For the First Time
by Black Country, New Road
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 77 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 77
  3. Negative: 2 out of 77
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  1. fahim98
    Oct 8, 2022
    9
    Great album. I really love this thing. I have not heard anything this good in a long time. My favorite tracks are "Sunglasses" and "Science Fair." I think this is an instant classic. This album made my jaw drop to the floor. I hope they keep making music this good. I highly recommend this. Please listen to this. It's so beautiful and anxious. I think the lyrics are also really stunning. IGreat album. I really love this thing. I have not heard anything this good in a long time. My favorite tracks are "Sunglasses" and "Science Fair." I think this is an instant classic. This album made my jaw drop to the floor. I hope they keep making music this good. I highly recommend this. Please listen to this. It's so beautiful and anxious. I think the lyrics are also really stunning. I hope they make more music like this.… Expand
  2. Matteusz
    Dec 11, 2021
    10
    cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool coolcool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool… Expand
  3. Ricko
    Sep 4, 2021
    6
    I've given this a good few listens and I'm still left wondering what the hype is about. It is interesting for sure but for me the album doesn't know what it wants to be and as a result there is a definite feel of trying too hard to be off centre. The vocals do nothing for me, instrumentally it's strong but there is a lack of melody or consistent aestethic. I also felt the better ideas justI've given this a good few listens and I'm still left wondering what the hype is about. It is interesting for sure but for me the album doesn't know what it wants to be and as a result there is a definite feel of trying too hard to be off centre. The vocals do nothing for me, instrumentally it's strong but there is a lack of melody or consistent aestethic. I also felt the better ideas just went on way too long. Personally, I'll be parking this one.… Expand
  4. kinruiz
    Jun 30, 2021
    10
    Amazing first album, so lovely and so fresh to these times! Duration excellent! And we’ll I’m in love about this one!
  5. bailey-
    Apr 2, 2021
    9
    One of the best albums I've heard in a while, Just banger after banger. The vocals from Isaac Wood are some of the most unique I have heard from any album I have heard.
  6. Dear_Watson
    Feb 16, 2021
    9
    This is such an interesting record from a fan stand-point, its kind of hard to write a review on it. Athens, France and Sunglasses have some pretty significant changes compared to the single versions for starters which I for one was not expecting especially since Sunglasses came off as nearly a masterpiece on the single and could have stayed as a strong fronting song. That being said whichThis is such an interesting record from a fan stand-point, its kind of hard to write a review on it. Athens, France and Sunglasses have some pretty significant changes compared to the single versions for starters which I for one was not expecting especially since Sunglasses came off as nearly a masterpiece on the single and could have stayed as a strong fronting song. That being said which of the versions are better is kind of hard to pin down. Sunglasses has a more defeated tone at the beginning that transitions into unhinged and gives the song a VERY different message from the single mix. The newly added songs like Track X and Science Fair are great new songs from the band for just casual listening too, and the instrumental track really lets the band show what they can do. Overall its an amazing album, and if you haven't given it a listen through I very much recommend it!… Expand
  7. Minidomdom
    Feb 14, 2021
    9
    Incredible debut album. I heard Slint, Viagra Boys & Modest Mouse. One of the best post-punk album of the last decades.
  8. myfirstnameist
    Feb 13, 2021
    9
    While browsing the Indie category of my Apple Music app, I came across this seven-members experimental rock band from London named Black Country, New Road. And as I listened to their teaser track Athens France, I am impressed with their range of sounds and styles varied in each instrument. I understand why critics love this band at the moment. The band released their debut album For theWhile browsing the Indie category of my Apple Music app, I came across this seven-members experimental rock band from London named Black Country, New Road. And as I listened to their teaser track Athens France, I am impressed with their range of sounds and styles varied in each instrument. I understand why critics love this band at the moment. The band released their debut album For the First Time on February 5. 2021.
    The opening track is a 5-minute instrumental that is an explosion of sounds that is so festive and intriguing at the same time. It is a great way to introduce their prowess. According to the band, it is an accurate presentation of their sound or their journey as musicians. Followed by their teaser track Athens, France, the opening guitars and beat of this song is reminiscent of Mac De Marco’s "Out of My Head" and "Salad Days" accompanied by the frontman Isaac Wood’s anxiety-driven and subdued vocal delivery tackling insecurities. While Science Fair has a darker mood with sounds like throbbing and grungy matched with Wood’s vocals bleeding desperation goes well with the intense build-up towards the end of the song. The spoken word singing in the track Sunglasses emphasized the emotions from belting “I'm so ignorant now, with all that I’ve learnt” for one minute to screaming "leave Kanye out" the next. According to Wood's Apple Music interview, this song represents any object with defense mechanisms that he recognize in himself that sometimes work and sometimes lead to his most narcissistic false, and ignorant ways of being. While Track X is a melodically beautiful song with tasteful violins and guitar lines, saxophone and keys accompanying Isaac Woods romantic delivery while singing a love story setting a quieter and calmer tone plus angelic background vocals complemented this dreamy vibe. The band showcased their Klezmer roots in the ending track Opus. This song is reminiscent of a Jewish wedding party scene in a movie. It is an explosion of sound, from saxophones, strings, and the frustrated angsty vocals and lyricism have a suspenseful ending to this album.
    Black Country, New Road’s debut demonstrated their genre-bending style. One moment quiet and soothing like in Athens, France, the next it is dark with throbbing grungy sounds and vocals like bleeding desperation like in Science Fair. And more evident in the 9:50 minute track Sunglasses it is like a rollercoaster of mood. Each song has appealing storytelling with plenty of pop culture references from Phoebe Bridgers’ chorus of Motion Sickness to Kanye West and even Nutri bullet where the listener can paint the emotions the band wants to share. The album has a very personal feel amidst its rock avant-garde instrumentation the band will be making a stamp in the music scene. I am giving this album a rating of 9/10.

    Favorite Tracks: Track X, Sunglasses, and Opus.    … Expand
  9. zestboi
    Feb 12, 2021
    7
    Every song had its own uniqueness to it, and led to an overall solid album, but I'm having a hard time caring.
  10. RomuloVilela
    Feb 9, 2021
    9
    May not be for everyone, but it is creative, original and honest. That is always a victory.
  11. TobyT2003
    Feb 7, 2021
    10
    Album blew me away on first listen, but I was disappointed with the lyric changes, particularly in Athens, France. However, the more you listen and become used to these new lyrics it becomes more familiar and hits all the same boxes they used to and were expected to. A phenomenal album.
  12. BigBeatle
    Feb 5, 2021
    10
    Amazing and fresh. Not much else to say. A very great and outstanding record that you can tell will become a tough competition for any new bands that follow a similar style. Enjoyed listening to it the first time, and will only grow stronger as time goes on.
  13. ReubenIsAGod
    Feb 5, 2021
    5
    The concept behind Black Country, new roads... millianial slint worship....is kinda great! They sound fantatsic, kinetic and have some really ironic and kinda dumb lyrical content that makes the whole experience fun and exciting...however...before this record actually came out Athens France and Sunglasses where already avliable online for listening..they nerfed sooo much of the energy andThe concept behind Black Country, new roads... millianial slint worship....is kinda great! They sound fantatsic, kinetic and have some really ironic and kinda dumb lyrical content that makes the whole experience fun and exciting...however...before this record actually came out Athens France and Sunglasses where already avliable online for listening..they nerfed sooo much of the energy and speratic structure that those songs originally had. Even the lyrics, whilst yes they where bitter , that bitterness aadd so much more raw feeling and confusing emotional core to the songs. It's really disappointing that this has happened. Especially because of how little their is on the album. The new tracks here are great. opus, science fair and also track x are wonderful. The intro is also kinda full. Hmmm, super mixed on this. Expected more tbh.… Expand
  14. Jimpus_Relly
    Feb 5, 2021
    8
    Hearkens back to similar groups, such as Squid.
    The Independent said their "determined intellectualism is...to their detriment", and it's a very agreeable statement. Much of the album feels as if the seven-piece tried their hardest to 'appear' intellectual, and they more often than not hit the mark (at least instrumentally). Altogether, the record is very enjoyable and only gets better as    Hearkens back to similar groups, such as Squid.
    The Independent said their "determined intellectualism is...to their detriment", and it's a very agreeable statement. Much of the album feels as if the seven-piece tried their hardest to 'appear' intellectual, and they more often than not hit the mark (at least instrumentally). Altogether, the record is very enjoyable and only gets better as you make your way through it, no doubt revealing more secrets and perspectives with each consecutive listen.
    Highlights: Sunglasses & Track X.    … Expand
  15. YTCODYHIH
    Feb 5, 2021
    3
    There is nothing original, exciting or particularly intelligent about this record. Boy, are they annoying though. They are trying so hard to be all of those things, it took some getting through for me.

Awards & Rankings

93
#93 Best Album of 2021
76
#76 Most Discussed Album of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. No Ripcord
    Mar 12, 2021
    80
    For the first time is usually nonsensical, frequently transcendent, and compulsively listenable. Everything that sprung to mind is on the wax here, but BC, NR don’t forget to make it catchy and groovy. In nailing that balance, they’ve given us the year’s first capital-G Great record.
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  2. Pitchfork
    Feb 9, 2021
    74
    Their portentous crescendos and surges of Jewish klezmer music set the pace, making post-rock sound improbably carnivalesque. That none of their experiments feel gimmicky speaks to a diverse and inquisitive musicianship.
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  3. The Observer (UK)
    Feb 8, 2021
    100
    If the interplay between the band’s instruments makes gleeful mincemeat of genre, singing guitarist Isaac Wood’s equally remarkable lyrics regularly float to the top of the mix. Half-spoken, half-sung, they riff on granular scene references (“I told you I loved you in front of Black Midi”) and Gen-Z witticisms, but pack in plenty of timeless tenderness and anomie.
    Read full review
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