Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 350 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 298 out of 350
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 350
  3. Negative: 25 out of 350

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  1. PatK.
    Aug 30, 2008
    10
    Peter W You have no heart or soul... his voice is perfect for this music/album. This CD is AMAZING.
  2. peterw
    Aug 8, 2007
    3
    great music but cursed by the familiar indie music problem - an appauling singer. i dont usually mind if soemone cant sing but this guy seems to want to rub your nose in it until you tear to CD in half. if they could get a singer less influenced by, i dunno, that pretentious twat from pere ubu, they could be on a winner. as it stands id give it 8 for d music and zero for d vocals.
  3. jimh
    Dec 20, 2005
    5
    They suck live. I also think this album is mediocre at best. The vocals are extremely weak and annoying. The music is good but you can't polish a turd now can you?
  4. cleopatraj
    Sep 28, 2005
    3
    Amen Jefferson L!
  5. LucM.
    Jun 14, 2008
    5
    2 giant tunes, but the rest is really boring.
  6. JasonC
    Jul 14, 2005
    3
    umm... kinda boring... generic indie hooplah... dont see what all the fuss is about?
  7. Christ
    Sep 25, 2005
    5
    A thoroughly predictable and musically generic album, i don't get the (underserved) hype, these guys are an average indie rock band with a singer who has listened to too much Talking Heads but pretends like he's never heard them.
  8. TomW
    Jul 4, 2005
    10
    Best album of the year. Don't believe those who are turned off by all the buzz around these guys. You don't need pitchfork to know that this album is wonderful.
  9. DrewK
    Oct 7, 2005
    10
    Based on the user reviews this seems to be a "love it or hate it" album. But after repeated listens I've got to wonder how many of the bad reviews are more a product of the current "indie backlash" trend than any qualms with the music itself. After you get past the wretched first track, there isn't a single weak spot on the album. Frankly, this type of consistency is astounding Based on the user reviews this seems to be a "love it or hate it" album. But after repeated listens I've got to wonder how many of the bad reviews are more a product of the current "indie backlash" trend than any qualms with the music itself. After you get past the wretched first track, there isn't a single weak spot on the album. Frankly, this type of consistency is astounding from a debut LP. If you like good music and you can adapt to a "unique" vocalist then you will probably end up loving this CD. CYHSY's sound is akin to what you'd get if you threw the Talking Heads, Radiohead and Modest Mouse into a blender with an E pill. The best thing about it is that despite being instantaneously listenable/catchy/accessible, it still actually grows on you.… Expand
  10. JustinR
    Oct 9, 2005
    1
    Overhyped. Verrrrrrry overhyped.
  11. JamieS
    Sep 7, 2005
    5
    very very average. too similar to the arcade fire for comfort. very very very stupid name. boring.
  12. MikeE
    Jun 30, 2005
    8
    1 part David Byrne, 1 part Neutral Milk Hotel, and a dash of Kings of Leon. Give it three solid listens while your "cool" friends tell you how great this album is and you'll come around.
  13. RyanR
    Jun 30, 2005
    10
    This album is amazing. So happy and full of emotion. It sounds like everyone and you hear so many influences, yet, it sounds so original and fresh.
  14. gta
    Jul 10, 2005
    5
    its OK but that song "home on ice" is just great
  15. Breathe
    Jul 1, 2005
    8
    Nice album!
  16. franks
    Jul 14, 2005
    10
    Do I even need to say why?
  17. GraysonA
    Jul 17, 2005
    9
    This is wholly solid indie rock, combining the influences of many, leaving new listeners with something about as original as can be found in a world of copy cats.
  18. lozd
    Jul 1, 2005
    6
    it's the classic story of rock and roll : what sounds like a violent femmes covers band make deeply average record and are rocketed to fame by deeply pretentious online music mag. brill.
  19. wazsiem
    Jul 24, 2005
    4
    WHAT IS HIS VOICE? IT HURTS MY SOUL! He sounds atrocious. the hype is unjustified. the only thing that saves this album is the music that is there, under his wailing terrible voice.
  20. DocZee
    Jul 4, 2005
    6
    An NYC band has/will really benefit from a good pitchfork review (Its amazing how much clout the site carries these days). Light-hearted, energetic bliss. Lead singer sounds like a Byne/Yorke fusion. Incredibly consistent for a debut. There are few moments of greatness here (particularly in "In this Home..") but there aren't enough to warrant a higher score. Check out: "Upon this An NYC band has/will really benefit from a good pitchfork review (Its amazing how much clout the site carries these days). Light-hearted, energetic bliss. Lead singer sounds like a Byne/Yorke fusion. Incredibly consistent for a debut. There are few moments of greatness here (particularly in "In this Home..") but there aren't enough to warrant a higher score. Check out: "Upon this Tidal Wave of Young Blood", "In this Home on Ice", "Details of War"… Expand
  21. KJ
    Jul 5, 2005
    9
    Violent Femmes cover band? That's a pretty lazy comparison. Vocally they may have SOME similarities, lyrically, musically, emotionally, they have absolutely nothing in common with the Femmes. Believe it or not, we owe alot to that "pretentious online music mag." Without them, there are alot of incredible bands that would go unnoticed. (Arcade Fire, broken social scene are two that Violent Femmes cover band? That's a pretty lazy comparison. Vocally they may have SOME similarities, lyrically, musically, emotionally, they have absolutely nothing in common with the Femmes. Believe it or not, we owe alot to that "pretentious online music mag." Without them, there are alot of incredible bands that would go unnoticed. (Arcade Fire, broken social scene are two that immediately come to mind).… Expand
  22. erike
    Jul 6, 2005
    10
    upon first listen, i was unimpressed. after 2 to 3 listens i came around and i am now addicted to this record, definitely along with the national one of the best of the year. if you do not like this album, you'd probably appreciate the new weezer or another crap U2 or coldplay record.
  23. syazuanr
    Aug 1, 2005
    9
    much needed wake up call to all those sleeping rock giants!
  24. ryanf
    Aug 1, 2005
    2
    Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is a very boring and had no shelf life, it looses all of its very little charm quick. It is only egarded so highly because pitchfork rated it so highly. Sleater-Kinney and MIA have released music much better this year.
  25. maha
    Aug 23, 2005
    9
    New York bands come, New York bands go, some deserve more than they got, some are just pretty and consequently are launched as NME coverkids. But this lot, oh my! Exciting stuff, cant wait to hear what comes of them-lets hope they arent lost within the myriad of New York scenesters that never quite are...
  26. CarlY
    Aug 6, 2005
    9
    Wonderful. Took a while for me to warm up to it, but it's really a great record. Don't wait--act now!
  27. GarrettS
    Sep 21, 2005
    2
    No one will care about this band in a year. HEY LOOK, IT'S MORE TRENDY INDIE ROCK! Some of these songs are decent (in that fruity, "wow why the hell do i find myself liking this" kind of way), then the singer starts in and completely blows them to crap. This one gets my vote for Comedy album of the year.
  28. JimS
    Sep 7, 2005
    10
    This is an incredibly solid CD, especially for a band's first release. The middle of this album is packed solid, with such songs as "Details of the War" and "Heavy Metal" packing the most punch. Although it is impossible to understand what the hell this guys is singing, it really matters little in the end. The raw emotion, the feeling that this band cares about its music, not about This is an incredibly solid CD, especially for a band's first release. The middle of this album is packed solid, with such songs as "Details of the War" and "Heavy Metal" packing the most punch. Although it is impossible to understand what the hell this guys is singing, it really matters little in the end. The raw emotion, the feeling that this band cares about its music, not about popularity, run crisply through my earphones.… Expand
  29. PedroL
    Jan 14, 2006
    9
    All song are great! (well... except #1 :P).
  30. DavidH
    May 5, 2006
    10
    In my humble opinion, the best album I've heard in years.
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best Album of 2005
11
#11 Most Discussed Album of 2005
5
#5 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. cokemachineglow
    84
    CYHSY’s songs ring of The Bends-era songwriting, but loungier, more playful, more comfortable in their own skin.
    Read full review
  2. Pitchfork
    90
    The record is consistently, remarkably strong.
    Read full review
  3. Stylus Magazine
    83
    If there are complaints to lobby against this remarkable debut, they lie mostly in its sound-quality. Namely, it sounds like what it was: self-recorded and self-released.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »