Kick Up The Fire And Let The Flames Break Loose
by The Cooper Temple Clause
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Stylus Magazine
    92
    In its ambition, emotion, aggression and intelligence, Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose is a work of sheer bloody genius.
  2. Playlouder
    80
    Lord knows what's going to happen when they abandon their commercial concessions entirely (as we suspect this buys them the opportunity to do. Good), but this is stunning enough in its own right.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    80
    It's different without being aggravating and intelligent without ever being overbearing.
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    The most brilliantly ambitious record of the year.
  6. Alternative Press
    80
    Loose continually festers with a blistering intensity and creativity that's not for the closed-minded or faint of heart. [Feb 2004, p.88]
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  7. Urb
    80
    They effortlessly knock out the kind of poignant, electronic-tinged anthems that would have had a 1997 Thom Yorke dancing with joy. [Mar 2004, p.109]
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  8. The Guardian
    80
    The first great album of the new prog revolution.
  9. AllMusic
    80
    By combining elements of metal, pop, jazz, and electronica, the Cooper Temple Clause create a broad album that is subtle and meticulous as well as driving and bombastic.
  10. Junkmedia
    75
    What the band lack in cohesion they make up for with a healthy mania.
  11. Q Magazine
    70
    An impressively thoughtful album. [Oct 2003, p.103]
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  12. Dot Music
    70
    Everything suggests they have a great album within them, but this isn't it.
  13. PopMatters
    60
    The band members produce huge sounds reminiscent of Primal Scream, Radiohead, and Nine Inch Nails, but when Gautrey opens his mouth -- there's Liam!
  14. Splendid
    60
    Although the Cooper Temple Clause pack plenty of celestial firepower and darkwave ambiance into their six-minute movements, by the time they unveil the epic "Written Apology", the sheer compositional weight is too much for a mortal listener to handle.
  15. Mojo
    40
    The Coopers are adept with lyrics, big on attitude, but often lack that X-factor. [Nov 2003, p.131]
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  16. Blender
    40
    Too often... the results sound messy and carry a hint of prog-rock pomposity. [Mar 2004, p.115]
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  17. Rolling Stone
    40
    In a mistaken lunge at maturity, the Cooper Temple Clause devote much of Kick Up the Fire to chilled introspection and black-water ambience.

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Most Shared Album of 2004

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. PaulF
    Feb 15, 2005
    9
    After hearing the first album I wasn't sure whether to get the follow up. I'm not saying that the first was particularly bad, it After hearing the first album I wasn't sure whether to get the follow up. I'm not saying that the first was particularly bad, it just wasn't that great. However, after hearing so many positives about this one I decided to go get it. Lets just say I'm amazed at how far the Cooper Temple Clause have moved on from See This Through and Leave. Kick up the fire... is so much darker, so much stranger and so much more original. Even if you didn't like their first album, this one is a must own. It's grips you from the fantastic opening track 'The Same Mistakes' to the epic ending of 'Written Apology'. This is alternative rock at its very best and probably one of the greatest most original albums ever released.… Full Review »
  2. KenzuK
    Dec 4, 2004
    10
    I've listened to this album since it's 2003 release and I haven't bought a better record after since. It's good. I've listened to this album since it's 2003 release and I haven't bought a better record after since. It's good. It's so bloody good. Compare it to what you want but in my opinion it is nothing else but TCTC. They have created their own sound, (no its not radiohead or oasis or whatever some reviewers are saying) obviously influenced by these reviewers comparisons but these influences have not left footprints in the actual music. This album is why I listen to music and almost nothing goes even near it. … Full Review »
  3. RandyL
    May 5, 2004
    9
    Very very impressive, never got to hear their 1st album so this was my first taste of CTC. Intense, innovative and emotional, truly Very very impressive, never got to hear their 1st album so this was my first taste of CTC. Intense, innovative and emotional, truly progressive rock. … Full Review »
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