The Overload
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The Overload Image
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

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  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the British band Yard Act was recorded with Ali Chant.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. DIY Magazine
    Jan 19, 2022
    100
    ‘The Overload’ lives up to its hype with flying colours. Brilliantly constructed to unfurl like some sordid soap opera of Brexit Britain, it brims with vignettes populated by instantly-recognisable caricatures of the now.
  2. musicOMH.com
    Jan 18, 2022
    90
    Yard Act’s influences never overwhelm their own personality. ... It may be early to start taking notes on the Album Of The Year, but the smart money says The Overload will be there or thereabouts.
  3. Under The Radar
    Jan 21, 2022
    90
    At its heart, The Overload is a hugely impressive debut bubbling with sardonic wit, wisdom, anger, and compassion.
  4. Mojo
    Jan 18, 2022
    80
    An exhilarating record by a band not only thriving under pressure but already finding new ways to adapt to its force. [Feb 2022, p.80]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. The Observer (UK)
    Jan 24, 2022
    80
    The decade this outfit have spent in other bands pays off in a record that’s raucous and fun, incisive and – as it winds to a close – profoundly heartfelt, as vocalist James Smith apologises disgustedly for the sins of British foreign policy.
  6. The Telegraph (UK)
    Jan 20, 2022
    80
    The Overload is a very fine debut from a group that sound like they think they are smarter, funnier and fiercer than all of their peers, and just might prove to be.
  7. Beats Per Minute
    Jan 25, 2022
    68
    The Overload has enough interesting touchstones, but unfortunately, how Yard Act aim to utilize them within their songwriting MO is still a bit of a jumble. Many of the sounds and textures don’t really add much expressive gusto to Smith’s thespian qualities, and I feel the group can cover a lot of ground here on upcoming releases.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. MusicGuyMack
    Mar 8, 2022
    10
    Playing like a dementedly delightful mashup of Slint's jagged, muscular guitar lines, The Dead Milkmen's winkingly humorous lyricism, andPlaying like a dementedly delightful mashup of Slint's jagged, muscular guitar lines, The Dead Milkmen's winkingly humorous lyricism, and Cake's droll talk-singing vocal delivery all delivered by a more indie-inflected IDLES cousin, "The Overload" effectively coalesces such wildly disparate musical elements into a singular sonic identity that's all Yard Act's own and will prove pleasing to fans of any number of those bands.… Expand
  2. Timtamcanberra
    May 20, 2022
    10
    I'm a post-punk fan, and a fan of the recent talk-sing-sometimes-post-rock post-punk wave. Of them this and Squid's debut last year standI'm a post-punk fan, and a fan of the recent talk-sing-sometimes-post-rock post-punk wave. Of them this and Squid's debut last year stand above to me. Fontaines D.C., black midi, Black Country, New Road are all very strong but I keep returning to this one. It's the British wit, Talking Heads grooves, occasional hip hop or disco injection, each song (bar Quarantine the Sticks) just asks to be listened to over and over again. The final three really bring it home strong too.… Expand
  4. buzzlight
    Jan 21, 2022
    9
    This band jams. I'd describe Yard Act as a kind-of British version of Parquet Courts, and that's just fine with me.
  5. Ricko
    Mar 11, 2022
    8
    At times, its great but most of the time it's a bit better than ok. Although not from the same genre, imagine a post punk version of FranzAt times, its great but most of the time it's a bit better than ok. Although not from the same genre, imagine a post punk version of Franz Ferdinand. A bit silly, a bit sarcastic decent tunes but arguably lacking in soul or gravity. The lyrics can be quite clever and cutting as well as accurate but the lack of variety in the delivery takes from them to an extent. Dry Cleaning did this record last year but with much more originality and quirk. Worth checking out but the hype is extremely questionable.… Expand
  6. spacemanrecords
    Jan 22, 2022
    8
    The debut album from Yard Act came out of nowhere and it was a welcome surprise... Hard hitting and poignant ideas are a constant themeThe debut album from Yard Act came out of nowhere and it was a welcome surprise... Hard hitting and poignant ideas are a constant theme throughout the record, being delivered in an almost spoken word fashion...

    The subject matter is wide spanning from unanimously relatable things such as capitalism guilt, or "the constant burden of making sense", to more UK related social/economic issues. This serves as an interesting view in, being an American...

    Pretty much no skips, this band rocks!

    I'm giving it a strong 7 to light 8    … Expand
  7. Fuerstenberg
    Mar 11, 2022
    6
    "The Overload" is a confident debut of the young rock band from Leeds with chaotic, tousled but catchy riffs. Yard Act brings back the British"The Overload" is a confident debut of the young rock band from Leeds with chaotic, tousled but catchy riffs. Yard Act brings back the British 70s and 80s with their post-punk and art rock, but comes nowhere near the originals.

    Besides the musical minimalism, it lacks a certain sonic sharpness and is often too subdued or simply too boring. Even if the lyrics are really witty and funny, the vocals need to be improved significantly. Overall pretty unspectacular and overrated by the critics.

    My favorites:
    "Pour Another"
    "Payday"
    "The Overload"
    "Land of the Blind"

    ~ Fürstenberg
    March 11, 2022    … Expand
  8. njuc
    Mar 12, 2022
    0
    The album has everything what he needs to have!
    I am an indie artist and I have a classical music education and you have to trust me!

See all 9 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best Album of 2022
38
#38 Most Discussed Album of 2022

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