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The Balcony
by
The Balcony Image
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the British indie rock band led by Van McCann was produced by Jim Abbiss.
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Top Track

Hourglass
You know when you're gone I struggle at night Dreams of you fucking me all the time I know you're tied up And I know your phone's fucked I'm craving... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. musicOMH.com
    Dec 19, 2014
    70
    The Balcony may not have the presence of a Definitely Maybe or an Is This It, but it’s certainly a solid step in the right direction.
  2. AllMusic
    Dec 19, 2014
    70
    Beneath their poppier melodies and anthemic choruses underlies the D.I.Y. garage-rock ethic that inspired their quick ascent, and it's this mixture that places them firmly between the pop charts and dingy rock club basements.
  3. Clash Music
    Dec 19, 2014
    60
    While there’s nothing particularly original or ground-breaking about this debut, CATB is a band that’s mastered the art of writing tunes that connect with an audience, and at a time when commercial rock is, apparently, at a particularly low ebb, that could serve them very well.
  4. The Guardian
    Dec 19, 2014
    40
    Daft and dated, but with plenty of energy.
  5. Q Magazine
    Dec 19, 2014
    40
    The Balcony is a debut as polite as potpourri. [Oct 2014, p.106]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    Dec 19, 2014
    40
    ‘The Balcony’ is informed both by their struggle and their noughties indie elders. All this adds up to a dated sound.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 3 out of 10
  1. nuggets1011
    Feb 27, 2016
    10
    Honestly when i first listened to them i didn't really enjoy their music, that was more than a year ago. i decided to check them out again andHonestly when i first listened to them i didn't really enjoy their music, that was more than a year ago. i decided to check them out again and i dont understand why i didn't like them in the first place! their songs are catchy with lyrics you just wanna scream out! deffo 10/10… Expand
  2. asbks123
    Mar 21, 2016
    9
    Catfish and The Bottlemen are the Oasis of their day. In the 90's, the critics whined about the Gallagher brothers and cast them aside asCatfish and The Bottlemen are the Oasis of their day. In the 90's, the critics whined about the Gallagher brothers and cast them aside as reactionaries. Despite these protests from the press, Oasis connected with the masses and their tunes became classics. It seems that the Catfish army may have the same gift. Suddenly, the boys from Wales are the hottest thing in indie. This strong debut is fueling the fire. Personally, I'm appalled by the negative reviews on this website. For the life of me, I can't make any sense of them.… Expand
  4. meshiks
    Mar 20, 2019
    8
    esse album me tras nostalgias, produção fantastica, melodia fantastica, aaa
  5. colen
    Feb 4, 2016
    6
    very samey throughout, same feel, same tone. two or three tracks stand out only because the rest is lack lustre in comparison. the album isvery samey throughout, same feel, same tone. two or three tracks stand out only because the rest is lack lustre in comparison. the album is redeemed somewhat by the consistent vocals. front man has a powerful voice in spite of so-so songwriting… Expand
  6. emilyc
    Sep 1, 2019
    6
    had lots of potential tracks like pacifier are amazing has lots of potential to be an amazing band but unfortunately continued to make allhad lots of potential tracks like pacifier are amazing has lots of potential to be an amazing band but unfortunately continued to make all their songs sound the same… Expand
  7. himynameiswill
    Sep 14, 2015
    3
    User score inflated by people that have no idea what a 10 album is. I can't see how anyone can give this album anything above a 5. It isUser score inflated by people that have no idea what a 10 album is. I can't see how anyone can give this album anything above a 5. It is average at its very best. The album seems to be going for a generic indie sound and fails at it. The vocals are painful at times. Incredibly whiny and shaky. The guitar work is very uninspired and sometimes don't seem to match the tone of the song at all.

    Indie rock is slowly becoming very boring to me I'll admit, and it is probably because albums like this are what are being hyped the most. If you want a poor early Arctic Monkeys cover band, here you go. If you want anything else look elsewhere.    … Expand
  8. Jacklunn
    Oct 9, 2015
    0
    Washed out, bland, boring. The worst popular indie rock has to offer, if these guys can make it then I worry for Indie music. Who is ratingWashed out, bland, boring. The worst popular indie rock has to offer, if these guys can make it then I worry for Indie music. Who is rating this album a 10? seek help - musically speaking.… Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

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