
Show me your love Californian light Show me your love Californian light Show me your love Californian light Show me your love Californian light Yeah... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Aug 24, 2017
    80
    It sounds like a natural progression for the Londoners, and in the process, they have made something that tips its hat to decades-old tendencies whilst sounding more modern than most records to drop in 2017.
  2. Jul 21, 2017
    80
    In digging back through music history’s treasure trove, Childhood have forged ahead into genuinely exciting new ground. They might have broken through with a bunch of other bands, but now Childhood don’t need anyone but themselves.
  3. 80
    It’s a natural-sounding progression that confounds the expected developments ‘a guitar band’ should make and instead adds a glorious musical technicolour to a set of songs to soundtrack the summer and beyond.
  4. Mojo
    Jul 25, 2017
    80
    All told: a summer soul smash. [Sep 2017, p.93]
  5. Jul 20, 2017
    70
    It's a refreshing step away from the anti-culpability of 'nice-boy' singers like Ed Sheeran and the ilk. Ultimately, the record is a lot of fun and will sit best with those who avoid taking life and love too seriously.
  6. Jul 20, 2017
    67
    Change is good and expected from new, learning artists, but lacking a distinguishable characteristic to cling to makes the trajectory for a band like Childhood hazier than the kaleidoscopic jams they started out with.
  7. Jul 21, 2017
    50
    At points, Universal High finds a hook and rides it somewhere new, but for the most part it’s content to time-travel to safe harbors, layering clean, jazzy guitar over simple grooves or dabbling in yacht rock.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of
  2. Mixed: 0 out of
  3. Negative: 0 out of