Hysterical
by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
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  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Sep 26, 2011
    90
    As good a distillation of pop's best qualities as I've heard all year.
  2. The Boston Phoenix
    Sep 20, 2011
    88
    Hysterical is built for the long haul, and it appears, after a patch of rocky terrain, that Clap Your Hands are too.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    Sep 29, 2011
    80
    Alec Ounsworth has responded to the challenge by writing a bright, pithy record stuffed with delicious tunes, not only in the vocals but both guitars and (particularly) the keyboards, and generally all at the same time.
  5. Uncut
    Sep 14, 2011
    80
    After a fair-to-middling second album they took a self-imposed break before returning with this excellent effort. [Oct 2011, p.83]
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  6. Clash Music
    Sep 12, 2011
    80
    CYHSY have created an album that is both jubilant and disarmingly vulnerable.
  7. musicOMH.com
    Sep 12, 2011
    80
    Hysterical marks a significant return to form and fortune for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
  8. Filter
    Sep 21, 2011
    78
    It's straightforward, competently balanced, dewily lush art-pop, but it's also a deeply affecting, immersive treat; a fully mature return from a band acting like they have something to prove.
  9. cokemachineglow
    Sep 21, 2011
    77
    Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's third album might not set the world on fire, but it's a great little record in its own right.
  10. Under The Radar
    Nov 3, 2011
    70
    The album sags a bit in the middle, but such songs as "Yesterday, Never" and "Ketamine and Ecstasy" pick up the slack, chugging along with thumping drums and jangly guitars of early R.E.M. [Oct 2011, p.104]
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  11. PopMatters
    Sep 26, 2011
    70
    Is Hysterical radio-friendly? Yes. Is it a bit of a letdown after a five-year wait? Maybe. But is it boring? Absolutely not.
  12. AllMusic
    Sep 23, 2011
    70
    The album stays firmly planted in the post-punk/synth pop wheelhouse, which means that it's incredibly consistent, but not necessarily surprising, which could be a good or bad thing for fans, depending on whether they prefer their debut or their sophomore album.
  13. Paste Magazine
    Sep 21, 2011
    70
    Hysterical definitely boasts more strong moments than weak.
  14. Rolling Stone
    Sep 20, 2011
    70
    The low-fi haze and ramshackle post-punk of the first two records by these self-made indie heroes are mostly gone on album three, replaced by confident songs festooned with shiny hooks.
  15. Alternative Press
    Sep 14, 2011
    70
    Even if the energy level flags toward Hysterical's end, it's safe to say welcome back, fellows--all is forgiven. [Oct 2011, p.106]
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  16. BBC Music
    Sep 12, 2011
    70
    There's that genuinely disappointing sense of having heard this before, whether it be on 2007's Some Loud Thunder, their debut, or in countless other bands. Yet there's still a spark here that holds interest for a few listens.
  17. New Musical Express (NME)
    Sep 12, 2011
    70
    From the bouncy 'Same Mistake' (this album's 'Is This Love?'), to the darkly nostalgic ballad to years past, 'Misspent Youth', it's a comeback as irrationally happy-inducing as its title suggests.
  18. Austin Chronicle
    Nov 3, 2011
    67
    There are shades of the National's late-night moodiness ("Misspent Youth") and the triumph of Broken Social Scene's Forgiveness Rock Record ("Ketamine and Ecstasy").

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. opiatedsherpa
    Sep 22, 2011
    7
    The beauty of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah was the seemingly random lifts and drops of two fantastic albums, creating melodies that wereThe beauty of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah was the seemingly random lifts and drops of two fantastic albums, creating melodies that were wonderfully unproduced. Maybe it's a taste of irony that the album title doesn't say that about their latest album, which is actually quite pleasing to the ear, but doesn't leave the same taste in your mouth that the previous two albums did.

    This album is good to listen to, but its unfamiliarity shines a light into its shiny coat, which glares at you and makes it somewhat uncomfortable for the rabid fan. I'm sure more listens will calm these nerves, but I hope you know what I mean.    … Full Review »
  2. dolph
    Feb 4, 2012
    10
    This band falls its own pretty little niche. If you listen to a lot of indie rock you'll know how they stand out. Their sound is extremelyThis band falls its own pretty little niche. If you listen to a lot of indie rock you'll know how they stand out. Their sound is extremely original and fresh. This album does it for me again.… Full Review »
  3. Ricko
    Jan 24, 2012
    7
    It's hard what to make of this band now. A brilliant debut, a horrendous follow up. This is neither brilliant nor horrendous which is theIt's hard what to make of this band now. A brilliant debut, a horrendous follow up. This is neither brilliant nor horrendous which is the problem. At times it's a bit of a nothing album. It has some good tracks and opens very strongly, but there are a lot of slow tracks that you just want to skip over. When it's good it's very good and when it's bad its painful.
    No matter what people say, this has to be compared to their debut, and when you do that it just doesn't stand up overall. Where the vocals used to be quirky, the out of tune style grates on you here. And the classic indie pop tunes that were all over their debut are few and far between here. Essentially it seems they've lost much of their char, and they just aren't the band that wowed me with their debut which is a pity. Having said that it's still decent but life is too short for just "decent".    … Full Review »
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