Wonderful Rainbow
by Lightning Bolt
  • Record Label: Load
  • Release Date: Mar 4, 2003
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Village Voice
    80
    Too mischievous for Led Zeppelin's Valhalla and too self-aware for Bal-Sagoth's Magic Kingdom, Wonderful Rainbow conjures retarded unicorns, copulating robots, and head-banging ogres in one technicolor beat.
  2. The A.V. Club
    80
    For an album that changes pace only for intensely noisy noodling, Wonderful Rainbow shows remarkable range.
  3. Dusted Magazine
    100
    Wonderful Rainbow is a brilliant record and has upped the ante tremendously for Lightning Bolt. They managed to take every single aspect that made Ride the Skies such a great record and intensify it severely, all the while showcasing incredibly tight and complex musicianship – knowing when to hold in the reins and when to set them on fire.
  5. ShakingThrough.net
    82
    Perhaps the album's most remarkable feat is its utter lack of density: One never gets the sense that anything excessive or unnecessary was utilized in constructing its sonic brickworks.
  6. Pitchfork
    84
    Wonderful Rainbow delivers what Ride the Skies most lacked: Musical diversity.
  7. Blender
    80
    If the White Stripes gave up blues-rock for steroids, acid and death metal, they might sound something like this. [Apr 2003, p.124]
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  8. Magnet
    40
    Sounds like classic overcompensation, a racket on wheels trying to live up to its hype by merely playing over it. [#59, p.98]
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  9. Mojo
    80
    Stellar noise pollution. [May 2003, p.99]
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  10. Uncut
    80
    The music is purposeful and powerful. [Jul 2003, p.114]
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  11. Stylus Magazine
    92
    The net result is an amazing pileup of discount psychedelia and stoner rock grind, with ample doses of ecstatic amplifier brutality thrown in to explode any ham-fisted accusations of classic rock necrophilia.
  12. The Wire
    80
    If Lightning Bolt works best live, Wonderful Rainbow loses nothing of the duo's spontaneous wallop. [#230, p.56]
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  13. AllMusic
    80
    At its best, though, this album is like having a beautiful girl hit you repeatedly over the head with a baseball bat.
  14. Neumu.net
    70
    Music of reassuring terror.

Awards & Rankings

78
#78 Best Album of 2003

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 2 out of 24
  1. AShinyG1ratina
    Jun 22, 2022
    8
    Probably the best album from one of the most consistently sonically impressive bands from the past couple of decades.
  2. dolanclass
    Mar 17, 2011
    7
    An interest-piquing statement by an innovative and technically proficient band. They certainly have their own style and don't really seem toAn interest-piquing statement by an innovative and technically proficient band. They certainly have their own style and don't really seem to care if you like it or not. A little over-hyped, but still an enjoyable record.… Full Review »
  3. musicis
    Aug 30, 2005
    10
    This album is currently making all my decisions for me and let me tell you... life has been great!
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