When Fish Ride Bicycles
by The Cool Kids
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. cokemachineglow
    Sep 21, 2011
    60
    While there's nothing wrong with the production displayed on When Fish Ride Bicycles, Inglish laid down the blueprint for supporting this duo so well that the oft busier and more varied work on this outing feels like too much to digest and too much for them to wade through.
  2. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Jul 28, 2011
    50
    The biggest problem with When Fish Ride Bicycles is the overall dull presentation and atmosphere.
  3. No Ripcord
    Jul 22, 2011
    60
    When Fish Ride Bicycles is like any high school parking lot. There are cool kids, newcomers, wallflowers and seniors that should have graduated last year but decided to stick around because it's still fun and easy.
  5. The A.V. Club
    Jul 19, 2011
    58
    Fish feels a little warmed-over.
  6. Prefix Magazine
    Jul 8, 2011
    60
    When Fish Ride Bicycles was probably never going to be as good as hearing "Black Mags" for the first time, but no one could have bet that it would be this boring.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. STRONGBONES
    Aug 10, 2011
    6
    The album starts out with Rush Hour. It has a tight 80's/early 90's beat filled with clingy vocal breaks. The chorus has a new age style mixedThe album starts out with Rush Hour. It has a tight 80's/early 90's beat filled with clingy vocal breaks. The chorus has a new age style mixed with a sound unique to The Cool Kids. The production from Chuck Inglish stays on the fine line between gritty and minimal. Some tracks such as Boomin' and Bundle Up have the outcome of being minimal, with a repetitive drum loop that may make you want to turn the song. The album at times has the potential to become a influential hip hop staple, but ends up falling short. It fall short in depth and connection. The duo still provides solid tracks have commercial and feel good beats like Rush Hour, Swimsuits, and Summer Jam. With guests of Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, and Travis Barker, along with appearances from Bun B, Ghostface Killah, Travis Barker, and Asher Roth the album has added appeal and added volume. The highlight is the outro song Summer Jam, partly because of The Neptuneâ… Full Review »
  2. zeroxxovich
    Feb 20, 2020
    5
    When Fish Ride Bicycles is a modern callback to the roots of hip-hop. The beats and overall sound especially can remind listeners of tracksWhen Fish Ride Bicycles is a modern callback to the roots of hip-hop. The beats and overall sound especially can remind listeners of tracks that dominated the 90's, especially in the west coast scene. The album also has a few fantastic songs that are very memorable and the overall theme of the album is quite cohesive and easily brings up memories of a hot summer day. The weaknesses of this album come from the rest of the tracks. Beyond the handful of fantastic songs, the others fall flat and personally are constant skips. The flow can often come off awkward, and perhaps that is due to the devotion to the sound of the album. Overall the album as a whole is simply okay, and while listening through is certainly worth the time, it's probably only necessary to keep a few of your favorite tracks in rotation.
    Favorite Song: Gas Station
    Least Favorite Song: Boomin'    … Full Review »
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