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Welcome To The North
by
  • Record Label:
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Welcome To The North Image
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 31 Ratings

  • Summary: Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam) produced this sophomore outing for the English quartet.

Top Track

Freedom Fighters
I don't know Why these people can't get it on What you didn't know? That it's just people having fun, yeah I thought that there was something going... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Alternative Press
    80
    A marked improvement over their eponymous debut, North sounds like Muse and the Stone Roses on steroids. [Jan 2005, p.113]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Filter
    76
    When Welcome To The North is at its biggest, it's also at its best. Unfortunately, that means that the record's better half comprises the last two tribal minutes of each track and a couple of exceptional highlights. [#13, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Stylus Magazine
    70
    The baggy beats and techno touches that occasionally made their eponymous debut seem slightly forced and naïve are stripped away, O’Brien’s production giving the band a more expensive, professional sound, just as massive and frenetic as the wilful teenage strafing they used to create, but with infinitely more control.
  4. 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]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. PopMatters
    20
    This is a cloying record that doesn't so much recall Zeppelin at their height, as The Alarm at their most irritating.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. arnold
    Feb 4, 2007
    10
    One of my favorites albums. A marked improvement on their debut, which was still pretty good.
  2. RomeoS
    Feb 25, 2005
    10
    Great album
  4. richard
    Oct 21, 2004
    10
    Ignore the media reviews........how they on mass seem to have missed the brilliance of this album is quite beyond me. ambitious and Ignore the media reviews........how they on mass seem to have missed the brilliance of this album is quite beyond me. ambitious and fantastically executed this is the best album i've bought for years. i've had it over a month now and it has still barely left the stereo… Expand
  5. KenB
    Apr 19, 2005
    10
    I thought this album was absolutely stunning. I prepared for it to be rubbish as I bought it on a whim, but was absolutely blown away. Solid I thought this album was absolutely stunning. I prepared for it to be rubbish as I bought it on a whim, but was absolutely blown away. Solid rock, great melodies and some unbelievably memorable tracks make for an essential purchase.… Expand
  6. KennyC
    Nov 13, 2004
    9
    Fantastic album. The raw energy of their first album grabbed at my soul and the second is just as good. O'Brien seems to have "cleaned" Fantastic album. The raw energy of their first album grabbed at my soul and the second is just as good. O'Brien seems to have "cleaned" the overall sound up some but nowhere near to the point of "over producing" it...thank god. The Jane?s Addiction vs. Your Local Progressive Jam Band sound is still there, but it works. The lyrics may be unimportant, but Robert Harvey's vocals are more of an instrument anyhow, and are indeed very important to the overall "feel" and the atmospheric intentions. With grooves and energy that doubly surpass their age and life experience I can barely contain my excitement for future releases!… Expand
  7. PaulF
    Dec 21, 2004
    9
    Another underrated gem by The Music. I must admit it took me a while to properly get into it after listening to their awesome first album. Another underrated gem by The Music. I must admit it took me a while to properly get into it after listening to their awesome first album. However, now I do much prefer it. It just sounds so much better. More grown up. And Bleed From Within is probably one of the best songs I've heard for a long time.… Expand
  8. kwyjiboj
    Dec 7, 2004
    4
    I bloody loved their first album. It was amazing. But this second one, is not. Its quite poor, there are no killer riffs in the style of I bloody loved their first album. It was amazing. But this second one, is not. Its quite poor, there are no killer riffs in the style of "getaway" or "the truth is no words". Gone is the dance music influence, and instead we get a subpar rock record from a band which once looked to be on the cusp of world domination.… Collapse

See all 18 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Most Shared Album of 2004

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