Fly by Wire
by
Fly by Wire Image
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

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  • Artist(s): Philip Dickey, Will Knauer, Jonathan James
  • Summary: The latest release for the indie pop band was recorded at the same location as its debut release: the attic of guitarist Will Knauer's parent's house.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. The Line of Best Fit
    Oct 4, 2013
    70
    Returning to the attic in which they wrote and recorded Broom, the three-piece have suitably streamlined their sound to accommodate the lesser manpower and what’s more, it works.
  2. AllMusic
    Sep 17, 2013
    70
    There may not be anything challenging here, but even though the lyrics are abstract ("Why don't you call the cops/Wild eyes, you don't have to be good") and the song titles can be misleading ("Harrison Ford"), at the core these are just love songs, and sometimes love is best kept uncomplicated.
  3. Alternative Press
    Sep 17, 2013
    70
    Fly By Wire is more nuanced, mature take on the group's comfort-food keyboard-pop. [Oct 2013, p.92]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Paste Magazine
    Sep 24, 2013
    60
    Even if the whole thing isn’t world-upheaving. Those standalone tracks make it worth a whirl.
  5. Blurt Magazine
    Oct 3, 2013
    60
    You can’t help but feel a little let down that they didn’t experiment a bit more on this one.
  6. Consequence
    Sep 17, 2013
    50
    While Fly By Wire is pleasing, it feels like a daydream: lovely while it lasts, fading quickly, and hard to remember once it’s gone.
  7. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Sep 17, 2013
    40
    Its 10 songs meander by with enough sense to not stick around, and other than the grungy rock-out moments of “Nightwater Girlfriend,” we barely notice anything.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Minja
    Sep 18, 2013
    9
    This really is a fantastic album. SSLYBY is one of my favorite modern bands, and I was eagerly anticipating the release of this album. MyThis really is a fantastic album. SSLYBY is one of my favorite modern bands, and I was eagerly anticipating the release of this album. My expectations were certainly met. 'Cover All Sides' is now one of my favorite songs of all time. It's rhythm is spot-on, and its always-changing melody is beautiful. It's catchy, smart, and I love it. The same can be said about nearly every track on this phenomenal album. If it isn't obvious enough, I absolutely love this album. It's my favorite SSLYBY album to date, and one of my favorite albums of all time.… Expand
  2. taylorkesler
    Sep 23, 2013
    8
    When looking for an alternative to the mainstay late summer artists (Yo La Tengo, Deatch Cab, etc.) a newcomer, old timer, might just beWhen looking for an alternative to the mainstay late summer artists (Yo La Tengo, Deatch Cab, etc.) a newcomer, old timer, might just be inducted this year in Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's Fly By Wire. When listened to before the onset of fall, and the elusive Indian Summer, this album plays a perfect soundtrack to last ditch efforts to jump in a lake, or drive out into the desert for one last sunburn. The production is better quality, but the nods to classic 70's rock (see Cover All Sides' outro for the homage to ELO), and cutesy lyrics make it just genuine enough. The group has obviously found its sound, and isn't afraid to package it up a little bit and gift it to a broader audience. In all, the album plays like a more well rehearsed college performance, after several years of experience and trial and error gave better foresight.… Expand

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