The Balcony
by Catfish and the Bottlemen
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
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  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Q Magazine
    Dec 19, 2014
    40
    The Balcony is a debut as polite as potpourri. [Oct 2014, p.106]
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  5. The Guardian
    Dec 19, 2014
    40
    Daft and dated, but with plenty of energy.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 51
  3. Negative: 8 out of 51
  1. davim
    Feb 28, 2015
    2
    Indie rock has never sounded so washed out and dated. An attempt to copy the style of band's like Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys in theirIndie rock has never sounded so washed out and dated. An attempt to copy the style of band's like Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys in their early days. Whilst some of the instrumentation is good, none of these songs really stand out as having any star quality about them at all. The horrible ringing capo guitar tone doesn't help its cause either, and is evident in just about every track. The past has been and gone, upcoming bands need to take indie rock to the next level. Catfish and The Bottlemen certainly don't achieve that here… Full Review »
  2. 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… Full Review »
  3. 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.    … Full Review »
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