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Coming Up for Air
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Coming Up for Air Image
Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
3.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 49 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length release for the Irish rock quartet was produced by Jacknife Lee.
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Top Track

The One
Tell me Tell me that you want me And I'll be yours completely For better or for worse I know We'll have our disagreements Be fighting for no... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Drowned In Sound
    Feb 9, 2015
    70
    Some of their critics will remain unmoved, but the fact remains: Kodaline have acquired confidence in their abilities and are on top form throughout their second LP.
  2. The Guardian
    Feb 9, 2015
    60
    Their songs are still almost mathematically placed between Coldplay and Snow Patrol, with a smidgeon of U2 and the sort of big choruses and bells-and-whistles-and-choirboys production once trademarked by Westlife.
  3. musicOMH.com
    Feb 9, 2015
    60
    There are numerous highlights on Coming Up For Air to ensure success in sales and chart placings and that is, of course, the dream for any aspiring act: fame and fortune. But it comes at a cost as the charm and character of their early guise is being tempered.
  4. Q Magazine
    Feb 9, 2015
    60
    It's bigger and brighter. [Mar 2015, p.119]
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  5. DIY Magazine
    Feb 9, 2015
    40
    There are moments on Coming Up For Air that lay claim to a genuine force, the kind who’ve earned their Chris Martin-endorsed stripes. They’re yet to truly claim their own territory, though, and any attempts to reinvent the wheel fall flat with an almighty thud
  6. AllMusic
    Mar 27, 2015
    40
    It feels as if this is as calm as a placid lake. Sometimes, the record is as pretty as that, too, a nice, polite collection of adult alternative pop designed for young girls and their moms.
  7. The Observer (UK)
    Feb 9, 2015
    20
    Steve Garrigan’s voice strains with sincerity in perfect imitation of Chris Martin. Less forgivable, though, is the way they emulate and surpass the lyrical cliches of their source material.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Carshots
    Jan 23, 2020
    10
    Best album ever in human history, I know some would say it's slow and boring but, I'll ask you to pay attention to the lyrics, those beautiful lyrics
  2. guits13
    Aug 22, 2015
    8
    I feel like there's a lot of comparison when it comes to Kodaline, but I don't think they really NEED to be as the other bands are. "Coming UpI feel like there's a lot of comparison when it comes to Kodaline, but I don't think they really NEED to be as the other bands are. "Coming Up for Air" is a great record, Steve Garrigan's voice is great and besides their lyrics are so simple the production on this album is amazing, a great mix of different sounds. They certainly do deserve a chance on the mainstream industry.… Expand
  4. Hackskeptic
    May 28, 2015
    4
    Second album from the Coldplay endorsed wannabe’s. Indeed, singer Steve Garrigan’s mix of falsetto and alto shows just how desperate he is toSecond album from the Coldplay endorsed wannabe’s. Indeed, singer Steve Garrigan’s mix of falsetto and alto shows just how desperate he is to be Chris Martin when he grows up, and his band are doing their best to reach that plateau of complete bland-out simplicity. May stake a claim to be as crucial as other Irish groups like The Script, Westlife and Boyzone.… Expand
  5. WolfLambert
    Nov 25, 2016
    3
    This just isn't good. At all. Human Again and Play the Game are fine songs, but that's where it ends. The rest can mostly be classified asThis just isn't good. At all. Human Again and Play the Game are fine songs, but that's where it ends. The rest can mostly be classified as throwaway, soulless stadium rock that fails to capture any sort of emotion beyond "I love you", "I miss you" and "I feel lonely in this dark, scary world". I enjoyed In a Perfect World quite a bit, even though critics seemed to unanimously call it a Coldplay ripoff, but this new record makes it all the more apparent that the band want to make music that is exactly that; a poor man's Coldplay. Songs like The One make me cringe.

    Don't check this out. Instead, dig into Kodaline's earlier discography. There are a few gems you might stumble upon (only to be disappointed later, because instead of pursuing that direction, the band decided to sell out).    … Expand

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