Amnesty (I)
by Crystal Castles
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
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  1. Mojo
    Sep 6, 2016
    60
    Amnesty's dark, metallic electro-pop creates an overwhelming Strum Und Drang. [Oct 2016, p.99]
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  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    Aug 24, 2016
    60
    Ultimately, it’s confusion that remains at the end of Amnesty (I). Crystal Castles always were an uncomfortable band, but the bumpy conception of this album and the awkward introduction of new ideas dampen even its most teeth-chattering moments.
  3. The Observer (UK)
    Aug 22, 2016
    60
    If the sense of overfamiliarity is a bit disappointing for a band once lauded as experimentalists, producer Ethan Kath has also retained his knack for writing terrific hooks and warped melodies. Ornament and Kept are nuggets of brilliantly disjointed electropop.
  5. DIY Magazine
    Aug 19, 2016
    60
    The record doesn’t achieve a great deal in saying anything new. It’s far from a disaster, though. ... The main issue with Amnesty (I) is that Crystal Castles needed to say something different.
  6. The Guardian
    Aug 18, 2016
    60
    The result is an album that, while impressively intense, lacks the human urgency of their earlier work.
  7. Drowned In Sound
    Aug 18, 2016
    60
    No alarms and no real surprises, yet the execution carries Crystal Castles 2.0 through.
  8. Slant Magazine
    Aug 18, 2016
    60
    The album meets all goth-adjacent indie-dance needs squarely. It doesn't, however, ever transcend those needs.
  9. Pretty Much Amazing
    Aug 22, 2016
    58
    The first product from Crystal Castles 2.0 is a mixed bag of nostalgia, proficiency, and carefully staged continuity.
  10. No Ripcord
    Sep 13, 2016
    50
    Sometimes, Kath will try to replicate the past with a house-oriented number like Frail, where Francis tries her best to replicate Glass’s contagious shrieking but without the same stage presence. In spite of this, Amnesty (I) isn’t afraid of glossing over its faults in hopes of trying out new things.
  11. NOW Magazine
    Sep 7, 2016
    40
    The central dichotomous tension is blandly predictable (loud-quiet-loud-quiet), the songwriting occasionally sharp, but its political themes--like its vocalist--are lost in the fury.

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Most Discussed Album of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 86
  3. Negative: 7 out of 86
  1. martincm1910
    Aug 19, 2016
    8
    Edith is awesome, the lyrics are really good, but the album lacks of something and i don't know what is. Anyways Char and Sadist are theEdith is awesome, the lyrics are really good, but the album lacks of something and i don't know what is. Anyways Char and Sadist are the highlights of the album. Keep doing amazing tracks Ethan and Edith.… Full Review »
  2. IvanMejia_
    Sep 24, 2016
    5
    It is such a shame that half of the songs are just noise without a sense, they used to do awesome electronic/witch catchy songs. I found thisIt is such a shame that half of the songs are just noise without a sense, they used to do awesome electronic/witch catchy songs. I found this album really disappointing.… Full Review »
  3. longjetty7
    Sep 1, 2016
    8
    I'm not sure why the critic reviews are so lukewarm. This album is seriously such a treat to listen to. There's not a bad track on here and itI'm not sure why the critic reviews are so lukewarm. This album is seriously such a treat to listen to. There's not a bad track on here and it flows together so well. The melodies, beats, and hooks are infectious. Amnesty (I) is certainly a welcome comeback from Crystal Castles, and a bit more accessible than their previous albums.… Full Review »
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