User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 82 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 77 out of 82
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Mixed: 2 out of 82
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Negative: 3 out of 82
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Feb 9, 2014Beautifully varied music. The combination of the Danger Mouse groove and Mercer's voice makes for a perfect album. Some songs are chilling and others are amazingly catchy. It's perfect.
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Dec 6, 2013This is much better than the score suggests. Innovative, catchy, haunting. An excellent debut from Mercer and Burton. These two have an incredible chemistry. Mercer's brilliant melodies and Burton's grooves matched together is nirvana.
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Sep 25, 2013
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Sep 19, 2012Broken Bells is an album born from the collaboration of The Shins
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Jul 25, 2011
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Mar 2, 2011Broken Bells does take a few listens to actually get into but once you get into it, it's a really good record. James Mercer's dark voice mixes so perfectly well with Brian Burton's producing talent and the result is a dark, unique, well written album. All In All, Broken Bells is something different and also very creative and unique. I recommend. B+
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PMar 24, 2010Takes a few listens to fully appreciate, but this is a great album. "Trap Doors" is especially enjoyable. As for reviewers complaining about it being too mellow, maybe you just need to chill out. This album is getting me through a lot of homework.
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RichardMMar 17, 2010This album is a fantastic mix of chilled pop melodies with brilliantly addictive lyrics. The songs are simple, but it is this simplicity that gives the album such a great all round feel. Danger Mouse's genius is heard more and more every time you listen. The album barely gets boring and becomes lovingly addictive.
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MDBMar 11, 2010Best album of the year so far. Sounds like a cross between Shins & Gorillaz, if that makes any sense. Critics like experimental music over anything with melody? That is unfortunate, this is an excellent listen with a cool vibe.
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MattMMar 9, 2010
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MichaelMar 9, 2010Absolutely brilliant! Danger Mouse and James Mercer have created something unique and fantastic. This is the year's best album so far.
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Awards & Rankings
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Broken Bells is an honest-to-goodness debut album--there are as many promising flashes as frustrating moments here. Mercer and Burton have obvious chemistry, but they need to blend more for true alchemy.
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The album finishes almost as well as it started with 'The Mall & Misery' (a bit of country, a bit of disco, lightening bolts of new wave guitar, harmonies to intoxicate), proving the album's effective inevitability is not tedious and the quality is clear whichever direction you approach from.
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Broken Bells is the crown jewel of each musician's discography and is a necessity for fans of either one.