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Citizens of Boomtown
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Citizens of Boomtown Image
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

  • Summary: The seventh full-length studio release for the Irish rock band is its first since 1984's In The Long Grass.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Mar 12, 2020
    80
    Citizens of Boomtown is a startling selection of classically punchy songs. [Apr 2020, p.87]
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  2. Uncut
    Mar 12, 2020
    80
    Crunching glam riffs, foot-stamping choruses and lip-smacking vocals - delivered with trademark gusto by Bob Geldof. [Apr 2020, p.25]
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  3. The Guardian
    Mar 13, 2020
    60
    It has nostalgic nods to their first musical loves, bits that nod back to the first records they made, plenty of vim and spark but without the fuel that was first ignited by that spark. And, of course, it has toe-curling attempts to be current, just in case there really are disenfranchised kids listening.
  4. AllMusic
    Mar 12, 2020
    50
    There is some good material here and they've certainly taken their reunion record somewhere unexpected, but as a whole, Citizens is a bit of an inconsistent mess.
  5. Mojo
    Mar 12, 2020
    40
    Confusing mix of glam-influenced punk and would-be party bangers a tad disappointing. [Apr 2020, p.93]
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  6. PopMatters
    Mar 17, 2020
    40
    Ripping off very obvious rock songs is asking to be deemed irrelevant, and their attempts to sound contemporary are poor at best. If you must acquire this, then you might have fun with your friends picking out which songs they ripped off, or pay homage to or whatever.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Jungstir
    Mar 15, 2020
    8
    I get it nostalgia gets old but there are some choice cuts on this release worth listening and keepin' the beat dancin'. They are tour readyI get it nostalgia gets old but there are some choice cuts on this release worth listening and keepin' the beat dancin'. They are tour ready with this one a little something for everyone young and old alike.… Expand
  2. Ricko
    May 10, 2020
    7
    This is an album out of the blue to say the least. 35 or so years so the last Boomtown Rats record you'd wonder what brought it about and whyThis is an album out of the blue to say the least. 35 or so years so the last Boomtown Rats record you'd wonder what brought it about and why anyone felt the need to make it. I don't have the answer to either question. With regard to the music itself, it is very much a tale of two sides. The relatively straightforward numbers are passable and at times decent. The forays into genres outside of rock n roll are ill advised though. Attempts at rap, house and techno are all made on side two with disorientating (not in a good way) results. This could have been many things including boring or terrible. It is neither of those so that has to be classed as some kind of a success in my book.… Expand

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