Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Bop.
Gran gran disco. Nunca lo había escuchado completo y vaya pedazo de disco que me estaba perdiendo. Definitivamente de los mejores discos que he escuchado de la lista hasta ahora. Todo es genial en este disco, desde la inmejorable musicalidad armónica y rítmica, así como melódica de las capas y capas de sintetizadores que se usan, hasta la gran voz melódica y relajada de Lauren Mayberry que funciona como contraste y equilibrio en ese ambiente tan energético, electrónico y synth/pop de cada pista. Los acompañamientos corales de Martin Doherty y la ejecución instrumental impecable tanto de el mismo Doherty como de Iain Cook hacen toda la diferencia. Cada pista tiene un carácter y un estilo único. Por último, las letras son increíbles, te enganchan desde el principio y sumado con el ambiente musical tan potente y autentico, cada canción se siente como un gran sencillo. De hecho, definiría este disco como un disco lleno de sencillos. Cada canción es genial. Pero bueno, amo a esta banda, igual estoy siendo un poco subjetivo. No importa, me encanto el disco. Joya de disco. Joder es música.
The triumphant return of synth-pop to the mainstream. I remember hearing a lot of CHVRCHES back then, but never really delved into them because I was still listening to what was popular in 2000 (nu metal and pop-punk). Well after expanding my taste since 2013, and since 2021 when I first listened to the album in full, I can confidently say this is a masterpiece. An utter masterpiece. Choruses hit every time, and sometimes choruses upon choruses upon choruses ("Recover") just take over the whole soul. I was jumping out my chair at that post chorus. And it is so well produced, it sounds beautiful in my headphones
YESSSSS
Okay then! I like this one too!
im biased, this album is too important to me
Synths so good. Gun was my favorite track.
- I’ve always loved this album; I’ve listened to it so many times and been to a few of their shows. - Love Lauren’s voice, and the synths are great, in their own right and as a compliment. I also think the lyrics are great and poetic. I’m just not that into the guy's voice - it’s just a little bland. - I think about half of the songs are complete bangers. The others are not as compelling to me, and I do skip some of them, so this feels like a 4.5 to me. I’m going to bump it up, though - nostalgia and it just hit so hard when it first came out. - My faves are “The Mother We Share”, "Gun”, “Lies”, “Recover”, “Lungs”, and “By The Throat” (almost every second song, lol).
pretty cool
Oh, I'm coming back to this for sure. This was great!
a perfect 2013 album
Amazing album, not only the singles hit hard
Sublime !
If I think there’s a single focal point of where my music taste came from originally - it probably is this album. Well, this album and Every Open Eye (which is arguably better than this album haha). I remember my dad first showing me this album the year this came out at the ripe old age of 10. It instantly captivated me, beautiful synth pop with such great vocals, which I kinda had a thing for British pop vocals at the time thinking back to it. Road trips would always have this record on rotation. So in a part, this reminds me of childhood too. The mother we share and Recover especially, it’s just… perfect. And then I wonder why Magdalena bay is my favourite band of all time haha, it all makes sense now. Thanks CHVRCHES
Very Good
Hey, this one's easy because it was my 2013 album of the year. Here's the review I wrote for The A.V. Club: At the end of 2012, Scottish electro-pop trio Chvrches had little more to its name than a couple songs online and a bit of buzz. When The Bones Of What You Believe, the group’s first full-length, comes out this week, the band will be on a sold-out U.S. tour, playing bigger rooms than it had when it came through those same cities earlier this summer. The polite yet insistent buzz from the beginning of the year has grown to a roar by fall, making The Bones Of What You Believe one of 2013’s most anticipated albums. Much of the attention Chvrches attracted last year was due to “The Mother We Share,” which the band had released online. It opens The Bones Of What You Believe and is the album’s leadoff single, with good reason: It’s one of the year’s best songs, propelled by overlapping synthesizers and a triumphant chorus that vocalist Lauren Mayberry carries higher with her lilting voice (made more charming because she doesn’t attempt to hide her accent). “The Mother We Share” attracted a lot of attention toward the end of 2012, but the band wisely kept it off March’s Recover EP and let it anchor the full-length. As good as “The Mother We Share” is, it wouldn’t be enough to carry the album, but Chvrches follows it with an even catchier song, “We Sink,” and another solid track, “Gun,” making for one of the strongest starts to any album this year. The rest of the album doesn’t sag, either; the only track that stumbles is the moodier “Science/Visions,” and that’s mostly because the discordant backup vocals clash with the other melodies. The song finishes strong, though, and is preceded by a pair of standouts, “Recover” and “Night Sky.” A lot has been made of Chvrches’ similarities to The Knife, but The Bones Of What You Believe owes more to earlier electro-pop and electronic rock bands, such as New Order, OMD, or even Yazoo. (The New Order/OMD comparison feels especially apparent when multi-instrumentalist Martin Doherty—a former touring member of The Twilight Sad—takes lead vocals on “Under The Tide.”) “Science/Visions” veers away from the album’s poppier sound and into straight-up EDM, and moody album closer “You Caught The Light”—led again by Doherty—conjures Disintegration-era Cure. Chvrches’ bread and butter remains highly melodic, synthesizer-based pop, but with just the right amount of darkness, thanks in part to Mayberry. She has a law degree and a masters in journalism, so she writes like she has something to say, not just to fill the space in the songs. She, Doherty, and multi-instrumentalist Iain Cook have crafted one of the year’s best albums, which means that buzz won’t be dying down any time soon.
Only took till 2013 but someone figured out how to make synth music not suck. Well done. Feels very modern and relevant, I wouldn't have been surprised if this came out this year. Enjoyed the whole thing.
Loved it! Listened several times.
Fun an funky, hypes me up
So pissed I never listened to this before. It’s so good. It manages to presage a lot of the synth pop that’s really become mainstream nowadays
кажется это был первый альбом который я достала из списка лучших альбомов за год… 12 лет… с тех пор чуть-чуть приелся и немного потускнел в мерзкой тени следующих альбомов, но я очень хорошо помню интенсивные и долгие впечатления из предыдущих лет
I had heard the hits from this album before but the full album was great. You can tell they were in a zone when making this
Wow!
I've been enjoying CHVRCHΞS ever since I caught their set at Lollapalooza back in 2018. A modern-day synthpop group where all three members share the workload on synthesizers and production, while Lauren Mayberry helms the lead vocals, they've refined their style and writing over the years to the point where I consider Screen Violence to be one of the best albums of 2021. Needless to say, I was looking forward to going back to their debut, and it still holds up over a decade later. From the blaring start of "The Mother We Share", the instrumentation on this record harkens back to the early 1980s with such a booming impact and presence. The synths are crisp and balanced out by thicker beats and effects that keep the mix busy without feeling overcluttered. All the while, the production remained surprsingly rich, giving the sound enough breathing room and swell as needed. This sound comes especially handy when the band crafts such memorable hooks and melodies, with a lot of upbeat energy and distinct character behind Lauren's dignified yet approachable soprano vocals. Martin Doherty may do a solid enough job on his features, but it's Lauren who makes this album work so well with her measured and emotional delivery. As for the lyrics, The Bones of What You Believe is about showing you everything you believe in your heart to be hollow. In the wrong hands, such a direction could be considered abrasive or obnoxious. Yet, CHVRCHΞS prevail here by including the necessary nuance and detail. "The Mother We Share" opens with Lauren assuming the role of the neglected sister opposite the favored son, as her delivery balances the anger and regret with the love she still holds for the brother in question. It's this kind of morally ambiguous framing that carries through the record, exploring various relationship troubles, like the tired weariness of "We Sink", the explosive anger of "Gun", the desperate recapture of an old flame on "Lies", and the cautious approach back to the lover on "Recover". There are a few notable exceptions. "Science/Visions" sees someone cave under pressure when confronting questions they can't understand, but still attempt with futility anyway, which is applicable for both relationships and the cultural divide between the supernatural/religion and science. Meanwhile "Under the Tide" is a stridently optimstic tune where the imagery of keeping one's head above water is a potent metaphor to keep one's spirit up after a fallout. The album's theme comes into focus on the closing number, "You Caught the Light", where one comes to realization that their beliefs and dreams may not ultimately matter compared to the greater truths or what their partner (or ex-partner) might actually want. It's a moment of humility and quasi-redemption that neatly bookends the record, encapsulating how we, as individuals, are not the center of the universe and should be open to other beliefs and interpretations, all framed in terms of human relationships that I think we can all relate. Yeah, The Bones of What You Believe is great, a debut album that took a lot of risks. CHVRCHΞS have largely improved their songwriting since this record, but it's amazing how well they established their identity from the get-go.
There must be something in their synths
It’s the kind of album that makes you want to dance and cry a little at the same time.
Fucking awesome. Reminded me of tiny star by The Blasting Company, I really love this genre of music and it does seem like it is the pinnacle of using this kind of sound to create something catchy and cool. All the voices complimented the super high highs of the instrumentals, so it didn’t seem like the contrast of all the shit was like too annoying
love the vibe
Wow this was so good! The synths hit just right and I'm obsessed with the female vocalist.
Another 5/5, I’ve heard this one before and was actively seeking it out similar music after hearing this. The whole album is amazing
Loved this album in 2013 and love it now.
Say it with me, shock as local queer femme synthpop fan, etc etc. But yeah, I already have at *least* three of these tracks on my regular rotation, I've just never got round to properly listening to the album yet, and now I have, it's making me want to go play Sayonara Wild Hearts again (complimentary)
A pre-emptive 5. I think I've just been so bored of samey 70s guitar rock that a synth-pop album was a breath of fresh air. Honestly, after one listen I can't remember many songs, but I was left with the impression this will reveal itself after multiple listens, and on that basis it gets a 5. Gorgeous vocals, some nice lyrics - to be honest it was just nice to get something different for once.
What a delightful surprise! An absolute mood booster!
Finally a modern album that feels essential. I knew The Mother We Share prior to listening, but didn't know the album. Loved it. Captures the 2010's electronic / pop genre perfectly.
Я не уверен, что это альбом на пять звезд. На этом альбоме субъективно нет скипов. Даже Lungs и Under The Tide совсем не плохие песни, по-моему. Которые можно скипнуть, но нет. В конечном итоге, этот альбом был важным для меня на релизе, октрыл для меня мир современного синтпопа. Это одна из тех групп, которые я заслушивал до того, как превратился в rym-сноба, который нуждается в конфирмации прочих музыкальных задротов, что это хорошая музыка, которой можно поставить тридцать звезд из пяти. Оттого очень грустно, что это дебют и одновременно пик группы - после они делали странные вещи со своей музыкой, включая соло альбом милейшей солистки Лорен, который будто бы умер еще до релиза (что тоже грустно). По крайней мере в моей жизни, я рад, что услышал этот альбом. Лучшая песня - Recover.
4.6/5 Pixelated Feelings This album walks a perfect tightrope-Danceable despair. Pop apocalypse. Digital vulnerability. It’s like if Robyn, Blade Runner, and a breakup letter formed a band.This album is a glitter grenade. It explodes inside your ribcage, and instead of pain, you get a light show. Mood: “I’m crying on the dance floor but make it neon.” Voice is like: “Here is my soul… now run it through a distortion pedal and throw it off a building.”
This record was the soundtrack of the twenty-teens. I remember hearing "The Mother We Share" for the first time. I was driving in my car and I immediately cranked it. I first heard Phantogram around the same time, as well. I feel like 2010-2019 was a ripe period for great pop music, especially more underground and synthy varieties.
I'm passingly familiar with CHVRCHES, but I'm not sure I've actually heard any of these tracks before. It's great synth-pop music, and I was happy to see that at least a bit had made the list. Favorite track: "Tether"
Synth pop dance eletronica noise that feels like it should be from the late 80s early 90s but it's actually 2013. It's not really my thing usually but this slapped, it just had a really infectious energy about it that kept me engaged, and even when he sings it's detracts a bit but not enough to annoy me.
love it!
I loved this album! And I had never heard of them before. But I will definitely be listening more in the future
“Gun” immediately bumps this to a 10/10.
Assai bello.
Miglior album synthwave dei 2010 don’t @ me
This album is my view of perfect synth pop and I really like the female singer's voice. The album gets better and better as it goes. Love it. Rating: 5
This was brilliant, 80s synth-pop melodies with more modern beats and samples. They were just generally interesting and inventive songs though, would have been good on guitars. Knew the name but hadn't heard anything before (except that marshmallow song as it turns out), will be going through their catalogue now.
DEFEND SYNTH POP
Peak alternative music era, life was so full of hope. I was worried about opening on a banger/their biggest song but it just kept slapping. Should have listened to this full album before. Just good vibes. 5* Highlights: the mother we share, tether, recover
I really quite like this album, its a really strong debut, and more complex than the newer albums (doenst mean much tbh). It was my first introduction to synth-pop, and it was just really-really pleasant throughout, with some interesting twists here and there and a "feel nice" shine on it.
One of my faves
This wasn’t really my kind of thing back in 2013, but this sound is *so* 2013 that it’s got me nostalgic in a good way. This plus other kind of random-seeming selections like Hot Chip I think help me make sense of some of the more baffling patterns on the overall list (why so much drab new wave) (why so much crappy drum & bass techno). The common element really seems to be that these were all big deals in the British club music scene of each era. Like that’s treated on the list as it’s own entire ecosystem in the same scale as rock & hip hop. Which is insane, but at least it’s a throughline.
This went hard back when it released, I'm pretty sure i wore myself out on the singles before it even came out though, especially Gun and Recover. Still incredibly fun synthpop though, not a weak track to be found.
OVERALL: I like this a lot. This album cover is also really good. I am very biased towards this genre because my music taste has been corrupted by Geometry Dash, so I tried to be more critical when rating (still ended up giving high scores). I don't really dislike any song here, and can rate most of the songs here between 7-10/10. The only thing I disliked was the intro to Lungs, but that's about it. I guess it can be boring sometimes and the girl's voice can be annoying? Anyways, I really like synths, which is something that this album does very well. I also like the girl's vocals on the songs. It can be a little basic, but it gets the job done and sounds really good. This is something that I really like but is probably not that good objectively. But it's here, so maybe I'm wrong. There is an extended version for the 10-year anniversary, but I'm not reviewing that right now. Also, the scores added up are exactly 100. Not intentional, just something cool ig. SONG AVG: 8.3/10 PERSONAL RATING: 9/10 The Mother We Share: Very surprised that something like this was included, especially after getting basically only rock and soul. I guess it's a little basic, and also kinda sounds like a Kidz Bop or 2012 copyright free background music, but I like the synths, and I think it sounds pretty good. 8.75/10 We Sink: The synths are very good and pretty catchy. I like the vocals here, but she sounds awkward when she says fuck, and there is a weird noise that sounds like someone saying "uh" pitched extremely down (same criticisms for the last song, didn't want to make the review too long). I like this a lot, but there are some weird crackling noises that bring this down. 8/10 Gun: Great but simple synths, and the vocals sound fantastic, but it does a fade out outro and the lyrics aren't the greatest. Still sounds amazing. 9/10 Tether: Everything sounds great, but it's overall very simple. The synths during the drop are absolutely incredible. Obviously it sucks lyrically, but that doesn't matter in this genre. Pretty good vocal performance. 9.25/10 Lies: It doesn't do anything special, but it still sounds great. The synths aren't doing anything that interesting, but it still sounds good. The vocal performance isn't that impressive this time. The drop sounds great. 7.75/10 Under the Tide: Pretty nice synths, and a very classic buildup style for this genre. Sounds pretty generic, but there are some pretty nice synths sometimes. Fairly weak vocal performance, still not bad. 7/10 Recover: As much as I like synths, this is pretty basic. Same with the vocal performance, just a little bit above average. It still sounds good, but it also just sounds very boring/generic. 5.75/10 Night Sky: Really good. Still suffers from being simple, but this just sounds really great. It does some weird stuff at the end, but I think I like it. Very catchy, just great overall. 9.8/10 Science/Visions: I have nothing bad to say about this other than that it is maybe a bit basic. Very good overall, a bit chaotic, and sounds incredible. 10/10 Lungs: Why does that intro have to come right after Science/Visions. There is a weird noise that serves as the main percussion, but it isn't that bad. It sounds pretty good when it wants to, which is when the girl is singing. Pretty fun. 6.75/10 By The Throat: The chorus sounds like that one Imogen Heap song that I forgot the name of, and I really like that Imogen Heap song. This is overall really good, there isn't really anything I don't like about it other than the fact that it's slightly basic and the lyrics are just okay. 8.75/10 You Caught the Light: Very slow. When it gets interesting, it sounds really good, but it does the thing where it sounds like the guitar peaked the microphone. I still like it, as it sounds very good and I think the guy's singing is his best on this album. 9.2/10
Didn't expect to say this, but that was a damn good album.
I heard this album at a pivotal time in my life, so it’ll always be special to me. Nostalgia aside, it is such an amazing album.
A killer album no “Bones” about it
eu amoooo esse album e essa banda
Has it really been 11 years already? Seems like yesterday that CHVRCHES took the world by storm with this fully focused debut. The trio of "Recover", "Night Sky" and "Science/Visions" is something special.
Synth-pop of the 2010’s peaked with “Night Sky”. CHVRCHES entered the scene hard with this sublime debut album!
I really enjoyed this. Basically reminds me of a synth-pop version of Belle & Sebastian (which I also loved). Mostly because it has male/female duo vocalists and they're from Glasgow. But yes, solid from front to back, a nice rare find on this list.
Was lucky enough to be at their first ever gig at The Art School in Glasgow. You could tell right away that they had something special. All the singles leading up to the album being released were brilliant and I was concerned that it would be a record with three good tracks and the rest filler, but the whole album is great. Under The Tide and Science and Visions were both good enough to be singles, and Lies is just one of the best tracks released in the 2010s.
# Album Name: The bones of what you believe # Artist: CHVRCHES # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: I really enjoyed this album. Its best form is in its original 12 tracks album format coming in at 48 mins. Every song is quality. It has a real synth vibe with super catchy tunes. It is a very poppy album but i think it gets that tag from its catchy tracks. I can easily listen to every song on this album. Theres some real quality tunes on this album which is a testament to its strength. Despite it being one of the "newer" albums on the list, i think it smashes some of the 80's stuff on here. # Top Tunes: Could easily listen to every track. # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Hay que hacerse el oído pero bien escuchados sueenan muy bien
I will admit that nostalgia is affecting my opinion on this album a little. But this brings me back to a great time in my life and I loved listening to this album again after not hearing it for a couple years. I am sitting on Dylan's futon, high as a kite, vibing all over again.
After listening to this from the generator I have fell in love with this album as well as Every Open Eye. It is really good!
this album made me happy, full of energy and positivity, loved it
I mvst admit… I’m a fan Screen Violence was one of my favourite listens from 2021. I should admit that I didn’t listen to a second CHVRCHES album until today. However: *rocks in a rickety chair* back in my day iTunes used to give away free songs to promote new artists. Through that I got tastes of artists like Phosphorescent, Bahamas, Bastille, and CHVRCHES, the last of which gave away the song “Recover”. Long story short, I was rocking to “Recover” years before I bothered to learn any other of their songs Maybe due to that early exposure, I find this a joy to listen to. As indebted to yesterday's Cocteau Twins as the summery pop in She's Not Unusual by Cyndi Lauper, CHVRCHES’s debut holds up 11 years later. No notes HL: “Recover”, “The Mother We Share”, “Tether”, “Science/Visions”, “Lungs”, "Night Skies"
Truly the best of 2010s indie pop. It’s energetic and dynamic without losing its depth.
Ah, Chvrches! I had no idea this album was included in one of the more recent editions of the book until I saw it listed on the List Challenges page. I've had a healthy obsession with Chvrches since I first heard the sweet synth notes of "Recover" on an Austin radio station back in 2013. I bought a copy of this album on preorder, and I own a copy of the 10th anniversary edition as well. I've gotten to see Chvrches live twice, and I've gotten to meet the band on both of those occasions (they're wonderful people). I've easily listened to this album more than any other album, and once I'm done with this list, I imagine that this will be what I list as my favorite album. Like I said, it's a healthy obsession. Now that the details are out of the way, let's jump into the music! Those opening 'oh-oh-oh's' of "The Mother We Share" are absolute perfection. You know right away what this album is going to be, and the rest of the album makes good on delivering on that promise of beautiful synth arrangements and perfect drum machines. I went on a solo trip to Germany in October of 2013, and I would listen to this album every day while I was there. Listening to this song reminds me of the crisp autumn air on my face as I walked to the train station every morning. "We Sink" is a perfect follow up to the opening track. The synths are a little bit deeper in tone, but they pulse at a pace that keeps the momentum going. "Gun" slows things down a bit and allows Lauren Mayberry to be in the driver's seat for the emotional tone. I love that amongst all the brightness of the synthesizers, songs like "Gun" can still pack a punch. I love how "Tether" starts off as one of the more stripped-down songs on the album, but the crescendo it builds to is perfect. Knowing that the blistering synthesizers are coming makes the song even better on repeat listens. "Lies" is probably one of my least favorite songs on the album, but I still love it. To me, it's a great bridge between the first four songs on the album and "Under the Tide." "Under the Tide" is the most underrated song on the album in my opinion. One of two songs on the album where Lauren Mayberry doesn't sing lead vocals, Martin Doherty gets to take over, and he crushes it. Another song that builds to an epic crescendo, "Under the Tide" is the perfect lead-in to "Recover," one of the strongest tracks on the album. I don't know what it is about "Recover" that I love so much. Yes, it was my first exposure to Chvrches and their brand of synth pop perfection, but it still holds its magic for me, over eleven years after I first heard it. I think it's something in the pacing of the song that draws me in. The song never really builds to a peak, but somehow, the anticipation of some sort of peak is there, waiting to be uncovered. I think "Recover" always makes me want to listen to more Chvrches, and that's what I love about it. "Night Sky" and "Science/Visions" are a shift away from the brighter tones of "Recover," but nothing about that shift feels unnatural or forced. "Lungs" shifts back to the brighter sound, and features some of my favorite drum machine parts on the album. The rhythm of the drums matches the pacing of the vocals perfectly, and that pacing is perfect for the lyrics of this song too. "By the Throat" and "You Caught the Light" are great closing tracks, letting the album flex its emotional muscles, instead of hitting with more blissful synth sounds. To me, it's perfectly fitting that the album closes with these two tracks, because while this album has so many great synth pop sounds, the emotion and the lyrics are great too. I love this album so much, and I'm so glad I got to write about it today. If you somehow made it to the end of this review, and you like Chvrches, I highly recommend their second album, Every Open Eye, and their most recent album, Screen Violence. Listening to Chvrches always makes my day better, and I'm so glad that this wonderful trio has shared their talents with the world.
Virkelig fed faktisk, havde ikke lige forventet det. God dance, føler jeg er i neon-verden ligesom pigerne i Karamelldansen, men en smule mindre lalleglad. Take me back to the naugthies baby
own
This is a fantastic album! I’m glad to have the excuse to listen to it again, because I’ve only heard it about three times. The synths are beautiful, sounding much better than most of the synth… music from the 2010s. Favourite song: ‘Tether’. (The instrumental is FANTASTIC).
Mgmt adjacent. Maybe m83. Really good stuff.
This album was really it. I felt like I was in Tron. La Roux/Grimes/The 1975/The xx hybrid in the best way possible. I am now a CHVRCHES fan! Gonna be replaying this one a lot.
This album is amazing! Science/Visions blew my mind! Don’t know why I haven’t listened to CHVRCHES before. I knew a couple of songs that were on FIFA but that was all. They’re a bit like The 1975, a bit like La Roux, but more sophisticated than both. The singer has a great voice and I love the synths. Such a beautiful colourful soundscape, made me feel all tingly.
That's a good one. Modern music finally!
This is what I was hoping to find with this experiment. Music I would never actively seek out, and surprisingly fun. I didn't love the songs with the male lead vocals. I thought the last song fell flat. 4.5 stars, but going to 5 since that's not an option!
-this is such an awesome album -bops after bops -great synth pop music -it feels so psychedelic for some reason -I love the female vocals -the album cover reminds me of Kraftwerk, "Radio-Activity" -so danceable -favorite songs: The Mother We Share, We Sink, Gun, Tether, Under The Tide, Recover (<3), Night Sky, Science/Visions (<3), Lungs, You Caught The Light -least favorite song: By The Throat
Great debut album. A fresh sound with a delightful voice from Lauren Mayberry. The song writing is good and the melodies are catchy. Really enjoyed this disc. The Mother We Share and Science/Visions are the standout tracks. Worth another listen.
10/10 When I first heard Chvrches I had frisson from beginning to end. I can't explain the sense of future nostalgia I feel get when listening. They have better albums than this, and that is saying a whole bunch. 7-3-2024
I've been listening to this one since it came out. Probably still my favorite of their records. Lauren Mayberry is great on this. I'm not a big fan of the two songs where she's not the lead singer.
Thoroughly enjoyed this album - good variety, great beats!
I loved this when it came out and it's still a banger. I listened to this album on repeat.
I have a hard time explaining why CHVRCHΞS is one of my favorite bands. Synth pop isn’t typically my thing. High twee vocals aren’t typically my thing. And yet, I love their sound. Love their style. Love Lauren Mayberry’s vocals. Somehow it just all fits together perfectly. I think while their music is very synth-driven, labeling them synth pop just doesn’t quite capture their sound. Iain Cook and Martin Doherty crafted a sound for CHVRCHΞS that is like everything else and yet like nothing else. And this makes sense, as the artists the group cites as their heroes and influences cover a broad and fascinating range. Over the years, CHVRCHΞS has solidified themselves as one of the bands that I will immediately seek out new music from, go to see them live any time they come through town, and extol their brilliance to anyone who will listen. They’ve been pretty successful since “Bones of What You Believe,” but they are one of those bands that I remain mystified that they aren’t even bigger than they are. I shouldn’t be surprised though. Only rap and pop acts are ubiquitous and culturally pervasive. And Mayberry is a writer and singer not afraid to speak truth to music industry power. Mayberry and CHVRCHΞS are never going to be a band that does whatever the label execs and marketing people tell them to do to make money. They have fought sexism and misogyny in the way the band is represented in the media, pushed by record executives, and in their response to the anonymous online harassment that pervades internet culture. They portray themselves as a band despite encouragement to put Mayberry not just in front but alone to appeal more to the male gaze. On their debut, they wanted to write and produce their own stuff, not deceptively front for a faceless producer like so many pop acts. And while they have loosened up a bit on some of those points through their career, Mayberry’s lyrics still question the cost of stardom and bite back at those who have suggested that she soften her accent or put more emphasis on her looks.
Chvrches is a weird one for me. I shouldn't like it. I mostly don't go for synth pop. I mostly don't like singers who sing in such a high register. And yet Chvrches is one of my favorites and my go to music to help pull me out of a funk. I have spent so much time trying to find similar bands and I can't quite find anything that is similar despite the ubiquitous synth pop sound. Lauren Mayberry's lyrics are constantly challenging her relationships, the way she views the world, and the way the world views her. Chvrches is a complete package and even though it makes no sense, I am drawn to it like a moth to the flame.
I heard The Mother We Share on a Pandora station I had and was instantly hooked. I bought the album, slid the CD in my car’s player, and it didn’t leave for the better part of 2 years. I’m most in love with the electronic elements, especially the synths. Iain and Martin are geniuses IMHO. They layer synth lines with guitar effects and vocal loops into a modern symphony. Even more so, the particular passages of the album that are the most satisfying use emptiness, sparsity, the negative space, to build to volcanic eruptions of joy. For instance, the first 2:40 of Tether feel laid back, dripping with anticipation until the fist pumping synth line punches through. Or the end of the 1st chorus of Under The Tide that builds only to go straight into the second verse while the 2nd chorus builds and builds into a jump inducing resolution. The juxtaposition, the unresolved 1st chorus, makes the 2nd that much more emphatic. The live show Chvrches puts on is great. My favorite song live from this album is Science/Visions. It’s got the pedal to the metal from the jump. I must say if they would vary the set list show by show, I might go on tour with them permanently. Lauren’s brilliance shines through lyrically as well. On Lies she evicerates a former romantic interest to a pop soundtrack. She asserts her power after putting up with his shit for too long. I finally figured you out…don’t fuck with me. And on Lungs, which is a track I appreciate more and more as time goes on, the pacing and phrasing of her delivery about another deceptive relationship is something special. To Iain, Lauren, and Martin, my deepest gratitude for sharing your gifts. This is my favorite album of all time. 🙌 ❤️ 🙇🏻
While this isn't my favorite CHVRCHES album, I am ecstatic they are on the list. Killer band.
Synth Pop at its greatest... Love it, need to listen to more...
First 5 stars!! And the easiest one to give. Big fan of CHVRCHES and whilst I’d say this is probably my lower ranked of their albums, it’s still an amazing record. So many good songs on it - Lungs is one of my faves ever. I think people either love them or hate them, or are possibly indifferent to them. For me, it’s love. They’re also one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen - if you’ve seen them at the Barras in Glasgow, you’ll know.
Wow. I kinda always knew I'd love CHVRCHES but I REALLY loved this. And a debut album too? Just an awesome sound. Synthy but not so synthy it was annoying. Great vocals, too!
This is an essential part of my college soundtrack! Jammed to this so many times walking between classes. This just hits that synth-pop itch for me, so it's an easy 5/5.
Aight I need to apologize to Mason for all the crap I gave him about electronic music back in middle/high school. I thoroughly enjoyed this here album. I loved the lyrics, they did a good job of telling stories. I felt that the sounds were different on each song so the whole album didn't sound monotone. I also very much liked that they had different vocalists (granted it was only for two songs but still that's more than most bands). Very nice album.
Flawless synth pop.
oh wow I'm tempted to give this a 5 its so good synths are amazing and that voice!
Unique sound
Ethereal and beautiful, plus a Scottish bonus point - makes a surprising (to me) five stars!
Ну что ж, я люблю электронику. Ребёнок нулевых, не умеющий ценить текст вечных песен и звучание вечных инструментов, могущий лишь кайфовать от музыкальной синтезированной синтезатором наркоты. Lies, Night Sky, Science/Visions особенно хороши.
so enjoyable. great addition to the 1001 albums list!
damn, there are a lot of haters in the comments here. this album bangs and only really dips in quality when you get to the bonus tracks at the end. the mother we share is an absolute banger (and the only one i knew ahead of time, this time from the Harmonix game Dropmix) and the energy and vibes carry through the next six or so songs easily (which were apparently all released as singles? wild). more of this please!! favorites: tracks 1-8, you caught the light
What a delight! I’ve always liked the singles I’ve heard from this band, but truthfully, I would have never got around to listening to this album if not for this project! This was just my type of thing! I can’t even figure out what my favorite track off the album is, I loved them all! Perfect electro-pop, I wish I could be slightly drunk in 2014 dancing to these tracks at the club!
This was fun synthpop! I especially liked “Tether”. It had so many cool levels and was so high energy! I could definitely see myself listening to more by CHVRCHES.
I just like this album a lot. it's not my favorite of theirs so it's really like a 4.5 but I can't put that so (screen violence is just better because laura sings everything, sorry)
Very fun album, was not expecting Recover to be on this because I only knew it from their EP
A hypnotic and stunning synthpop jaunt from start to finish. I listened to this album on repeat for months when it first came out and was so happy to revisit it today and have it hold up. I also love seeing how much fun Chvrches have touring and engaging with their fans - it’s a refreshingly positive approach.
Topp 3 favorittband, og kanskje deres beste plate. Easy 5/5
Love this band and album. Hard to believe it's one 10 years old.
After hearing The Mother We Share in 2012, this was one of my most anticipated albums of 2013. I love this album so much. 5/5
Fucking great.
This was a masterpiece when it came out! Still sounds good!
Yassss! I love this. One of my fave running albums. Thank you 1001 albums
What a fantastic album!
cool
Absolutely loved this album!! Very 80s synth sounding with good drum beats and vocals are unique 👌
I didn't personally expect to enjoy synth-pop as much as I did with this album
These synths were fucking inspirational.
A grungier synthpop than Abba, but I can hear the 70s and especially 80s influence. Feels like music I should roller-skate to, which is a compliment. At the VERY least it breaks down the front door of my willpower and demands dancing.
Fantastic stvff, trvly, always a great band. 5 stars.
Science/Visions is best track from this, Lungs and Recover close. But I can't understand how they choose You Caught The Light to be closing track - that's a big no no for me. Great album and Screen Violence (2021) is even better.
Pop sintético ochentero
Rating: 10/10
I saw this band
Top shelf pop.
Great album. “Lungs” and “Night Sky” are my highlights
Great!
One of my favorites from this list so far I think… this indie electro pop sound is kinda what made me fall in love with music in general. Makes me feel like I’m 14-15 shuffling my iPod library.
Wonderful! Beautiful!
I bloody love Chvrches. Love this album.
How did i miss this
love it :) blast from the past
Love the band and love the album.
Kojima's favorite album. I'm very familiar with this band, what a great debut! It's a must listen if you're a fan of pop/synth music. I love hearing a mix of Lauren and the boy's vocals. My favorite song is Night Sky, but it's full of bangers.
A modern classic
Some genuinely beautiful and uplifting synth pop. Brings back a huge flood of Laneway 2014 memories alongside Haim, Lorde, Run the Jewels and the Jezabels. Bonus points for little hint of Scottish lilt you hear every now and then.
Still great 10 years later. Wasn't just a phase I was going thru
Marvelous
I am actually surprised how much I like this - can’t give it a 5 because it’s just not on the level what I have on 5 but it’s a very good album
Really good album, I've never listened to a lot of these guys but I've liked what I have heard and this whole album was a banger of a record!
Scottish electropop debut from 2013. I went into this one blind and found it pretty enjoyable. It's catchy and I like the vocalist. Highlights: "The Mother We Share" (which ended up stuck in my head) and "Recover." Stick with the 12-track standard edition.
Enjoyable. Light and bright.
Eh devo dire che questo pop elettronico anni 10 gasa, mi fa ricordare quando ero piccolo
Incredibly solid pop album start to finish. Great hooks, great performances and a fun/nostalgic aesthetic.
This is alright a low 4
7/10… synthpop / indietronica / *2013
Never listened to that type of music, very nice discovery
This sounds like katatonia meets arcade fire meets new order. It's better than you may think. Chvrches is VERY underrated. They aren't EDM enough for the Dead Maus crowd, but they are too dancy for the Billie Ellish fans. Almost REM-esq in the "what ARE they" classification discussion.
Really enjoyed this. Interesting indie-synth-pop. It reminds me of the sounds of lots of other bands, perhaps because this was so influential?
really enjoyed this
Not sure how important or innovative this is, but the synth work is great, and that's obviously a win with me. There is something, though, that I can't quite put my finger on that feels sorta hollow about this. The vocals? The lyrics? At any rate, it's not a deal killer, but on a scale of Hate to Love, it's just a Like.
This was a fun one. What a good vibe. I did feel a bit of fatigue toward the end. I am curious enough about ther other stuff.
Rate: 8/10
I like this kinda psychedelic album, for some songs it sounded like Madonna making electronic music 4/5
What a great pop album. Super catchy and some fun electro feel. I recognized songs but that's it. Ill definitely relisten.
Man, I missed out not listening to anything but the single when it came out. Catchy, abrasive, pretty, this was great.
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I had never sought out anything by this band until being recommended this album and though 13 years of hindsight might make a listener think the album is making the safe, predictable choice for each track, a closer listen will reveal that it actually is, but the songwriting is so earnest it doesn't matter. This has such a shimmering, dreamy energy it makes long lost emotions well up in you. Some of this material is downright inspirational, and while it very much sounds like an early 2010s synthpop piece, the songwriting and sound design still hold up very well in the face of all that it influenced. Key Tracks: The Mother We Share, We Sink, Science/Visions, You Caught the Light
This was nice. Some really good songs here and a solid listen overall.
I can't claim this is high art, but synth-pop is one of my guilty pleasures. Plus I enjoyed the vocals.
Electronic music with depth. Kinda reminicent of Magdaena Bay, but without such pop beats. Haunting and poweful. A keeper. 4/4
Somehow always missed this one despite knowing it would be completely up my street. 14 years late to the party is better than never!
Geez, this site sure wants me to listen to electronic albums seeing as The Bones Of What You Believe is the third one in a row i have heard these past few days and yeah, it's a great one. I've never really heard any of this band's music but i have frequently heard their name. I mainly like this for the fact that for an electro pop album, it is very deep, layered and complex. This is apparent in mostly the music and the lyrics. Those are the moments where i feel the album was at it's best as the much overly happy sounding stuff, while fine, wasn't this album's strong point. Definitely a really good album that i'm glad i listened to before i died. Best Song: By The Throat Worst Song: Gun
What a band and a debut album. She is such a rock start. I have seen them a couple times live and they always put on a show. This is a great album not sure if it hits 4 for me, but definitely high 3's. 3.7-9. I'll give it a 4 though.
Hard to be unbiased about this one as I have it on vinyl and have played it numerous times. Lies is one of my fave songs.
a gem from the 2010’s
Vari d
I already knew this record and liked it. I think this is a great indie synth pop album. Very cool sound design and good songs. I really liked it.
Upbeat and fun
Tecno-pop, synth-pop o simplemente pop, llámalo como quieras pero disfruta de una banda que tiene muy buenos momentos. Aquí, un espléndido debut, con 12 temas y nada menos que 7 sencillos (en 3 años): «The Mother We Share», «Recover», «Gun», «Lies», «We Sink», «Under the Tide» y «Tether». Las siete son las que inician su disco (aunque no en ese orden). Si imaginamos un triángulo entre Ladytron, M83 y Charli XCX, tal vez Chvrches encajaran perfectamente en él. Chromatics o Robyn podrían ser otro referentes, incluso Lorde. Pero Chvrches tienen mejores temas. No eran unos advenedizos sin pasado. Mayberry más allá de Derecho y Periodismo llevaba tiempo en la música, y Iain Cook con los ilustres Aereogramme y antes en The Unwinding Hours. Fue precisamente Cook al producir un disco (EP) de ella en Blue Sky Archives cuando supo que tenía los ingredientes que andaba buscando. Doherty había dejado ya The Twilight Sad para irse a Aereogramme. De su primer disco, destacan porque están siempre en mis playlist la inicial The mother we share y Recover (junto con Lies, de su EP con el que les conocimos, al menos yo). We sink es otro gran tema, como todo el disco, que anteriormente era cantada por Doherty (spoiler: gana con Mayberry). Tether y Lies, se mueven por los mismos parámetros: buena base de sintes, buena melodía y buena voz, pero se me hace un poco plano todo. Con Under The Tide la voz de Doherty asume el protagonismo lo que da un descanso. Night Sky es una balada etérea, bien. Science/Visions sigue la estela de todo el disco (mucho de M83). By the throat gana mucho al final. You Caught The Light es un estupendo cierre, algo melancólico (en unos años colaborarían con R.Smith) Funcionan las canciones por separado (con buenos finales todas), pero como álbum , todas juntas... prefiero el segundo. Y si no es con este, que sea con Every Open Eye y su mejor tema: Cleares blue (Depeche Mode en el siglo 21), también Leave a trace... 4 discos en 10 años, los dos primeros imprescindibles, el tercero algo más bajo de nivel y el cuarto recuperando terreno. Mayberry publicó en solitario Vicious Creature... es lista como pocas... Kate Bush siempre crea escuela.
Good one
Good album! Pleasant to pop on while walking in the woods. Favourite track: Lies
I already knew and liked The Mother We Share, but for some reason had never really felt the need to check out any more Chvrches. That was maybe my loss as I really enjoyed this.
4 out of 5. I have a soft spot for this group after seeing them love and hearing more than just their radio singles. For electronic pop this hits right.
2013 Me really dropped the ball on this one - it's right up my alley. Glad to have finally found it!
Ik had wel eens van deze band gehoord, maar had niet gedacht dat ze zó vol in de synthpop hoek zouden zitten! Fijne verrassing dit. Sowieso kom ik er tijdens dit album behoorlijk achter dat ik een stuk meer al kende dan dat ik dacht. We Sink, Tether, Lies,. allemaal bekende nummers! 2e helft van het album gaan ze trouwens volledig de synthwave hoek in, hele lekkere verrassing! Ik vond het daarvoor al best wel vet, maar dan ook nog een volle synthwave plaat met Broken Bones? Ok, dat is een bonus track, maar heb me eigenlijk niet ertoe hoeven zetten om het album af te luisteren. En fuck it, de bonus tracks zijn het AB-SO-LUUT waard om te luisteren, wat een heerlijke vibey nummers zijn dat zeg. FAVO: We Sink, Tether, Broken Bones
Overraskende dragende og solidt. Især første halvdel. PS der står Churches...
Fin indie-pop. Kendt fra PSexy
Familiar with these guys, starting 3 songs I enjoyed then they lost me through the rest
I will admit I have personal bias for this album. I was already kind of familiar with it and really like the singles from it. That being said, I do think that it slows down at bit towards the end and doesn’t quite have the same energy and impact as the top of the album. But the sound and synth was so unlike what everyone else was doing at the time, and it’s hard to listen to it and not want to jam along.
I was already familiar with “The Mother We Share” and “Recover” both solid tracks I’ve heard countless times out in the wild. The album as a whole is good and consistent, with that same polished indie synth sound throughout. Definitely something I could come back to and enjoy again.
We had it so good in 2013
Great album, I have it on vinyl :D
A very easy listen. Damn solid synth pop, enjoyable from beginning to end.
oh ok ok, i like it! this is not what i expected at all. bouncy 80s synth, but with modern fresh vocals and softer delivery - fun mix!
Es muy fresco y juvenil, me recuerda las calles de UK
Not usually big on synth pop but this was quite pleasant to listen to
I loved CHVRCHES sound and vibe. This album is right up my alley. "The Mother We Share" and "Recover" have been in my playlists for years now. The rest of the album is solid and consistent. Check out their album Every Open Eye if you liked this.
So this is CHVRCHES, the lady singer had big CRJ energy which i loved but the songs led by the man were not nearly as fun or energetic. Still a very enjoyable listen overall and i reckon one i would repeat (without wanting to risk sounding like a 30yr old inner west straight man) ((is that the chvrches cliche or just the inner west straight men i know??))
Millennial pop lover as charged!
Banger
Saw them on this album tour! Listened twice!
Maybe I overlooked this album a bit when it came out. The radio plays are the standouts, but it's still a pretty solid album, if a bit repetitive. I don't feel it really broke a mold, but just did a lot of little things different enough to get notice.
Fast, loose and free summer vibes, like Massive Attack with balls. Perfect soundtrack for when you're riding to work three hours late the day after you were told you're gonna be laid off. Don't ask me how I know that.
myslalem ze bedzue gorzej ale dobre
Lepsze niż się spodziewałem
I wasn’t expecting to vibe with this album. Each song brings something cool to the table. The voice is hypnotic and charismatic. I ignored theseguys in the past, but now I’m paying attention
This is another win. An artist I was unlikely to encounter on my own, & almost certainly would not have given a chance based on the elevator pitch. But it was great! I really liked it. Not a fan of the saccharine pop vocal. But after a few songs that kinda faded away & I could focus on the bits I liked. Definitely deserving of my attention & added to my library. High five! I wanna say 3 & 1/2 stars, but we're rounding back down because of the singing. *EDIT: Nah, fuk that. This is great. That was cranky old man talking yesterday, the singing is fine. The album is great. Revised rating: 4 & a quarter
I'm not usually a big fan of electronica albums, but this rips. I was honestly pretty hesitant just from looking and reading the Wikipedia blurb, but the first song rips so hard, that it wrecked all my biases. I don't listen to a lot of electronica albums, so I don't have very many educated comments to make on this album. But it slaps. I had a great time. There are some songs that I didn't really enjoy. Most of them were when the guy was singing lead. But it was a really good album beginning to end. Favorite Song(s): The Mother We Share, Strong Hand
positiv überrascht, guter Sound, vor allem die ersten drei Lieder.
I'd listen to it again
Great pop album.
I liked this album. Like a 10% influential derivative of ‘the knife’ made be a very young Scottish twang band.
Bra synthpop. Sjukt att få höra originalet av en eric prydz-remixad låt
Very pleasantly surprised by this one. Very nice synth pop, not exactly earth shattering but landed nicely on my ears.
I am not anti synth. But if you're going to synth, you better fucking synth. Like this.
Kinda liked it. I could see myself listening again.
Is this a perfect album? No. Is it the perfect album to listen to while running a 10k today? Yes. I bought this with an iTunes gift card back in college. This was on heavy rotation while I biked around and went to the beach and day drank. I was supposed to see them at outside lands in 2014 when they pulled out for some medical issue. I may or may not be a little bitter. Points here for fun and nostalgia
Ok ok ok...
Probs more like 3.5 for the whole album. Don’t dislike just quite repetitive
Loved it very atmospheric and enjoyable the whole way through
Interesting album which I really enjoyed. It is very pop-music-y but still nice.
Oooh, you are awful but I do like you. That's basically the way I feel about almost all overly earnest female vocalist over droning synths and pop beats. Basically, something has happened in the last 12 years or so to make this very much my jam, possibly against my will. Still, there are some specifics that I do like here - the hint of Scottish accent, and the vocal style being very close to Let's Eat Grandma. I also really like the male vocal on the rare occasions it enters the fray - it's a nice counterpoint and brings a less pop sensibility.
Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Tolle Scheibe!
warum machen christen immer so gute musik... keine ahnung ob ich es scheiße oder gut finden soll... perfekt 2016 vibes gecaptured, ein bisschen electronic aber ich mag es... vibes
didn’t listen to this one under a microscope, but even at a casual level it’s clear how well executed it is. The songwriting is tight, the production is polished without feeling empty, and the emotional tone feels thoughtful rather than manufactured. There’s a real sense of intention behind it. It’s not necessarily my musical lane—I tend to gravitate toward more organic, groove-driven records—but I respect what this album does. The synth textures and hooks are strong, and it manages to be both immediate and controlled without feeling disposable. Not something I’ll live inside, but undeniably well crafted. A strong four for execution and intent.
I liked this one. It feels like disposable vaporware-adjacent 2010s pop music more than an enduring classic, but I'm going to embrace it anyway. It's certainly of its time, but not quite as 'of its time' as a few of the other records from this time on list (The XX, so much landfill indie, etc) I was interested to see that I already had "Recover" saved to my Spotify "Liked Songs" and I still believe that's the standout track on this record. "The Mother We Share" was the big hit and should be familiar to anyone who lived through this era, but it's not the better song.
4/5
Bright, tightly compressed synth-pop grooves built from shimmering arpeggiators, punchy electronic drums, glossy bass pulses, and clear, front-facing vocals move this synth-pop album like staring into a perfectly lit digital display—catchy and efficient, but so polished and emotionally uniform that it can feel more functional than deeply engaging.
I really loved the synthy dancy sounds in this album. I didn't totally love her voice, it's pretty childish sounding and somehow made the music and the vocals feel a little disconnected from each other. But overall, I still really enjoyed the richness of it all.
Modern synth pop. Pretty decent listen instrumentally; don’t know that the lyrics are really something that apply to me/that I would rally around but it sounded great.
Had my doubts going in but was pleasantly surprised, didn't notice i had the remaster on so I though it was from 23 and I was like oh it kinda tracks with some other stuff I listen too like The Midnight, but oops, it was the 10 year remaster, really cool to learn that this maybe helped set the stage a bit, good listen overall as well
Actually a pretty solid record.
A band i was only passingly familiar with before today. I really, really liked this one! Definitely interested in listening to more from them.
very glossy and catchy and well crafted but the more down tempo songs don't do much for me (especially album closer You Caught The Light which is a big ol skip, put Lauren back on the vocals!) and i just don't think it has the staying power to be a regular listen for me, but i gotta give it up for just how many of these songs i knew despite never specifically listening to chvrches
Lovely synth very nostalgic
Reminds me of the music we would listen to running down Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood in the mid teens. For that I suppose I'll bump it to a 4
8/10 Favorites: The Mother We Share We Sink Gun
Felt very nostalgic, and like any of the songs could be used in a 2010's romcom or coming of age movie/show.
Total time capsule of a more optimistic time. There was a golden age where pop and EDM had some fantastic crossover and this is a nice stop along the way. One of the GOATs? No, but a nice little slice of life and a very nice record.
I've heard of CHVRCHES and know they are supposed to make decent music, but have for some reason never checked them out... I don't mean this in a bad way, but this album feels very much like the late 2000s - early 2010s. Something in this particular synth-pop sound makes me think immediately of the likes of Owl City, MGMT, Phoenix, M83 and any number of other acts from that time. As with any soundscape there were obviously some who did it better than others. And surely the legacy lives on... On this album I feel like they strike a decent balance, keeping the production mostly interesting while appealing to traditional pop forms. I think at it's edgier it succeeds (or at least connects with me more). At its worst I think it comes across generic. Highlights for me were Lies, Lungs, and We Sink. But there were some tracks like Under the Tide that felt pretty boring. All said, the synth-pop sound is one that I can certainly vibe with; I love the aura and layering and I think it makes for fantastic background / soundtrack music. In this case, I'm the soft end of a 4.
Never listened to this one all the way through, looking forward to it. Mother We Share is another top 100 song. We've had a lot of those as of late. Great voice, lovely synths, great energy overall. Could use a little more complexity and depth to really drive home a 5 star rating, but it has a great synth pop sound that I will always enjoy. I like the singers voice a good deal, but it felt like every song was the same with her. Square 4, expected to like it a bit more, but not upset at all.
Always have heard of CHVRCHES but never listened to CHVRCHES. That was an incredibly fun dance poppy kind of album with some sweet electronic features in it. Each song sounded really fresh too. This is a strong 4 and will likely be relistened to very shortly
Very surprised to see this included, great album but their second one is better
My wife's favorite band!
When I sat down to listen to this album I did some time traveling to try remembering hearing it for the first time 13 years ago. Honestly I think I must have been a snob back then because I remember not liking it. Specifically, I remember not liking the twinkly synth and the lead vocals and putting CHVRCHES in pop jail with Ellie Goulding or whoever else I hated in 2013. My favorite song back then (and today too) is "You Caught The Light", but now I feel bad because I missed out on the rest of the solid jams on here like "Science/Visions" and "Night Sky". Maybe there's something inherently misogynistic about writing off the other songs because I didn't like the female vocalist but then praising the song at the end where 'the guy sings finally.' I'm glad I had the chance to relisten and appreciate a solid record.
So tempted to give this a 5/5. Such an incredibly nostalgic album for me.
Amazing debut album, I have listened to another album by them, but not the first one. It's filled with a creative sound and distinctive themes and vocals. All great all around.
Torn between a 3 and a 4. On the other hand this band has some songs that I absolutely love, on the other, I didn't feel this as an album. I'll round up as the synth work is good and the vocals lovely.
8/10
Very nice atmosphere all throughout the album, nice varied sounds and beautiful voice on the singer. Best song Tether, will listen to the album again.
This was a really pleasant surprise. Have not heard any of the bands work before and this album really improved my mood. The synths were really good as well as the beats. I also loved the lead singers voice, just stunning. Best song was We Sink.
Honestly this paints a perfect picture of "camp" in my head in a very good way. Electro-pop trios of a girl and two dudes is such a classic combo wish I found these guys earlier. It predates EMOTION by CRJ but that's the closest thing this reminds me of. The second half can be a bit filler but it ends fine. Very cool overall.
I really like this one, Chvrches was a fresh punch of pop leaning in on synth and electronic sounds but with vocals that pull it higher.
An album I haven't listened to in a long time, always liked it, songs have a really anthem feel to them, pretty consistent throughout.
Halsey vibe!! 4,5/5 i think
Cool dance album. 4 stars
I was mentally prepared to write some snarky review of how the 2010's are such a poor decade thus they had to rely on an album like this. But this is good, not just for the 2010's but actually good. Recover and Science/visions are especially amazing tracks. 4/5
Very nice, I think this might be my favorite so far. One of the songs that sing “golden” multiple times made me feel as if I was in a movie + the sunlight was shining perfectly in my face and my hair was blowing around in the wind. It was truly a 10/10 experience, I loved it.
Quite the pleasant surprise! Electronic beats, catchy melodies and clever lyrics. A very fun album!
Yeah, all the songs sound about the same, but I thought it was fun.
4/5. Love this band
80s Style synthie Party mugge
Influential in the synth-pop revival, The Bones of What You Believe by CHVRCH☰S, masterfully blends 80s synth-pop with 10' electronic dance beats. I really enjoyed Lauren Mayberry's voice and appreciated the memorable lyrics. I added "We Sink" to my workout playlist.
A modern album for a change. Only 12 years old so a mere baby. Loved the immersive sound and the vocal. An 80s inspired sound in the noughties. 4½
I’m surprised this is on the list, but I don’t mind it. Great synth pop, interesting vocal chops, clear leads. Not a genre I typically listen to, but I enjoyed it. I had fun imagining the synth programming. The first track was my favorite.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
the only compelling criticism ive had of chvrches is they sound too much like chvrches. if this is their debut then i can forgive that. favorite track is Gun or Lies or Recover. also really like By the Throat
BIASED REVIEW ALERT: I like this album a lot, it's pretty good 7.4/10
Kind of just background bangers. 8 take you to church out of 10 wizards of the coast
Great record. Glad we are getting something a little more modern on this list too. Favourite Track(s): Gun, Broken Bones Least Favourite Track(s): You Caught the Light
Recency bias.
Nice
# Playlist Track - The Mother We Share # Notes - Pretty fun. Solid first impression with great cover art and opening track. - From there, it doesn't quite keep up, but it's not a bad album. It gets steadily worse, and it drags too long (1h07m), but I might come back for the first few tracks every so often.
Now this is my cup of tea
I like this band. I got hooked by The Mother We Share when I first heard it and then caught these guys live. I remember being pretty impressed with how big they made these songs sound. Solid album
This is actually a really good and catchy album. Quite consistent, no really bad songs, but none that make my heart go boom either. It’s a little too much in one sitting
One of the reasons why I appreciate synth pop so much is due to the CHVRCHΞS. While this album is not as good as their following album, Every Open Eye, the elements that make that album so great are definitely here. The Mother We Share and Recover are such great hits, backed by other great tracks that highlight their greatness. Mayberry's vocals pair so perfectly with this genre of music and wrap this album very well, even if my girlfriend didn't appreciate it. Great addition to the list even if I wouldn't pick this album by them.
Fun and poppy and dancey!
Es ist ein mitreißendes Debütalbum, das Synthpop mit emotionaler Tiefe verbindet. Die glasklare Stimme von Lauren Mayberry trifft auf treibende Beats und eingängige Melodien – ein Sound, der sowohl tanzbar als auch berührend ist.
Fun album
Freaky I was just listening to this. Reminds me of my college radio days and a really fun electronic record with beautiful and epic moments .
This album had me By the Throat under a beautiful Night Sky.
Joyful electronic pop from Scottland. Synthpop debut.
Decent.
"the mother we share" is one of the best songs of the decade but nothing else really lives up to it
Did have the makings of something really good but doesn't quite land in places 3.5*
Favorite Track: The Mother We Share
Really liked this when it came out and it stands up well 12 years later. Cracking 80s throwback, synth-pop/indie and I really like the singer's voice. If I have any criticism it's probably that it's a bit of a one-trick pony, but it's a good trick
Very poppy synth music with consistent energy and nice vocals. Music that just makes you feel good
A personal classic. Was a favorite of mine when it came out. Great synth pop and awesome singing.
No sé si podría escuchar todo el álbum, pero me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba. A ratos me suena optimista (aunque no le estoy prestando atención a las letras). ¡Por fin una voz de mujer! Aunque todavía con el inglés.
No sé si podría escuchar todo el álbum, pero me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba. A ratos me suena optimista (aunque no le estoy prestando atención a las letras). ¡Por fin una voz de mujer! Aunque todavía con el inglés.
Oooh i did like this! Reminded me of the band Broods. Good things and happy to have a reason to try this album, better late than never! :)
It makes me happy, these magical vibes. Like I'm sitting on a picnic blanket by the lake in the summer.
Trop bizarre, j’ai déjà l’impression d’avoir écouté The Mother We Share (en tout cas la mélodie principale), et j’arrive pas à savoir si c’est un sample ou l’original. Je m’attendais pas à écouter un album de synth-pop d’un groupe écossais, mais c’est toute une vibe. Je suis rentrée dans ce genre un peu par accident, en tombant sur le son U Wanna Dance? de Magdalena Bay, qui reprend un peu les mêmes codes que l’album de chvrches. Donc je suis un peu biaisée par un effet d’écoute récent, mais dans tous les cas je trouve la proposition intéressante. J’arrive pas à savoir à quel point elle pouvait être considérée originale/novatrice en 2013, parce qu’aujourd’hui le genre synth-pop et hyper-pop est assez développé (et des fois c’est difficile de trouver des morceaux vraiment différents ou de tomber dans le genre musical à la “geometry dash”). Il n’empêche que malgré le rythme un peu bouncy, les effets sonores, et une impression de légèreté par moments, les paroles restent assez deep et m’ont marqué par leur violence sous-jacente haha. Pas mon album préféré dans ce style, mais il faudrait que j’aille le replacer dans le contexte musical de sa sortie. J’aime vraiment beaucoup les morceaux The Mother We Share, Recover, We Sink, qui sont plus dans le spectre des aigus et qui rendent un son très clean. 3.7 arrondi en haut par souci de cohérence.
Love the album, love the vibe, love the overly sweet synth pop. Maybe it's because this came out in the height of my love for the genre, maybe it's because I saw them live, maybe it because I'm just in a good mood. Anyways I think I love this album. Maybe I should marry it?
01) The Mother We Share - 10,0 02) We Sink - 9,0 03) Gun - 8,5 04) Tether - 8,5 05) Lies - 9,0 06) Under the Tide - 8,0 07) Recover - 9,5 08) Night Sky - 8,0 09) Science/Visions - 8,0 10) Lungs - 8,0 11) By the Throat - 8,5 12) You Caught the Light - 8,5 TOTAL: 8,63 (87/100) Current ranking: 103/718
Buoyed by the radio hits
I have a lot of nostalgia for this style of electronic pop. It was the music of my high school and early college days. The first song feeeels like a coming of age movie to me. So of course I love it. That said, listening to this same style for 50 minutes straight is fatiguing.
Pretty good. Me like synth. 3.56/5
That's really not my type of music but I enjoyed it. I'd be happy if someone put it on in the background, but that person wouldn't be me.
Great album, preferred the more bass driven numbers. Under the tide is my favorite
4 might be crazy here comparing to other albums on this list, but I really enjoyed this. Also "the mother we share" really throws me back to the early days of Spotify - one of the first songs I found through Discover Weekly.
Thought it was a bit silly that this came up on the list, shows the list’s 2010s bias, but I’m not gonna lie to my friends and say there aren’t some bangers on this thing!
I was pleasantly surprised to see this album show up. Whilst i'm not sure exactly what set this album apart from this era, it's one I really enjoy listening to, and it helped uplift me get through a dreary Monday morning commute. The synths are great, and Lauren Mayberry's vocals always stand out to me. It's a fun album, with standouts including The Mother We Share, Gun, We Sink and Night Sky. 7/10
Despite my initial reservations, Chvrches kind of won me over. I still think they either sound like an edgier version of Taylor Swift's 1989 or a less edgy version of The Knife, but I think the songs and production are really cool throughout. Standouts for me were "The Mother We Share", "Recover", and "You Caught the Light". I do think Lauren Mayberry's voice is a little to pop sounding at times and that's what holds it back most for me, but still really good. 4 stars.
Loved the synthesizer instrumentation. Overall style (and vocal style in particular) wasn’t my cup of tea before but it grew on me a fair bit in this album.
Airy yet upbeat like a Japanese Tiramisu
If I had to describe what I thought adulthood would sound and feel like in high school, it would’ve been a CHVRCHES song. (Now whether that actually came to a fruition is a matter of debate.) This album took me back to peak high school, and it holds up. They are so good at what they do. I think their music, for me, is less about the lyrics and more about the feelings the sounds invoke—their whole sound is very “hope core” to me, but something I wondered about yesterday was whether this sound felt that way to everyone else, or if it just felt that way to me because I associate it with a simpler time in life? Much to think about. I’m happy I listened to this. I’ll be adding it back into my rotation.
I’ve known of Chvrches but haven’t really listened to much of their music. This one was a pleasant surprise. I’m a big enjoyer of the Depeche Mode, Synth Pop sound so it was cool to see this was very much in that lane. One thing I can appreciate about this type of synth pop is the range of moods they can put on display with certain songs being upbeat and give an almost 80s synth pop vibe with the vocals and synthesizers, but also very moody and dramatic when they let the Moog pop off. Special credit to the singer as well. I don’t think I would’ve like this as much listening to it first released as I was too much of an edgelord. But happy it came my way now.
This album captured the exact vibe I was on in high school. It feels like it was plucked straight out of my rotating playlist of alt-pop/rock music from that time. It speaks to a simpler time, when we were hopecore pilled and looking forward to the future. I truly enjoyed listening to this, the beats were fun and they made me want to listen to them more. Not sure what else to say - when an album makes you feel something when you listen to it and puts you in a certain headspace from the first track, its pretty solid.
This was interesting, I really like the retro synth sound of this and I went back to listen to a few tracks on headphones for a better experience. Whenever I have to do that to an album, I ratchet up a star! 4 stars for me.