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Contender
by
Contender Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The second full-length release for the British indie rock/pop band was recorded over four weekends in late 2019 and 2020.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. The Quietus
    Jul 2, 2021
    80
    Their 2018 debut, Not With That Attitude, was a winning combination of bile, big hooks, and a great sense of humor and, although they didn’t need to, the band has expanded their palette on Contender and it’s paid off handsomely.
  2. Kerrang!
    Jul 2, 2021
    80
    It’s a joyous riot from start to finish, and all comes together to form a loveable, middle-fingers-up record that furthers the recent work of bands like Dream Nails, Drones and Nova Twins in demonstrating the strength of modern UK punk.
  3. DIY Magazine
    Jul 2, 2021
    70
    ‘Contender’ is a marked step forwards from one of Britain’s more endearingly idiosyncratic indie rock outfits.
  4. The Line of Best Fit
    Jul 2, 2021
    60
    Whether due to the pandemic or not, Contender however suffers from a lack of consistency mirroring the context in which it was created. Despite nuanced shifts in their sound, the blueprint remains much the same.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. MusicNerdViking
    Jul 15, 2021
    6
    I think the album is okay; the performances do have redeeming qualities; however, a great deal of this sounds like everything I have heard ofI think the album is okay; the performances do have redeeming qualities; however, a great deal of this sounds like everything I have heard of before. So much, in fact, to the point where the album lands on this weird grayscale somewhere between "offensively boring" and "so boring you zone out and forget you are even listening to music." This album sounds computer-generated and yet so realistic it's unnerving. The vocals are alright, not really my vibe, but I bet someone might dig it. The mixing felt a bit awkward and makes the album feel like the primary focus is the vocals, which is not a bad thing if done right; however, in this case, I think the mixing could've used a few adjustments. I don't really have a favorite song nor least favorite song; that's how bland the album is! So if you want to listen to an album that sounds like Royalty-Free Stock Music levels of pop-rock, then I guess this is the album for you?

    Overall score: 5.8/10    … Expand

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