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. NetoN
    Jul 15, 2005
    10
    Best album I've heard in ages. The self-production adds to the songs' intimacy. Voice a bit like Jeff Magnum but poppier subject-matter and melodies flying everywhere. Buy the album and support a band doing it for themselves!
  2. PedroC
    Jul 15, 2005
    9
    Great great great great album!!!!!!!!! Will be on my top 10 albums of this year!
  3. NoahP
    Jul 15, 2005
    10
    Amazing music, but that wonderfully terrible voice really is the icing on the cake.
  4. VanL
    Jul 16, 2005
    10
    A really great album that, unfortunately, comes out at a time when many people are so eager to hate "the next big thing." People that just truly enjoy Indie Rock music will thoroughly appreciate this release.
  5. JustinC
    Jul 16, 2005
    10
    Perfect pop, extremely fun to listen to
  6. elizw
    Jul 17, 2005
    10
    mind-bogglingly spectacular.
  7. KarenI
    Jul 17, 2005
    10
    Wooow! Shines!
  8. JoeB.
    Jul 18, 2005
    6
    I think all the "cool" reviewers get a newsletter or something telling them when to write over the top poetic appreciations of nonspectactular music. There seem to be these moments when the entire industry just seems to have decided in advance a record is going to be proclaimed. And a lot of times it is bands from New York. And we as serious readers of Pitchfork, Metacritic, etc soak it I think all the "cool" reviewers get a newsletter or something telling them when to write over the top poetic appreciations of nonspectactular music. There seem to be these moments when the entire industry just seems to have decided in advance a record is going to be proclaimed. And a lot of times it is bands from New York. And we as serious readers of Pitchfork, Metacritic, etc soak it up and spit it back out. We actually running around talking about how great something is when we don't really know why ourselves. There's nothing really wrong with this record. It's fun, sort of compelling, but nothing extraordinary. A couple of tracks are quite catchy and even innovative. And the fun Talking Head vibe is enjoyable. I personally love that sound coming up in today's bands. But it sounds like what it is, a self recorded record by a band that hasn't yet distinguished themsselves and is still mixing up genres and ideas (which can be a great thing, don't get me wrong). I don't think they have found their own voice yet (altho the theme of every review you read is that these guys emerged fully hatched on their first album). I do agree that much of the best music these days is not actually enjoyable, and there's a rush you get when listening to a band that actually is fun. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are that, and we do need more just fun from the body high spirited music. But this is not the best album of the year. All the songs seem to be recorded at different volumes, the vocals are mixed badly at places and I really don't think it's such a magical blend of influences as the press would suggest. It's just another indie band influenced by 80's new wave that shows several sparks of promise along several levels of still figuring it out . Fine. I hope they have a fine career. There's promise here, but it's still unrealized. And the band shouldn't celebrate their good fortune too soon. There's usual a critical backlash when the cool kids stick their necks out too far and later regret it when nobody can figure out a year later why everyone thought it was so good. This record is basically a demo, although you wouldn't know it from the uniformly hysterical praise that everybody seems to agree is appropriate. I guess I didn't get the newsletter. And probably never will now. There's nothing really wrong with this record. It's OK. A couple of tracks are quite compelling and even innovative. And the fun Talking Head vibe is enjoyable. But it sounds like what it is, a self recorded record by a band that hasn't yet distinguished themsselves and is still mixing up genres and ideas (which can be a great thing, don't get me wrong). I agree that much of the best music these days is not actually enjoyable, and there's a rush you get when listening to a band that actually is fun. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are that. But this is not the best album of the year. All the songs seem to be recorded at different volumes, the vocals are mixed badly at places and I really don't think it's such a magical blend of influences as the press would suggest. It's just another indie band influenced by 80's new wave that shows several sparks of promise along several levels of still figuring it out . Fine. I hope they have a fine career. There's promise here, but it's still unrealized. This record is basically a demo, although you wouldn't know it from the uniformly hysterical praise that everybody seems to agree is appropriate. I guess I didn't get the newsletter or the payoff.… Expand
  9. bret
    Jul 18, 2005
    9
    very good...only 1 song i'm not crazy about
  10. Mr.Holler
    Jul 19, 2005
    9
    Bought this album because of the buzz - not what I was expecting at all...and yet...every time I listen through and put something else in, I keep stopping mid-way through and putting this back in. Either they've found a way to administer nicotine aurally or else it's a really rewarding listen. Kind of Belle and Sebastian meets David Byrne meets the Danielson Famile meets Arcade Bought this album because of the buzz - not what I was expecting at all...and yet...every time I listen through and put something else in, I keep stopping mid-way through and putting this back in. Either they've found a way to administer nicotine aurally or else it's a really rewarding listen. Kind of Belle and Sebastian meets David Byrne meets the Danielson Famile meets Arcade Fire meets I don't know what else. Something solid.… Expand
  11. TerrenceO
    Jul 21, 2005
    9
    Fascinating, entertaining, and catchy as hell. This group frolics perfectly amongst the current buzz bands of the indie world (ie. Firey Furnaces, Arcade Fire, Architechure in Helsinki) Theyre, cute, dancable, funny and occasionally rocking
  12. Bryce
    Jul 21, 2005
    9
    This is solid. Too bad Joe B. didn't get the memo. If you can't enjoy this you can't enjoy music. Try listening to it instead of criticizing it and being just that much cooler than the next guy so you can look back and wrongly say "I never actually liked it, even when everyone else was falling over themselves loving it". The emotional gut wrenching feelings that come out of This is solid. Too bad Joe B. didn't get the memo. If you can't enjoy this you can't enjoy music. Try listening to it instead of criticizing it and being just that much cooler than the next guy so you can look back and wrongly say "I never actually liked it, even when everyone else was falling over themselves loving it". The emotional gut wrenching feelings that come out of this music is what makes it, not the fact that so and so said it was "THE album to listen to this summer!" Give your head a shake-this is the one! Christ!… Expand
  13. Bfizzle
    Jul 21, 2005
    10
    Fuck the backlash, this album is as great as they say it is.
  14. Drub
    Jul 26, 2005
    9
    Absolutely brilliant piece of work, I already can't wait to hear something new.
  15. [Anonymous]
    Jul 28, 2005
    6
    I agree with Wazsie M about his voice, it does get very annoying. Everything else about their songs is brilliant, but I can't stand listening to his voice. And to those people who are insulting the people who give it low scores, remember that not everyone can like the same people, and some people won't like this album. And some will. You can listen to 3 songs off this album on I agree with Wazsie M about his voice, it does get very annoying. Everything else about their songs is brilliant, but I can't stand listening to his voice. And to those people who are insulting the people who give it low scores, remember that not everyone can like the same people, and some people won't like this album. And some will. You can listen to 3 songs off this album on their website. Try it out.… Expand
  16. ckasem
    Jul 29, 2005
    9
    Sounds like if david Byrne sung lead for the Feelies or old new order. I love it
  17. VivianC
    Jul 29, 2005
    10
    Awesome.
  18. BrendanP
    Jul 30, 2005
    7
    overrated
  19. JohnD
    Jul 3, 2005
    10
    Phenomenal album. Best of the year, by far.
  20. damoner
    Jul 5, 2005
    9
    the comparisons to tHeads, ViolentFemmes, NMH, are all evident here. That is really not a bad thing either. This CD delivers a full-on dose of inspired indie gold. I keep enjoying it more with each and every listen.
  21. PatS.
    Jul 5, 2005
    7
    I want to marry Loz. Pitchfork is pretentious: take THAT!
  22. whb
    Jul 6, 2005
    3
    After all the hype, I expected the precious whine of an overly ironic and hip indie band. I wasn't too far off. This record sounds like Gordon Gano ripping Thom Yorke melodies, but dressing it up in every current indie cliche and trend. It took no courage to make such a frivolous and obnoxious record as this.
  23. Ben
    Jul 6, 2005
    9
    All this album took for me was one listen and I was hooked. Best pop album in years. To me far superior to Arcade Fire, although really the two bands aren't comparable except cyhsy has all the buzz arcade fire had back in the fall
  24. roba
    Jul 7, 2005
    8
    A close second to Hold Steady's SS for my second favorite album of the year (so far). I've listened to the album over and over, and still am a bit baffled as to what it is I like so much about the album. All I know is that it sounds great. Spot the influence is easy (tho they deny knowing who most of their so-called influences even are), yet they still sound original. Download A close second to Hold Steady's SS for my second favorite album of the year (so far). I've listened to the album over and over, and still am a bit baffled as to what it is I like so much about the album. All I know is that it sounds great. Spot the influence is easy (tho they deny knowing who most of their so-called influences even are), yet they still sound original. Download "Home on Ice" from their website and you'll order the album within an hour.… Expand
  25. TaTa
    Jul 7, 2005
    5
    Yeah it's alright but I agree with loz d. You get a couple of pretentious hit or miss self proclaimed "journalist" like pitchfork wanking about it and all of the sudden nothing has existed prior to this sound which is total rubbish. It's good but by no means original.
  26. BrianM
    Aug 12, 2005
    9
    Very Impressive debut. It does have a very fresh sound. Forget about the hype and just listen to it. Enjoy!
  27. scuttlebuggoodluck
    Aug 12, 2005
    6
    ... aside from the bass player ripping off New Order riffs and the vocalist whining worse than a banshee in heat, it's not a bad album. Why some call this "the hottest thing on the entire internet" I will never comprehend. Overhyped, definitely... ...somebody please come up with something new, I'm getting bored here!
  28. chooch
    Aug 12, 2005
    9
    i usually disagree with pitchfork ratings but i can't stop listening to this cd. The first listen was ok but it keeps getting better and better. I was getting really tired of the disco beat indie rock.
  29. stilicho
    Aug 15, 2005
    9
    Simply amazing work, with obvious influences yet its own unique approach and tone. All it took was the first minute of "Yellow Country Teeth" and I was hooked. I wasn't disappointed by the rest of the album, in fact, it's growing on me. There's no filler, even though not every song is a "single".
  30. MusicMaven
    Aug 18, 2005
    7
    It's a very promising debut -- perhaps getting extra praise because it was self-recorded and released. It's nice to discover art unmolested by corporate greed. But the muffled production hurts the songs. And the weaker songs fail to overcome the lead singer's acquired-taste, Michael Stipe-mumbling meets David Byrne-chirping delivery. Still, the overall strength of the songs It's a very promising debut -- perhaps getting extra praise because it was self-recorded and released. It's nice to discover art unmolested by corporate greed. But the muffled production hurts the songs. And the weaker songs fail to overcome the lead singer's acquired-taste, Michael Stipe-mumbling meets David Byrne-chirping delivery. Still, the overall strength of the songs bodes well for the future. CYHSY is a band that is capable of making a truly classic album. This, however, is not it.… Expand
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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 »