Welcome To The North
by The Music
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Oct 19, 2004
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Drowned In Sound
    60
    Fans of The Music will love 'Welcome To The North' but it is unlikely that detractors will be converted.
  2. Blender
    60
    As hipsters, the Yorkshire quartet are still total non-starters, but [North] sees producer Brendan O'Brien honing their gonzo essence to more sizeable effect. [Nov 2004, p.138]
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  3. cokemachineglow
    60
    Would be much better if it came with an option to turn the vocals off.
  5. Mojo
    40
    Does little to extended their reputation beyond that of a band big on amp buckling bluster and low on pop harmonies. [Oct 2004, p.104]
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  6. Entertainment Weekly
    58
    The mix of loopy, Jane's Addiction-style psychedelia and old-fashioned stadium rock is galvanizing at first... but by midpoint, it's merely exhausting. [22 Oct 2004, p.96]
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  7. The Guardian
    60
    It may not be clever, but it's big, and unexpectedly poignant.
  8. Rolling Stone
    40
    Too much of Welcome to the North sounds like emo on Ecstasy -- all hot and bothered without much to say.
  9. Pitchfork
    50
    They have general technical proficiency and a knack for a good riff, but listening to them is nevertheless a chore-- and a boring, repetitive one at that.
  10. Tiny Mix Tapes
    50
    This is the sound of a band in transition.
  11. Dot Music
    50
    It’s not that "Welcome To The North" is a bad listen, but when you get to track six and you still seem to be stuck on track one, you get the feeling there must be more to ‘the music’ than this.
  12. Q Magazine
    40
    The Music generate their songs like a smoke machine--vaguely atmospheric but ultimately lacking in substance. [Oct 2004, p.124]
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  13. E! Online
    50
    At their best they sound like a female Black Sabbath tribute band, at their worst they sound like slutty old goth rockers. Frankly, neither is all that appealing.
  14. Under The Radar
    60
    Surely, it's not hard to appreciate the intelligent yet visceral guitar work and the unshakable groove... The problem is that it's nearly forgotten once the music ends. [#8, p.116]
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Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Most Shared Album of 2004

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 3 out of 31
  1. JefferyJ
    Feb 11, 2007
    7
    It's a rather underrated effort by The Music. It's not amazing, but it is solid.
  2. arnold
    Feb 4, 2007
    10
    One of my favorites albums. A marked improvement on their debut, which was still pretty good.
  3. adolfoc
    Feb 10, 2006
    10
    this album rocks
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