- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
A blur of shouted vocals, tribal drums and scattershot riffs.
-
Mouthy, destructive, confused, sexed-up but no sex object, Jemima Pearl is the pearl.
-
Once a punky brat, Jemima Pearl now sounds like a punk broad -- like she might join the Donnas if that was a better job. But listen through the bigger voice and louder mix and you'll hear someone who's thinking all the time.
-
Even at its most ominous, though, the album never loses its verve or vitality. It's just one quick hit after another, a succession of aural whippets that last long after the record's over.
-
This is a young band not taking themselves too seriously, and you can really picture them as they rock out and enjoy themselves.
-
Much of the reason for bothering with BYOP lies in the absolute glory of hearing Pearl succeed in making every lyrical couplet she spews forth sound as if she's been drinking cider since birth and is ready to hurl... anytime... now!
-
UncutIt's an album, like most teenagers, that is sometimes awkward and exhausting, but also joyous, un-jaded, and bursting at the seams with promise. [Apr 2006, p.114]
-
"Be Your Own Pet" is smart and crafty, but most of all, it's a wild-eyed blast.
-
BlenderSweaty, sloppy and desperately quick. [Jul 2006, p.102]
-
Be Your Own Pet's two-minute blasts of post-pubescence are true testament to the loud, fast rules of punk.
-
Los Angeles TimesSmart and witty touches abound. [4 Jun 2006]
-
Entertainment WeeklyFun--but not terribly original. [9 Jun 2006, p.136]
-
BYOP’s debut cascades on itself. Its compulsive, one-sitting punk is delivered with absolute self-conviction.
-
Like scoffing a King sized Mars Bar, the instant gratification and sugar rush is soon superseded with nausea, whining and guilt.
-
If the album breezes past you without leaving much of an impression, if the songs sound all too much the same, we can forgive them.
-
Even though Be Your Own Pet were more consistent, or maybe just easier to keep up with, on their EPs, there's still plenty of hyperactive fun (or rather, fuuuuuun) to be found here.
-
An album adhering so strictly to a simple formula can't help but become redundant.
-
Under The RadarThe real star here is Pearl, who’s about as respectful and modest as chewing bubble gum in science class. [#14]
-
SpinPearl may have studied Karen O's textbook, but when her bandmates rev up a proper garage-rock racket, she dives in like she was born with her own irresistible rock-star sneer. [Jul 2006, p.82]
-
Yes, the album drags. Yes, the tracks bleed into each other. It is, ultimately, a tiring listen from a band whose sole aim seems to be to innervate every neurone in your body.
-
Be Your Own Pet attacks with enthusiasm, and everything here rocks sufficently, although some remedial songwriting classes may be required before they make the move to sports arenas.
-
Alternative PressFor the most part, the band's jagged guitars and bludgeoning backbeats play by the punk rulebook. [Jul 2006, p.186]
-
Q MagazineTheir music lacks any trace of sophistication or nuance. [Apr 2006, p.112]
-
The concept is fun, and sometimes they strike pop gold... But the underlying premise, which is that this racket is some badge of teenage authenticity, is self-limiting.
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 17 out of 27
-
Mixed: 5 out of 27
-
Negative: 5 out of 27
-
JohnESep 10, 2007
-
GuyHJan 8, 2007
-
JoelSSep 10, 2006Not really ground-breaking. But the songs are all so fun and catchy! Very, very solid stuff