Origin Vol. 1
by The Soundtrack of Our Lives
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Mar 15, 2005
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Mojo
    90
    Breathtaking moments, brilliant tunes, and Breakdown, a genuinely Beatles-league pop hit. [Nov 2004, p.114]
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  2. Uncut
    90
    Majestic, life-affirming and touched by magic. [Nov 2004, p.102]
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  3. Billboard
    80
    Made to be played loud on a grand automobile sound system, "Origin Vol. I" is big fun.
  5. AllMusic
    80
    Ultimately, Origin, Vol. 1 is a look back through the past -- musically, personally, poetically, and culturally -- as a way of moving toward the future, celebrating its influence and shaking free of its baggage.
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    Sadly, though, there's just not enough forward thinking on 'Origin 1' to give TSOOL the ammunition for a second attempted coup of the rock revolution. [23 Oct 2004, p.51]
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  7. Q Magazine
    70
    With a too-clean production job and some filler... Origin (Phase 1) falls short of the categoric statement of greatness needed to install the group in the major league. [Nov 2004, p.122]
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  8. Delusions of Adequacy
    70
    Origin Vol. 1 could be [a] guilty pleasure album for indie-rock fans, mainly due to the high-quality production.
  9. Splendid
    70
    Origin Vol. I rocks pretty hard without asking much of listeners; it's difficult to be disappointed in a record that's so clearly joyful and energetic.
  10. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    In an era when [Next Big Swedish Things] are suddenly everywhere, it will take more than Soundtrack's beige retro anthems to break through the static. [18 Mar 2005, p.68]
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  11. Filter
    66
    This is like the heavy, spaced, de-fanged psychedelic pop that the Doves excel at and what Oasis probably thinks that they excel at. [#15, p.97]
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  12. cokemachineglow
    61
    I doubt that anybody who found enjoyment in Behind The Music will be able to outright hate Origin Volume 1 because it’s about as similar to its predecessor as a follow-up record can be.
  13. Blender
    60
    Despite its epic ambitions, this is a more streamlined, less colorful statement than TSOOL's 2001 Behind The Music, and only occasionally attains earth-moving power. [Apr 2005, p.125]
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  14. The A.V. Club
    60
    Soundtrack sounds astonishingly good one song at a time, and surprisingly dull over the course of a full record.
  15. PopMatters
    60
    Origin Vol. 1 lives up to its title in the sense that it shows TSOOL fully immersing its music in its classic rock influences. On the other hand, the disc doesn't have the same epic scope of Behind the Music, and as a result it's still something of a letdown.
  16. Trouser Press
    60
    Solid and diverse if slightly lacking the gorgeous full- bodied melodies of its predecessor.
  17. Spin
    58
    Offers modest formal thrills without much depth beneath its glimmering surfaces. [Apr 2005, p.107]
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  18. Rolling Stone
    50
    Most of the tracks here flounder with minimal hooks, hokey lyrics and rote riffs.
  19. Under The Radar
    50
    The individual songs themselves aren't altogether horrible; they're just too similar to the next one to make an impression. [#9]
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  20. Pitchfork
    48
    But forget about style and charisma: This band has no hooks and no energy.
  21. Prefix Magazine
    30
    Origin is a saccharin mouthful of bloated riffs, burdensome lyrical clichés, and second-rate studio trickery -- songs that lurch rather than rock. In other words, it’s Oasis at their best or the Doves at their absolute worst.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. MattM
    Jul 13, 2005
    7
    While I don't find this album to be either great or original, I do believe that it possesses a quality that reviewers such as Pitchfork While I don't find this album to be either great or original, I do believe that it possesses a quality that reviewers such as Pitchfork neglect to mention, and that is that it is very catchy. While I certainly wouldn't argue that the lead singer is destined for the Opera, I don't think his voice is nearly as bad as critics make it out to be. And one on one, I think each song offers something that is interesting, though I would agree with those who claim it can tend to become tedious over time. While I've never been a huge fan of trying to mimic the idols of your past in one record, TSOOL do it very well here, and thus earn an at least respectable mark from me. Particularly stand-outish to me is how much "Midnight Children" sound like the Velvet Underground. Whether that's a good thing or not to you is really up to what you're looking for.… Full Review »
  2. MikeK
    Jun 11, 2005
    10
    A tour de force. Spellbinding, relentless, with moments of rock perfection. Soundtrack of our Lives channel the rock gods of the 60s and A tour de force. Spellbinding, relentless, with moments of rock perfection. Soundtrack of our Lives channel the rock gods of the 60s and early 70s and somehow make it all seem fresh, vivid.… Full Review »
  3. PauloD
    Jun 2, 2005
    8
    It's not classic but is one of the best albums released this year. This album is a mix of f***in rock n' roll and psychodelic ideas It's not classic but is one of the best albums released this year. This album is a mix of f***in rock n' roll and psychodelic ideas that makes you remember the essence of rock music.… Full Review »
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