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Viola Beach Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the posthumous debut release by the British indie rock quartet who (along with their manager) died in a car accident while on tour in Sweden.
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Top Track

Boys That Sing
She's a rhino She's a whino She's a tight rope We'll be fine though Singing Woah What do they know She's a libra and a needer and mona lisa Would... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Q Magazine
    Jul 28, 2016
    80
    The irrepressible bounce of these tracks outweigh the poignancy, though. Viola Beach have a debut their families can be proud of. [Sep 2016, p.114]
  2. 80
    Viola Beach is an album that, against all odds, leaves you with a smile on your face.
  3. 75
    There’s an exuberance to the entire record that feels genuine and fresh, like it was captured unexpectedly.
  4. Jul 29, 2016
    70
    [A] charming if slight collection, still worthy of your time, and not just to hear the aching, unfulfilled potential.
  5. Jul 29, 2016
    70
    Most poignant are the songs that offer something a little different from standard, because these are the instances where you can hear the makings of the band proper.
  6. 60
    The Warrington quartet was clearly in the process of defining their own sound.
  7. 60
    Still, while their lyrics could be fine-tuned, it’s hard not to warm to a quartet whose obvious pleasure at being in a group pervades every adrenaline-charged note.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Aug 14, 2016
    8
    Hard not to be influenced by the poignancy of this album, but I still was very impressed by this quite poppy indie album. Quite catchy tunesHard not to be influenced by the poignancy of this album, but I still was very impressed by this quite poppy indie album. Quite catchy tunes that I will relish listening to more than a few times. Found the closing line of the closing song to leave me with a lump in the throat - "...so I learned how to sing".
    Deserving of the posthumous success.
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  2. Dec 8, 2016
    8
    Due to the tragic end of this band and the posthumous nature of the release, it's hard to know what exactly we have with this album in termsDue to the tragic end of this band and the posthumous nature of the release, it's hard to know what exactly we have with this album in terms of how close it is to what would have been released had the band gone on. It sounds fairly complete, if a little raw around the edges. You can hear influences from contemporary bands, with FOALS along with the likes of say The Kooks having a major influence on the guitar sound. What stands out is the bands' pop sensibilities and ability to forge hooks that burrow into your consciousness. There is a bit of repetition of ideas as the album plays through while the lyrics are typically underdeveloped as is par for the course with most indie debut album - girls and nights out etc. I'll tell you what though, "Really Wanna Call" is a top tune and I'm confident I'll be playing it in years to come. I'd like to think this track was a sign of things to come from Viola Beach. A strangely joyous album with terribly sad connotations. Expand