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No, this is the real shit--classic lightning riffage, hearkening dub rhythms, and a perfectly insane H.R. and Co. following the great spirit to hardcore heaven
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Entertainment WeeklyBad Brains' most cohesive effort since the 1986 watershed I Against I. [29 Jun 2007, p.136]
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It doesn't stray too far from their original template but it is focused and involving.
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The music? Thrilling as ever.
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Alternative PressIt's surprisingly decent. [Jul 2007, p.174]
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SpinBuild a Nation roars and throbs with vintage fire. [Jul 2007, p.92]
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While Bad Brains never quite match the intensity of their early days, this is easily the best record they've released since Quickness.
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BillboardA welcome return from a band that still doesn't sound quite like anybody else. [30 Jun 2007]
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What torpedoes Build a Nation is the heavy cream of reverb and echo that drowns the vocals.
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It lacks the messiness that made them so beautiful in the first place, but be glad they're still punching.
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Bad Brains can still blast with ferocity, but the jarring changes in tone and tempo could prove more of a problem than the lo-fi production for many listeners.
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Ultimately, however, listening to a Bad Brains record is a disjointed experience. Those expecting a 30-minute blast of frenetic punk may be put off by the occasional reggae, while those hoping for a mellow, positive reggae album may be startled by the ferocity of the band’s punk tracks.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 11 out of 13
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Mixed: 1 out of 13
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Negative: 1 out of 13
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AndrewJSep 16, 2007
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RobertR.Aug 2, 2007
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HermannW.Jul 7, 2007