Fire
by Electric Six
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
    91
    They exist only to rock your world. If you don't let them, you're the stupid one.
  2. The A.V. Club
    90
    To a certain extent, Fire sounds like a joke, but a pointed one that approaches rock less as a conceit than as a directive, something to drag into its cultural surroundings rather than a trope to fall back on.
  3. Outburn
    90
    The Electric Six have a knack for mixing a dash of Saturday Night Fever with a whole lot of MC5 and just a smidgen of Jack Black. [#23, p.87]
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  5. Village Voice
    80
    This is the funniest hard-rock album I've ever heard; also, the hardest-rocking funny album I've ever heard, since if you take away the jokes you've still got the power of the music.
  6. Urb
    80
    It's a raucous rave-up of arena rock riffs over funky disco beats, the kind of freaky dance-rock jams that belong on the jukebox in every gay biker bar in America. [Jul 2003, p.91]
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  7. Rolling Stone
    80
    The summer's most brilliantly demented party record.
  8. Amazon.com
    80
    Electric Six is the most exciting band to come tumbling out of Detroit since Kiss.
  9. Mojo
    80
    The result is ZZ Top's Eliminator meets The Best of Chic. [Jun 2003, p.112]
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  10. AllMusic
    80
    Electric Six's m.o. of inflating rock clichés to grotesque proportions, adding a dash of tongue-in-cheek pomposity, and then laughing at the results can generate more than just a great single. Granted, that single is still the reason to own Fire, but fans of that song probably won't feel burned by the rest of the album.
  11. Blender
    80
    Two things save Electric Six from becoming the alt-rock Weird Al: Their jokes hit home and their music is convincingly ferocious. [#17, p.134]
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  12. Playlouder
    70
    If you're bored of 'Danger! High Voltage' like us, there's plenty to plunder, though ultimately you'll be filing this album away in your "don't play anymore" library after Echobelly and before Electric Soft Parade.
  13. Stylus Magazine
    64
    Fire’s not something we’ll remember for long, but it is a surprisingly good album, with highlights that simply need to be heard.
  14. Under The Radar
    60
    A guilty pleasure. [#5, p.108]
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  15. PopMatters
    60
    First, the good news: They're this year's Andrew W.K. The bad news: They're this year's Andrew W.K.
  16. Q Magazine
    60
    It's... strangely coy, preferring to camp it up than give in to full-on indecency. Which isn't to say it doesn't have its moments. [Jul 2003, p.101]
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  17. The Guardian
    60
    At its best, Fire proves they could easily escape the novelty tag. At its worst, it seems as if they don't particularly want to.
  18. Dot Music
    40
    Had they imploded in some bizarre gardening accident following the release of 'Danger! High Voltage' all would be forgiven. That single still sounds classic and retains the power to get Aunt Peggy off her seat at the wedding reception..... However, the rest appears to be have been cobbled together in a matter of hours.
  19. Pitchfork
    40
    As good as "Danger! High Voltage" is, the rest of this album is simply not worth it.
  20. Uncut
    40
    Repeated plays reveal little charm and less real humour. [Aug 2003, p.97]
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  21. Splendid
    10
    A novelty act, a misfire and a waste of time.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 28
  3. Negative: 3 out of 28
  1. funkydoodycool
    Oct 11, 2012
    10
    I'm only reviewing this because I accidentally find myself listening to it again some 9 years after release.

    WHAT an album. There's    I'm only reviewing this because I accidentally find myself listening to it again some 9 years after release.

    WHAT an album. There's nothing not to love - it's funny, well-crafted with no duff songs. So much fun.    … Full Review »
  2. gprista
    Feb 12, 2017
    8
    Almost 15 years of its release and it's impossible to deny its importance. 2003 and the comeback of the garage movement was beginning to hitAlmost 15 years of its release and it's impossible to deny its importance. 2003 and the comeback of the garage movement was beginning to hit the mainstream and the terrible "dance-punk" tag did not exist yet.

    This was one of the first rock albums that were created to make indie people dance in the 21st century and deserves to be remembered from time to time. Some tunes stand out from the rest (as Gay Bar and Danger! High Voltage), but the whole album is great anyway.
    Always worth the listen!    … Full Review »
  3. MichaelC
    Jul 21, 2006
    10
    Any critic that gave this less than 80, is deaf. Also a liar. This album changed mt life. Buy it or regret it forever
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