Guppy
by Charly Bliss
  • Record Label: Barsuk
  • Release Date: Apr 21, 2017
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
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  1. The A.V. Club
    Apr 21, 2017
    100
    Charly Bliss has made a record as alive and irrepressible as anything I’ve heard in years.
  2. PopMatters
    Apr 26, 2017
    90
    Guppy is a special release. It has powers: the power to transport you back to some of your most formative experiences, but also the power to let you know that you’re nowhere near done having them yet.
  3. Consequence
    Apr 28, 2017
    83
    Guppy lures you in with fine-crafted honey, before blindsiding you with a sudden downpour of vinegar (or piss, take your pick). This is why they call it “power pop.”
  5. Exclaim
    Apr 21, 2017
    80
    Guppy is a hyper, loveable, endearing, gritty, catchy romp through early 20s confusion, love, lust, travel and therapy.
  6. Pitchfork
    Apr 21, 2017
    78
    These hooks are delivery mechanisms for often acerbic, often exhausted lyrics about the endless crap conveyor belt that is life and love as a girl.
  7. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Dec 12, 2017
    70
    Guppy as a debut does have room for growth but it's a distinct statement that matches the highs that Hendricks hits and the ambitions of a band whose cult following surely expanded this year.
  8. AllMusic
    Apr 21, 2017
    70
    Guppy may be just the ticket for those looking for a reprieve from the ubiquitous gloss of electro-pop, and they can have it without sacrificing catchiness or sunny vibrations.

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best Album of 2017

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 2 out of 27
  1. Mayfieldja
    Dec 29, 2017
    8
    This album came out of nowhere for me. Charly Bliss channels early Weezer and seems to have found its home in quick riffs and tastyThis album came out of nowhere for me. Charly Bliss channels early Weezer and seems to have found its home in quick riffs and tasty distortion. There is a chance that Eva Hendrick’s vocals will push some away as they can get nasally as she beautifully squeals out lyrics and high pitched yelps of excitement, but I dig it. The overall energy makes me want to pop-punk jump all over the place. I’m loving it more and more with every listen. Tracks that stand out are “Percolator”, “Black Hole”, and “DQ”.… Full Review »
  2. MacsMusic
    Aug 7, 2018
    6
    Upon first hearing Guppy, I was appalled. The ultra-high-pitched vocals, weird lyrics, and screaming rock music sounded annoying and veryUpon first hearing Guppy, I was appalled. The ultra-high-pitched vocals, weird lyrics, and screaming rock music sounded annoying and very off-putting at first. Now, it's grown on me a little, but I still don't really like it. The lyrics are problematic for their randomness and sheer ridiculousness on a few songs. "Black Hole" - "toe in the corn-hole, bleeding out in a snow cone" - and "DQ" - "I peed the trampoline" - turn me off with their strange, random, off-putting lyrics.

    I don't love the lead singer's surprising, original voice, but I can't deny that it gives Guppy a bit of charm.

    As for the music; it works. It's head-banging, get-hyped rock music that sounds pretty good. The problem with the production on this album is that every song sounds nearly identical; it needs some musical diversity and variety.

    Guppy is a very overrated power-pop album. When all is said and done, it does sound good, but the offbeat, wacky lyrics and repetitive music deep me from calling it great or even all that good. It's serviceable; it works. It's not a masterpiece.
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