Wrong Creatures
by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
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  1. No Ripcord
    Jan 16, 2018
    60
    Wrong Creatures is an impeccably produced record that will undoubtedly appeal to any devout Black Rebel Motorcycle Club listener. Every charging, hard rock guitar and squelching feedback strikes with a sharpness that does not come at the price of distortion. Still, the marked contrasts in Creatures give the impression that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were aiming for a sweeping, meticulously-layered force of Be Here Now-like proportions.
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Jan 16, 2018
    60
    At times, however, they come across as a little too ponderous, the likes of Haunt and stadium-indie plod Echo noteworthy mainly for their complete lack of spark. It makes for an album that, weighing in at an hour long, can feel rather bloated.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jan 10, 2018
    60
    The whole album is driven by that Nick Cave sense of foreboding menace, an outlaw spirit that would sit well on the Peaky Blinders soundtrack. But while there’s plenty of that classic BRMC ‘tude, and a vintage touch, they’re still full of ideas.
  5. Pitchfork
    Jan 16, 2018
    58
    While they’re not radically altering their own musical DNA, they are still in their own way trying to figure out what they can and cannot do. While that probably sounds like a backhanded compliment for these rock‘n’roll veterans, it might actually be the secret to their longevity.
  6. The Skinny
    Jan 9, 2018
    40
    Their problem is there are other bands doing this kind of thing better (Black Angels, we’re looking at you).

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Most Shared Album of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. tillouco
    Jan 3, 2019
    7
    In "Wrong Creatures", "Black Rebel Mortorcycle Club" sounds similar to others rock bands, but still engaging and melancholic in peculiar way.In "Wrong Creatures", "Black Rebel Mortorcycle Club" sounds similar to others rock bands, but still engaging and melancholic in peculiar way. As strengths, the album brings a certain cohesion in the production of the atmosphere of these creatures of the love, well represented by "Carried From the Start" and "Question of Faith"; on the other hand, slips on composition and vocals, which in many songs do not seem to fit, as well as themes without much depth.
    Despite small inconsistencies, possibly "Wrong Creatures" is one of the few albums of 2018 that sounds good for those looking for a cohesive and pleasant work to hear for some good months.    … Full Review »
  2. FrogNipples
    Jan 17, 2018
    8
    Wrong Creatures, BRMC's first album in 5 years, finds the band, once again, flirting with dark, but hopeful sounds and themes. The intro song,Wrong Creatures, BRMC's first album in 5 years, finds the band, once again, flirting with dark, but hopeful sounds and themes. The intro song, 'DFF', is an instrumental featuring tribal drumming and darkly atmospheric vocal intonations, and might be considered a throwaway track by some, but it sets the tone for the album and is a great lead into the second track. 'Spook' is a smoky mid-tempo rocker loaded with the fantastic guitar riffs and tones, that Peter Hayes is known for. Third track 'King of Bones' shows the band experimenting with some synthesizers, but the dark grinding synth meshes seamlessly with the guitars and sounds as if it's always been present. 'Haunt' slows and strips things down, as they take a turn towards the Southern Gothic sound they've perfected on previous albums. 'Echo' might be the most ambitious song they've done. It sounds like what you might get if Lou Reed and a U2 had collaborated. it features a made-for-radio chorus that gets in your head and takes up residence. The next track, the mysteriously named 'Ninth Configuration', starts out as a slow dreamy tune, but builds and builds to a wall of noisy 'shoegaze' guitar. The rest of the album consists of the slow sultry burner, 'Question of Faith'. The zen-like atmosphere of 'Calling Them All Away'. A straight ahead rocker called 'Little Thing Gone Wild'. The odd but interesting 'Circus Bazooko', which features a circus-like organ riff that, believe it or not, actually works in the song. The slow pounding rocker 'Carried from the Start'. And finally, the darkly beautiful 'All Rise', slowly lets you off the emotional ride. Produced by Nick Launay, who has worked with everyone from Killing Joke to Nick Cave, this might be BRMC's best sounding album. To sum things up, if you are a fan of the band, you will love this album. If you aren't already a fan, you will find something to love on the album, and you might just become a fan.… Full Review »
  3. StevenX
    Jan 12, 2018
    6
    Maddening. Put in a couple decent rockers as bait, and psyche! Suddenly you're smack-dab in the middle of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club'sMaddening. Put in a couple decent rockers as bait, and psyche! Suddenly you're smack-dab in the middle of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's continuing quest to crawl into themselves. What started out as an energetic, inventive band has morphed into goth music for people who are too cool for goth, with a couple of said rockers thrown in. The production and atmosphere on this one (more the latter than the former is featured) saves some cuts, sinks others. Drummer Leah Shapiro's full talents and range are explored, but her sheer power (which hooked me when she slammed home a Dead Combo tune on YouTube years back) doesn't get much of a workout here. Of the slower stuff (and there is much slower stuff), perhaps only "Echo" lives up to its full potential, and sands off the sometimes-grating nasal treble edge off Robert Levon Been's voice in the process. Unfortunately, it's instantly negated by "Ninth Configuration", which rambles, warbles between country and slow-dance prom stuff, and features what sounds like a small kitten on guitar solos. (Think Black Velvet Lounge Cruise.) I'm sure BRMC's most rabid fans will always believe no matter the pretension level, and I'll keep falling for that rocker bait as well, probably, but this is the third album in a row that poses more questions than answers. Whatever happened to their rock and roll?… Full Review »
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