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Unsound
by
Unsound Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

  • Summary: The fifth album for the Boston rock band is its first on the Fire Records label.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. The Quietus
    Jul 24, 2012
    90
    Mission Of Burma are excellent, their new album is equally excellent, and an easy contender for best rock album of the year.
  2. Paste Magazine
    Jul 3, 2012
    82
    Mission of Burma continues to make some truly glorious noise on Unsound.
  3. musicOMH.com
    Jul 3, 2012
    80
    Unsound is a smile-inducing slab of post-punk awesome.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jul 12, 2012
    80
    Shellac's Bob Weston throws disorientating tape-loop curveballs throughout, further disturbing Burma's thrilling clatter, which shames bands half their age.
  5. cokemachineglow
    Aug 10, 2012
    74
    Despite its democratic structure, Unsound suffers from a curious sequencing problem, or what we around here like to call Channel Orange-itis--but few bands of their vintage continue to write songs this prolifically or professionally.
  6. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Jul 13, 2012
    70
    While acting more like a well-constructed argument than a manifesto, Unsound shows that you can still fight into the later years.
  7. Alternative Press
    Jul 3, 2012
    60
    Unsound falters on ragged tune such as "Sectionals In Mourning" and "Semi-Pseudo-Sort-Of-Plan;" these songs feel far too much like half-finished rehearsal takes that could use some tightening. [Aug 2012, p.92]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. transfixed
    Jul 17, 2012
    10
    Another great MOB album, ho-hum. I get a certain type of aural pleasure from listening to a new MOB album that I don't get from any of myAnother great MOB album, ho-hum. I get a certain type of aural pleasure from listening to a new MOB album that I don't get from any of my other albums. They have really perfected post-punk, but at the same time have created this unique sound that nobody could ever copy. What other band has three band members consisting of a drummer, bassist, and guitarist that trades off lead singing duties from song to song with each member owning a unique, perfect voice for the genre? None, in my estimation. Oh yeah, they also together create wonderful vocal harmonies. And the instruments? Do you like idiosyncratic drumming, angular guitar riffs, strange tape manipulations, an overall sonic attack that creates a highly original noise, yet oddly catchy tunes? This is rock music that creates brain cells. I do like this album more than their last also-great album The Sound, The Speed, The Light but not quite as much as Vs., OnOffOn, or The Obliterati. The biggest gripe I have over this one is that it clocks in at only 35 minutes. 2-3 more songs probably would have made this one just as good as their best ones.… Expand
  2. pkindieboy
    Aug 29, 2012
    9
    I love these guys; they seeming incapable of making a bad record. This one is more varied sonically, yet still sounds 100% MOB. I especiallyI love these guys; they seeming incapable of making a bad record. This one is more varied sonically, yet still sounds 100% MOB. I especially like 'Dust Devil' and 'Second Television', but the whole album is engaging and high energy. It's different enough that you can't say you've heard it before; yeah you need it.… Expand

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