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. bigtime123
    May 1, 2014
    9
    Amazing piece of work. Even better than their first album.
    "Leave it Alone" is haunting me, I can't get it out of my head.
    Just saw them live and they sound just as good live as they do in the studio.
    A rare band these days.
    Highly recommended
  2. VonSeux
    Apr 29, 2014
    8
    Really interesting and enjoying album. I do not rate it higher only because it's part of the nostalgia trend. If you can, enjoy it for what it is with a nice sound system with pumpimg bass. The production is top notch.
  3. WxJim
    Mar 18, 2014
    7
    Listening to this album is a very different experience from their first. On 'Broken Bells' the songs had little to no cohesion, and while perhaps better written overall, each song could stand entirely alone. This time, the songs compliment and lean on each other, sometimes a little too much. To me, 'Holding on for Life' doesn't really fit in with the rest, and 'Medicine' and 'No MatterListening to this album is a very different experience from their first. On 'Broken Bells' the songs had little to no cohesion, and while perhaps better written overall, each song could stand entirely alone. This time, the songs compliment and lean on each other, sometimes a little too much. To me, 'Holding on for Life' doesn't really fit in with the rest, and 'Medicine' and 'No Matter What You're Told' sort of blend together too much (which may have been intentional?). Furthermore the songs don't hit as many emotional highs as you would expect from anything James Mercer puts his voice to, certainly not to the level that the first album did.

    That aside, it is still a great listen. To me the standouts are the title song "After the Disco', the opener 'Perfect World' and 'The Remains of Rock and Roll'. The one that I will still be listening to years from now is 'Lazy Wonderland', I see it as the 'October' from this album, and a song that could have easily come off of a Shins album.    … Expand
  4. Mab_987
    Feb 23, 2014
    8
    I honestly think this is better than the debut. James & Brian really honed the distinct brand of tight, multi-layered & catchy indie rock they've been doing with this project. The chemistry between the 2 is great & the occasionally wide diverse production really adds to how engaging each track is in terms of songwriting.

    (For my full review, look up "Spin It Reviews" on YouTube. I'd    I honestly think this is better than the debut. James & Brian really honed the distinct brand of tight, multi-layered & catchy indie rock they've been doing with this project. The chemistry between the 2 is great & the occasionally wide diverse production really adds to how engaging each track is in terms of songwriting.

    (For my full review, look up "Spin It Reviews" on YouTube. I'd appreciate it.)    … Expand
  5. moonman1994
    Feb 9, 2014
    9
    The album flows together really well and that makes it very solid and perfect to listen to all the way through. It also just gets better and better the more you listen to it. The only flaw is that the music is not as varied as it was on the first album.
  6. 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
  7. DiscoFans
    Feb 8, 2014
    10
    I had the opportunity to interview and I can definitely recommend it. Many hours of listening pleasure. http://goo.gl/OSQxrl http://goo.gl/OSQxrl http://goo.gl/OSQxrl
  8. 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.
  9. RedOwlReviews
    Feb 5, 2014
    8
    What we have here in "After the Disco" is a pleasant combination of classic 2010s indie alternative structure and instrumentation, coruscating space-age synths, evocative melodies, and at times, swooping ballads. In tracks like "After the Disco," "The Changing Lights," and "Leave It Alone," Broken Bells have precisely translated their thought processes into delightfully pungent music. InWhat we have here in "After the Disco" is a pleasant combination of classic 2010s indie alternative structure and instrumentation, coruscating space-age synths, evocative melodies, and at times, swooping ballads. In tracks like "After the Disco," "The Changing Lights," and "Leave It Alone," Broken Bells have precisely translated their thought processes into delightfully pungent music. In other tracks ("Medicine," "The Angel and the Fool"), not so much. The album ultimately boils down to a potpourri of ingenious ideas and rhythmical atmospheres that often, but not always, adhere to the thin backbone of the album.

    FINAL SCORE: 75 (pretty good ----------o---------- great)    … Expand
  10. 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.
  11. Burns148
    Feb 4, 2014
    9
    I got this album a little early so I've already listened to it about 4 times already and I absolutely love it! It somehow manages to sound fresh while also sounding the like the Bee Gees have come back and its beautiful. Danger Mouse's production here and James Mercer's singing have culminated in what is now my favorite "side project"; if you can still call them that. Listen to this album.I got this album a little early so I've already listened to it about 4 times already and I absolutely love it! It somehow manages to sound fresh while also sounding the like the Bee Gees have come back and its beautiful. Danger Mouse's production here and James Mercer's singing have culminated in what is now my favorite "side project"; if you can still call them that. Listen to this album. Essential tracks: Perfect World, After the Disco, Holding on for Life, Control, and Medicine.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Most Discussed Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

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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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
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