After the Disco
by Broken Bells
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Feb 4, 2014
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 61
  3. Negative: 2 out of 61
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  1. PaperbagWriter
    Feb 7, 2014
    6
    I found this album to be completely underwhelming. Especially compared to their latest releases. I was very excited for this album but it didn't meet my expectations. There are some interesting moment for sure but not enough.
  2. Cee-lo
    Feb 4, 2014
    5
    Mouse and the guy from The Shins are just wasting their time doing this. But we all know what they are capable of. There's nothing new, nothing interesting, yet boring as hell. Perfect supermarket music.
  3. Custom_Concerns
    Feb 9, 2014
    5
    There seems to be a trend with Broken Bells, something that I noticed on their first album as well: there are a few great, truly great, songs, but the rest are uninspired, dull, and forgettable. On their first album, however, the song quality was a bit more spread out, the album was mostly enjoyable the whole way through. On After the Disco, in my opinion, the first four songs blow theThere seems to be a trend with Broken Bells, something that I noticed on their first album as well: there are a few great, truly great, songs, but the rest are uninspired, dull, and forgettable. On their first album, however, the song quality was a bit more spread out, the album was mostly enjoyable the whole way through. On After the Disco, in my opinion, the first four songs blow the rest of the album out of the water. I was originally very pleased with this album, but after those first four tracks I realized it was incredibly front-heavy, which is a shame because After the Disco presents original, unique ideas. The presentation and songwriting, for the most part, is just off. I wouldn't consider this a bad album - if you're a fan of Broken Bells and experimental indie pop in general you will probably like this album, more than I did at least. For me, however, most of the material here is simply "ok."

    56/100

    Track Picks: Perfect World, After the Disco, Holding On for Life, Leave it Alone    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Most Discussed Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 38
  3. Negative: 1 out of 38
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Oct 30, 2014
    67
    If 2010 debut Broken Bells melted together seemingly incongruous approaches, After the Disco lands Mercer and Danger Mouse in a new universe entirely.
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  2. Magnet
    Feb 21, 2014
    80
    Broken Bells' initial salvos may have set their parameters, but After The Disco expands, transcends and redefines them. [No. 106, p.52]
  3. The Quietus
    Feb 14, 2014
    80
    After The Disco is an exceptionally successful record filled with the type of uplifting melody we've come to expect from the pair, as well as more direct, clearer lyrics and an overall sharper edge.
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