With The Tides
by South
  • Record Label: Kinetic
  • Release Date: Sep 23, 2003
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Filter
    86
    Though With The Tides is undoubtedly the document of a band in transition, it gracefully lacks the awkwardness that usually marks the cost of evolution. [#7, p.92]
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  2. Q Magazine
    80
    A second album full of ambition and epic arrangements so unexpected it knocks you sideways. [May 2004, p.108]
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  3. AllMusic
    80
    There's a sharpness that was absent before, a shift in focus and time that's strict in design.
  5. PopMatters
    80
    The sense of dynamics on With the Tides sounds almost like the missing link between Pablo Honey and The Bends.
  6. Mojo
    80
    Stalking drumbeats collide with lush chords and Joel Cadbury's smoky vocals for an emotionally fragile record. [May 2004, p.104]
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  7. Pitchfork
    73
    Though it's no masterpiece, With the Tides is certainly a good record. At the very least it should ease your Britpop jones better than Menswe@r.
  8. Outburn
    70
    More mature than their debut. [#23, p.101]
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  9. Alternative Press
    70
    Though it has a couple great cuts that are in the running for Britpop song of the year, With The Tides lacks definition, making South more a group in the midst of a movement than one defining it. [Oct 2003, p.138]
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  10. Blender
    70
    South won't win any prizes for originality, but their songwriting is endearing enough to mask the stink of opportunistic career change. [Nov 2003, p.121]
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  11. Launch.com
    70
    Rockist textures and lush dreamscapes that could very well be the Cocteau Twins take on heavy metal.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. RSkells
    Nov 28, 2005
    9
    an outstanding album, plain and simple. from "loosen your hold" to "silver sun" to "nine lives" to the rockingly outstanding "colours in an outstanding album, plain and simple. from "loosen your hold" to "silver sun" to "nine lives" to the rockingly outstanding "colours in waves", this is a tight, concise album with no filler. its moody yet upbeat, joyful and sad. the contradictions do not spell confusion or a lack of focus. they simply show honesty, something missing in mainstream music today.… Full Review »
  2. Calle
    Apr 16, 2005
    9
    By it! Great surf-style music wich make you wanne up and jump! Really great atmosphere thru the whole album, with different styles and By it! Great surf-style music wich make you wanne up and jump! Really great atmosphere thru the whole album, with different styles and different....whatever. LOVE IT!… Full Review »
  3. Joris
    Mar 20, 2005
    10
    Thought I should give this album juwt a listen but fell in love with it. Blown away by tracks like Loosen Your hold, Nine Lives, Same Old Thought I should give this album juwt a listen but fell in love with it. Blown away by tracks like Loosen Your hold, Nine Lives, Same Old Story, Colours In Waves and pretty much the rest of the album. And then there's that Radiohead-ish Threadbare; what a riff! One big word: HUGE. One of the best bands you have never heard of I guess… Full Review »
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