Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Not bad. Much better than expected
Forgettable, whiney, doesn't even work well as background music.
I was ready to enjoy this album. But the nonstop falsetto is a killer, and the lyrics don't help.
Not particularly enjoyable
8/10 Favourite: The Fun Powder Plot Least Favourite: When I'm Sleepy
Ok
Melody is decent
No to the vocals. OK to the music.
Very interesting....
I didn't make it through track 3. Life is too short.
noise in da background baby 3
Didn’t care for the falsetto. Not bad as background music.
An early revelation in our project was “Sulk” by the Associates and this might be the first record that calls back to it. While not as rich or adventurous, it’s a welcome dose of the fey and androgynous. The falsetto has wound up a few here, and the prig who uses words like “métier” and “non-metrical” bafflingly claims this record is “ambiguously misogynist” - am guessing because there are occasional references to sex that are not of the “my darling” or “put my dick in it” schools, preferring the stickier, grimier vérité of university-age coupling. “Girls” might also provoke ultra-prudes. This is polished and often predictable; ambition may have tamed the art student, and they lean too heavily on the perennially-modish chiming guitar, but there’re enough tasty nuggets of synth and chonk to hold interest. They run out of tunes, but few pop bands don’t.
Disappointing. Sounds a bit like reheated early Suede, but the theatrical (histrionic) vocals get annoying pretty fast and there isn't much going on elsewhere in the music that is very interesting. Nah
I would be lying if I may if I didn’t say I enjoyed the instrumentals, very progressive and mournfully dreamy but then the lyrics come in and it seems forced. There was also a track that has a beautiful twinkling sequence that suddenly cuts off. It’s almost amazing, but there are big things that just don’t work.
An incredibly beautiful album. It is very spacey and atmospheric. It reminds a lot to the sound of modern post-rock, but without the crescendos. The vocals felt a bit unwelcoming at first, as they are very extravagant, but after a couple of listens, I ended up liking them a lot. The range from screeching highs to very low, and that adds a lot of dynamic to the project. But what takes the cake in this record are the guitars. Mixed with the big production, the melodies played with them are absolutely wonderful, and are the main responsible of creating the atmosphere. My only reason to not give this 5 stars is because I feel like there are some weak tracks (like 'Underbelly' and 'Empty Nest') compared to the best ones (like 'We Still Got the Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues' or 'When I'm Sleepy...'). This doesn't mean I think these songs are bad, as I do believe every thing in this album is super solid. I'm very thankful to have discovered this wonderful album.
Still only 3, but at least the voice was weird enough to be interesting. This one I might actually remember.
Me encanta la voz del cantante y sus discos siempre me parecen interesantes en conjunto, pero no termina de parecerme un bombazo. Me he guardado "The fun powder plots" y "All the king's men".
Well-produced, but ultimately very forgettable. Not a single standout moment.
Bon, I guess il reste encore du indie dans la liste, mais déjà, il est plus intéressant que celui d'hier
Surprisingly interesting: Blackstar Bowie meets Glass Animals
Great Fall Listen. Need to be in the woods now.
- hell yea chill n ambient n percussiony instrumental intro - gender envy vocals - hooting and howling is a great name for a track - accent is funky, hard to pick up exactly what they're saying but i like it - male vocalist sounds like the guy from bakenaked ladies? - bakenaked ladies if they did ambient post rock - "when im sleepy" another great name - bakenaked ladies meets mika? meets foals? whoah - "we still got the taste dancing on our tongues" has the catchiest chorus so far - ooh underbelly is so ethereal with its little chimes - WHAT what an abrupt ending what i had to go back and replay that the chimes were so nice and then SNIP gone next some heres some drums - "he cried out" in through the iron gate damn mika got VOCALS - i like the guitar in this track - ooh that instrumental fade is nice overall good! sounds very coherent throughout, maybe a bit too much so where tracks kinda blend together. its very ambient post rock in that regard which i like! no crazy highs like explosions in the sky and it kinda just stays at a certain level where it feels like youre about to go over the top of the roller coaster but it never dips down too intensely.
Another sort of modern entry, a band I have never heard from 2000s. Musically dull, hard to imagine there isn't better albums that could be picked from this time. Lyrically does offer a bit more interest. 2.5 rounded up Heard before? No Owned: No 20/1001, 20/82 (24%) Will I get? No
Couldn't get into it
Has its charms
Hooting and Howling? More like Hooting and Hollering... This was decent but didn't really stand out.
Highlight Song/s: The Fun Powder Plot This is a really frosty album, my teeth are shivering. A lot more ambient than I was expecting when I saw on Wikipedia it was labelled dream pop. I was going to say I enjoyed the female vocals on the first track and the next few, but the male vocals not so much. But they don't have a female vocalist or band member... Well hats off to the amazing androgynous singing. The main theme of This Is Our Lot suspiciously sounds like the main theme of Lullaby by The Cure. No doubt these guys were inspired by The Cure. The droning, the length of each part of the main theme, ITS LITERALLY ALL THERE.
Again, I'd probably like this more if I listened to it more. But not that much more. Not really my vibe, man.
I did not enjoy this album; I definitely did not need to hear it. But, it wasn't all bad. I think I could probably enjoy a pretty good single plus a B-side, I just didn't have the patience to figure out two songs I liked.
Ye gods I dislike this. Irritating in every way, except that the vocals are beyond irritating. It's like in Dumb and Dumber when Jim Carrey makes the most annoying sound in the world. I feel bad for some of the other 1's I gave.
1/5 - If this gets reissued without the vocal track, I might make it though it. Until then, no.
I really love the production but I dont vibe with the vocals. Just finished. Definitely not for me but I don't think it is objectively bad music.
Two dancers, two starts, get me more dancers, get more stars.
The vocals took out of this one. Shame too because I enjoyed a lot of the instrumental. Two dancers were both decent tracks overall.
Ugh whatever.
Mmh
It was okay I guess
lowkey elsker dette litt. minner om grizzly bear, bare med falsetto. kanskje litt mer poppy. ærlig talt blir det bedre desto lenger jeg hører på det. tipper dette kommer med i rotasjonen fremover. til tider tenkte jeg at vokalisten hørtes litt ut som Q Lazzarus, som dere burde kjenne som artisten bak den beste låta noensinne. tilfeldigvis finner jeg ut at Hayden Thorpe, som han heter, spilte inn et cover (sammen med Jon Hopkins, en annen perle) av den i 2013. elsker når det skjer. nå har jeg hørt skiva tre ganger. den sitter. veldig nærliggende det jeg hørte på rundt 2013. dette kan være en 10/10 om et år. må leve litt med det først.
Likte dette godt. Tror det kan vokse mer på meg.
Umiddelbart tenker jeg at dette er fin indiepop. Noen spennende ting her og der, men ikke så kjempeengasjerende. Jeg har hørt litt mer, og det blir mindre og mindre engasjerende jo mer jeg hører. For poppa. Nå er jeg ferdig, og jeg er litt sur
This was bad. Like epically bad. The only list this should be on is records to avoid.
That wasn't good. Music of this style from this era was really dull. I will say that "This Is Our Lot" had a really cool groove, but everything else about that song and this album was dreary and dull and not pleasant. The falsetto vocals are rather annoying.
ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 2.5
For a while I thought the songs were in Latin. I found it hard work and had this nagging sense as I went on that it sounded like a falsetto Editors. My favourite track was All The King’s Men.
Back on this after 2 months. Initially bounced off this album due to burnout, but at second glance I enjoyed it more. Some songs I did think stood out but overall this is indicative of an era of 2000's UK music that I just never really gelled with.
I’d never heard of Wild Beasts, and I was really excited by the intro, and like many others here, immediately put off by the vocals. As it progressed, I got used to the voice, and began to embrace the album. It comes from an era of indie where everyone was trying to ‘out-weird’ each other, so I do hear major Architecture in Helsinki, Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, and Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah influences. In certain moments, I seriously wondered if I was in Vekatimest or Bitte Orka. ‘We Still Got the Taste of Dancin on our Tongues’ is a very gross song name, but I dig the song itself, and the title is reminiscent of ‘Dance Yourself Clean’ by LCD Soundsystem. Perhaps all art is a product of its time and genre, and coming to Two Dancers so late, I hear how strongly the indie atmosphere effected the sound of this album more than the individual personality of the band itself, which remains a step distant for the full run. Still, I found it a nice relic dredged from right up next to the death of indie, and perhaps the death of guitar driven music in general, as heralded by the near contemporary ‘Merriwether Post Pavillion,’ and I’d argue, ‘Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer.’ I’ll be back to Wild Beasts, and for now, on first impressions, I’ll throw down a solid four, simply because this ultimately delighted me.
Wild Beasts, una banda como Doves en los 90-00´s (también Grizzly Bear, Phoenix en esa época), que sin hacer nada nuevo ni del otro mundo publicaron buenos discos. Agradables de escuchar y con temas como All the King's Men el sencillo con el que más cerca estuvieron del éxito, o The Fun Powder Plot. Pero The Xx, Animal Collective, The Flaming Lips, The Raveonettes, The Pains or being Pure at Heart, e incluso veteranos como Prefab Sprout, Yo la Tengo o Pet Shop Boys, lo hicieron mucho mejor.
Not impressed. Really thought that Tiny Tim was the lead vocalist.
I do not care
Kate Bush/Bowie/Sparks inspired naughties twee pop. I kinda dig it though.
Interesting. Surprised never heard of them. Would listen again. But not heavy rotation or desert island.
So, I'll start with the nice things. His voice has some pretty incredible range, in both pitch and timbre. It's actually pretty impressive. The guitar playing is also pretty interesting and pretty good. But that's about where the good things stop. His voice is impressive in range, but it doesn't ever really sound that good, imo. He does have his moments, though? I thought about giving up on this album around the halfway point, but I'm glad I didn't, because "This is Our Lot" ends up being his best singing performance. The instrumental moments give the songs hope before being dashed away. And then, oddly, some of the musical moments behind the singer play down to his level, so to speak, and just aren't as good??? I don't really understand. I'm just left scrunching my face so much while listening to this, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. It's just a really weird inconsistent album. It gets some props from me for the range, but not the quality, of the singer. Favorite Song(s): This is Our Lot
Vocals aren't my favorite, but not that bad. Pretty good for a late-aughts indie album. Reminds me my days living in war-torn Portland.
Musically this has some interesting moments, but oh my god, that vocal! Really can't stand that style of singing.
When I hear the phrase “nominated for the Mercury Prize” I usually brace myself for something a bit pretentious—but Two Dancers by Wild Beasts turned out to be far better than that. I had never listened to Wild Beasts before today, but their sound immediately felt familiar—somewhere between MGMT and Arcade Fire, with a distinctive twist of their own. The songs are catchy, the vocals really stand out, and the whole record feels like a strong, well-crafted indie album that I’d happily return to. Favourite track: Through the Iron Gate and Hooting and Howling really stood out. Least favourite track: A few songs blended together a bit, but there wasn’t anything I didn’t enjoy. Album artwork: A cool and fitting cover that matches the album’s vibe.
79% Best: The Fun Powder Plot; We Still Got The Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues; Two Dancers (i); This Is Our Lot Must-Hear? Almost
Pretty interesting from a lyrical perspective; additionally, the songs that Tom Fleming sings are palatable, and even though Hayden Thorpe largely annoys me, I admire his diversity as a vocalist. Musically, there's just not a lot for me here. I find this particular brand of indie rock pretty listless, and there's absolutely no good reason why this album should be included here. 2.5/5
I hate this, get it out of my ears (For the record I would have given it 2 with no vocals)
the idea that this nauseating indie pop bullshit with perhaps one of the worst vocal performances on the entire list could have ever been considered an album you have to hear before you die is laughable. truly shocking that it was removed after only one edition
A ver, a mi me gusta el brit-indie-pop como a la que más, pero siento que si este album no fuese de unos ANGLOS no estaría en la lista. Es que suena como muchas otras cosas indie que se estaban haciendo en esa época ¿no? Un poco de vocals quirky por aquí y melodías de muchas capas y mucho proceso mental por otro lado. Que algunas están bien eh, pero no las volvería a escuchar porque las vocals parecen algo que sonaría en una convención de usuarios de tumblr y eso me da mal rollo. Favs: ¿Two Dancers I? y Through The Iron Gate porque cantan poco rato
Empieza medio interesante aunque se torna genérico demasiado pronto. Parece que quiere intentar algo conceptualmente pero no llega a hacerlo. Ni siquiera había oído hablar del álbum antes, así que dudo de su condición de imprescindible, pero bueno, seguro que los hay peores. Mi fav es el opener. Todo lo demás me ha pasado relativamente desapercibido /:
Este disco es como si Tiny Tim hiciera indie rock. Hay una producción interesante debajo de vocals que te sacan completamente de onda en cuanto empiezan a sonar. Entiendo y apoyo bancar a los artistas locales, pero cuando estás haciendo una lista de 1001 discos esenciales me parece que se debe dejar la parcialidad detrás para genuinamente construir algo que vaya en sintonía con el título tan absoluto que se presenta. Nada, en mi opinión otro sneak del UK por parte del editor (que es del UK). No me parece que sea un esencial. Hoy no va nada a la playlist :(
So pleased this on here. An under rated gem
I liked I little bit of this, wasn't enthusiastic listening, but was a little bit interesting. Something new is always good. Made me a little sad though.
super weird album again....what's with this list?
Cool creative fun. Really enjoyed this
Erstes Lied ganz nett, dann aber nicht überzeugend.
It's like if The National was brighter. Honestly, pretty forgettable. Not sure why it's here on this list. Definitely better albums to listen to before you die.
more garbage
There was a lot of good music that came out in 2009. So why the FUCK am I listening to this? Simply could not finish it.
Bir şarkı hariç meh
Forgettable. I didn't find any of the lyrical content to be particularly interesting and I'm not a fan of the vocal style they went for on this project.
Why?
Ultimately just not my type of music
I can’t say I really liked it disliked this album. I listened to it yesterday and nothing really stuck with me.
Decent vibes in my opinion, not much I’d revisit but it was a good one-time listen for a band I’ve never heard of before.
alright indie
honestly wild that I've listened to Boy King SO many times since like... 2018? 2017? I found it right before they announced their breakup. and yet I never checked out their other music. I did enjoy this one.
Not bad but not memorable just background music.
One of the members actually had a fairly good voice but was overshadowed by some other person screeching wildly. I had to actually go to the lyrics to see if they were speaking English. That was a mistake, "lyrics" would be stretching the definition of the word. Bad, bad, bad album.
I only made it through a little over half the album, but didn’t care much for it. I found the intermittent falsetto really annoying. Two stars.
Not really anything I liked about this. 2 stars or D-.
Ganska less på denna typ av indiemusik.
Incoherent lyrics trying too hard to be unique.
Infectious.Subtle, at times, beautiful.
I bet I would have been way into this if I was listening to it when it came out.
Meh
Ayy, another contempo album. There's a simple joy to landing on a 16-year-old album, especially when I've been inundated with oldie stuff for the past few listens. I've never heard of Wild Beasts, though I'd wager to guess that I'm in for an electronic affair just going off that album cover. Nope, indie rock. I quite enjoyed this, truth be told. The album has a sleek, polished sound, and the vocals work quite nicely, too. There isn't much for me to sink my teeth into as far as the "craft" of this album is concerned (it's very similar to other indie acts from this time), though the unusual vocal style goes a long way in giving this album it's own identity. "The Fun Powder Plot" is a solid opener. I enjoy that percussion and the soft electric guitars, though the vocals are the real showstopper. They're pretty great. Very unique and unusual. I enjoy the way they oscillate between highs and lows. WSGTTDOOT has some pretty sublime guitars, and I enjoy the heavy background ambience, too. The vocals near the end are also pretty great. Title Track Part 1 is a good follow-up for much the same reasons as the previous track. An overall gripping atmosphere, and the more strait-laced vocal delivery is pretty neat, too. Title Track Part 2 is an interesting pivot, with more of the beautiful atmosphere that I enjoy. The fragility of the lead guitar is hypnotic, and I enjoy how the rest of the instrumental sounds like it's revolving around that one riff. Sadly, I can't consult my 2005 edition of the book for why this is in here, so I guess I'll just mosey on down to Wikipedia. Well-received by critics and the band's best selling album. There isn't much in the way of fanfare or influence, though I'm willing to overlook that. I don't think this album is must-hear material, though I think it fills the niche of a contemporary indie rock album quite well.
As soon as I see an artist I don't recognize on this list, it almost always ends up being a mediocre British band. Mostly hated it. Vocals are awful.
Never heard of the band nor this album, so I was quite interested, but oh man, that voice! It makes this otherwise listenable indie album totally awful. The instrumentation really is quite sophisticated, the intricate rhythms and angular guitar work show some real craft but the singer's falsetto completely ruins it. Such a waste of good instrumentation and nice ideas. 2/5
3.5
2.5
Honestly i really did not enjoy listening to this album all that much the biggest problem being the vocals. Hayden Thorpe is another one of those vocals from the 2000s who tried to be the next Freddie Mercury but can't. Something I've often noted about Matt Bellamy, but I at least find the music of Muse far more interesting than this. Not to mention Thorpe is far more screechy. I didn't think this was necessarily all that bad, some of the music reminded me City and Colour, but for the most part it didn't really stand out to me than typical millennial indie pop (5.5) ★★½
Cool indie with indietronica elements. I also like the vocals. 4 stars
I think Hayden Thorpe's vocals are an acquired taste (a bit of an understatement, I know), but if you can get past it, I think this is a pretty interesting album. They kind of remind me of a slightly funkier version of Grizzly Bear. Funky maybe isn't the right descriptor, but there's sort of a rhythmic quality to it that stands out among this type of of arty, baroque-inspired late 2000s indie rock. I think there's a lot of standouts here including "The Fun Powder Plot", "Hooting & Howling", "We Still Got the Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues", and "This is Our Lot". 4 stars.
4.5
Two Dancers One Cup. Starts off as pretty weak dishwater Pitchfork indie then the vocals start and it becomes an almightily explosive wussy pretentious shizzfest. The high pitched dude kinda has the glassy choirboy tones of Keane but is doing hideous, gnarled Sparks tributes with them. The low vocalist sounds like the guy from Editors or Interpol but even more bored and vampire-like. The lyrics have a strong Martin Prince vibe about them too with verses like “By smirking prank of fate We find ourselves dancing late Like young reprobates By the milky light of the mighty moon Find someone to nuzzle to And waltz from the room Soon I’ll be Queen of Summertime …Uh I mean King!” Busy busy yet ultimately bland songs. Awkward, irritating, over-theatric vocals. Ultra flowery and lamer than lame lyrics. Albums released in the past 20 years are rarely a good idea but this is a particularly foul and unwarranted inclusion for 1001.
4 for music 2 for vocals
ball ball ball
Une sorte de sous-Radiohead avec une voix insupportable.
A pretty drab and dime a dozen indie record. The last song was probably the best. 2/5
Absolutely not. Boring music with horrendous vocals on top of it
A groovy album that I didn’t mind. Guys voice took a bit of getting used to.
Wild dancers, haunting voice and killer indie vibes.
Pretty good actually - reminded me of college era indie
♥️👍
One of the better CSNY albums
Интересный арт-поп и инди-рок. Понравились одноименные с альбомом композиции.
This iiiiiiis, a boooooty calllllll Wát een opener, ik ga hier even goed voor zitten hoor! Dit is echt een bizar album. Ontzettend veel sfeer in de muziek, soms dreigend, soms juist ontzettend theatraal. De zang is een soort van huilend over de heftige instrumenten heen. Hij zingt ook op een aparte manier, doet me soms zelfs denken aan opera? Dit is echt een album dat ik niet eerder kende. Het is in de zelfde hoek als indierock/britpop, maar dan met een vocal performance die zo ontzettend vreemd is? Misschien is vreemd wel de beste bewoording om dit album te beschrijven, het is een vreemd album. Maar ik vind het een soort van best wel vet? Niet alles werkte en best wel veel was niet geslaagd, maar als het lukte(God was Underbelly maar langer en eindigde die niet zo abrupt...) kreeg je een soort spacey trippy muziek die je bijbleef. Fuck it, 4 sterren. Dit album is gewoon een stuk interessanter dan een hoop van de indierock die er op de lijst staat terwijl het wel ontzettend dichtbij diezelfde indierock staat. FAVO: Hooting & Howling, Underbelly, Through the Iron Gate
Likes it but it got old towards the end
This is fuckin' great. I had no idea of what to expect and was immediately blown away by the vocalist's range (at times channelling Thom Yorke) and the band's playful and dancey electro-alt-pop-rock. Hell, there's even some shoegaze and post-rock tendencies in here. What a delightful new discovery!
Pretty decent, I was fairly interested most of the time
Big reverbs on the clean guitars. Slightly unusual almost theatrical and powerful vocals. Reminiscent of Muse and The Cure. Solid post 80s tasteful synth sounds. Perfect soundtrack for a maiden voyage to Mars. Definitely worth a listen.
*2009. British indie rock. *Quiet, boring, some weird percussion. *Okay for background noise while reading. RATING - 6/10
Kind of weird. In a good way, I think? I liked All the Kings Men, Two Dancers (I), and Empty Nest. The rest was ok.
Ass
Not a big fan, his voice was not good. Once again why is this on the list.
I didn’t feel like dancing
Musically I quite liked it but the dude's voice just drove me nuts. If he hadn't sung like he did for the entire album, this would be getting a 4.
the opening measures sounded like they might be interesting.....then the vocals began & that was it for me. was this a parody album? why is it on the list?? 1.5 stars because at least it was under 40 minutes
I’m glad the whole male baritone and falsetto indie fad died out.
Decent enough
Ah yes…the music of my people! My people being white, millennial hipsters. Some songs I liked, others I didn’t. I’m not sure I would have liked it anymore in my peak hipster days either though.
Quite interesting and varied music. But that one singer’s falsetto is ruining the first half of the album
Poor man's arcade fire. Did nothing for me and abandoned it half way through.
Almost painful to listen to. Some of the backing music wasn't too bad, but the caterwauling sounds from the two vocalists were just embarrassing to listen to. Either it toned down a little by the end, or I managed to push this to the back of my mind, but the shrieking and wailing on the first few tracks was astonishingly awful. "Hooting and Howling" is how the entire album sounded to me. One star.
This album is so fucking weird I love it
actually i really liked the instruments and songwriting his freak ahh singing i cant stand arghh its only okay in two dancers(ii) 2/5
Some of these so-called indie rock albums are the popular equivalent to 12-tone music. This is Art with a big A, screaming "Look, this ART". That goes especially for the singing, but the songs are nothing to write home about either. Really, this is tedious. 2/5
Wtf. How is this on here? That voice is just ridiculous. It’s sad, because the music wasn’t all that bad. But with a singer like that…
A really nice indie rock album with some great guitar work. Not much more to say.
Overall: 4/10 I would have enjoyed this a lot more if the vocals weren't so awful. Multiple people heard that falsetto before it got approved. That's infuriating. Other than that, the instrumentals are calm and pretty. I wish I liked this more but there's no getting past that voice. Fav Song: All the King's Men
My ears would have been just as happy replacing the vocals on this (especially the falsettos) with a chorus of dying cats. Couldn’t even focus on the rest of the music long enough to appreciate it.
This really wasn't my thing. But even if it was, I don't think I'd have liked it. The sounds were jarring and all over the place. Like a soundtrack to some of the worst nights of my life, but not in a comforting or funny way. Just in a 'I really hope I never hear another one of these songs ever again' kind of way.
Decent instrumentals but the vocals made the album unlistenable
I can see why some people would enjoy this, but it's not my thing. The falsetto vocals are kind of annoying to me.
Interesting. Musically it was enticing, but sometimes the vocals were way out. I like "Two Dancers (i)" and maybe "All The King's Men", not much else. Was alright though.
Snoozer.
I remember a lot of hype around Wild Beasts and when I listened to their music I didn’t get it. I still don’t. A couple of decent songs but interspersed with mediocrity and an awfully high pitched voice, not for me.
Es ist ein kunstvoll inszeniertes Indie-Rock-Album, das mit seinem falsettgetriebenen Gesang und träumerischen Arrangements auffällt. Wild Beasts zeigen hier ein feines Gespür für Atmosphäre und lyrische Raffinesse, besonders in Stücken wie „Hooting & Howling“ und „All the King’s Men“. Dennoch wirkt das Album stellenweise zu verkopft und verliert sich in seiner eigenen Ästhetik.
Nice. Well crafted. A band that moved to Leeds (they get a star for that). Voice is distinctive but that doesn't necessarily make it great.
## Wild Beasts' *Two Dancers*: An In-Depth Review Released in 2009, Wild Beasts' sophomore album *Two Dancers* marked a significant evolution from their flamboyant debut *Limbo, Panto*. It refined their eccentricities into a cohesive, provocative, and critically acclaimed statement that challenged indie rock conventions. Here’s a focused breakdown: ### **Lyrics: Poetic Provocation & Dark Intimacy** * **Complex Imagery & Wordplay:** Hayden Thorpe’s lyrics blend literary ambition (influenced by Rimbaud and folk poets like Jake Thackray) with jarring vulgarity. Lines like *"This is a booty call; my boot up your arse hole"* or *"His dancing cock, down by his knees"* deliberately juxtapose elegance and crudeness, exposing masculinity’s contradictions . * **Thematic Depth:** The album explores hedonism, violence, and vulnerability. "Hooting & Howling" frames male aggression as *"a crude art, a bovver boot ballet,"* while the title track’s grim narrative implies sexual assault (*"Do you want my bones? Heart between your teeth?"*), leaving perspectives ambiguous to amplify unease . * **Character Studies:** Songs like "All The King’s Men" (sung by Tom Fleming) dissect class and misogyny (*"Girls from Roedean, girls from Shipley... birthing machines"*), critiquing – not glorifying – patriarchal brutes . ### **Music & Production: Restrained Art-Funk** * **Sonic Shift:** Abandoning their debut’s baroque excess, *Two Dancers* embraces minimalist, percussion-driven art-funk. Chris Talbot’s intricate drumming and understated basslines create hypnotic grooves ("Hooting & Howling," "We’ve Got the Taste"), while guitars provide texture over melody . * **Vocal Alchemy:** Thorpe’s operatic falsetto (compared to Antony Hegarty or Associates’ Billy MacKenzie) polarizes but conveys theatrical vulnerability. Fleming’s earthy baritone offers crucial contrast, grounding flights of fancy with Northern grit . * **Production Clarity:** Richard Formby’s sparse production highlights space and rhythm. Tracks build tension subtly (e.g., the crescendo in "Hooting & Howling") and balance rawness with atmospheric synths ("Underbelly") . *Key Musical Elements*: | **Track** | **Key Feature** | **Vocal Highlight** | |-------------------|-------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | "The Fun Powder Plot" | Driving bass, dissonant chimes | Thorpe’s faux-sexy "booty call" irony | | "All The King’s Men" | Bouncy groove, pop structure | Fleming’s wry baritone vs. Thorpe’s interjections | | "Two Dancers (I)" | Tribal drums, sinister guitar lines | Fleming’s menacing delivery | | "This Is Our Lot" | Hypnotic guitar riff, krautrock pulse | Thorpe’s romantic decay imagery | ### **Themes: Masculinity, Vulnerability & Violence** The album dissects male sexuality beyond clichés. Hedonism is undercut by anxiety (*"Empty Nest"* laments lost innocence), while violence intertwines with desire ("Two Dancers"). This isn’t laddish swagger but a self-critical expose of "beastliness" – the tension between physical urges and emotional consequence . ### **Influence & Legacy** *Two Dancers* anticipated 2010s art-rock’s sophistication, influencing acts like Alt-J (who faced comparisons). Its Mercury Prize nomination (2010) signaled critical recognition, though its divisive vocals and themes prevented mainstream breakthrough. It remains a cult benchmark for lyrical ambition and gender-fluid artistry in indie rock . --- ### **Pros & Cons** *Table: Critical Assessment of Two Dancers* | **Aspect** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Vocals** | Unique, emotionally resonant falsetto/baritone interplay; daring theatricality | Falsetto polarizing; can feel mannered or comical (e.g., failed "sexy" delivery) | | **Lyrics** | Poetically rich, thematically complex; subverts misogyny tropes | Occasionally pretentious or jarring ("dancing cock") undermining gravity | | **Instrumentation** | Tight, inventive rhythms; minimalist funk grooves; atmospheric textures | Can feel overly restrained vs. debut’s exuberance; lacks immediate hooks | | **Cohesion** | Flawless sequencing; concise runtime (40 mins); unified aesthetic | Tonal ambiguity (humor vs. gravity) risks confusion | --- ### **Verdict** *Two Dancers* is a **flawed masterpiece**. Its genius lies in fusing poetic lyricism, rhythmic innovation, and unflinching thematic exploration into a sound both timeless and wholly original. While Thorpe’s vocals and some lyrical excesses remain divisive, the album’s audacity, emotional depth, and sonic refinement cement it as a landmark in 21st-century art-rock. **8.5/10**
it was alright
Decent background of artsy rock music. No song stuck in mind. Didn't finish the whole album
Groupe inconnu. Le chant est très désagréable et omniprésent ... C'est à peu près tout ce que je retiendrais de cet album. En fait non, je vais l'oublier aussi vite que je l'ai écouté. =>1/5
I didn't dislike it but I didn't enjoy it that much. I got a little bored listening to it honestly, I feel like quite a few of the tracks sound too similar. However, the song "All The King's Men" is fire, I've had it on repeat all day.
you sure about this one, mr. dimery?
I thought it was okay. I’m not usually into indie bands, but a few hooks caught my attention. The vocalist seemed to be trying a bit too hard to channel David Bowie, and the chord progressions felt generic. Still, their playful use of percussion added some much-needed life to the music.
This was completely new to me. What a distinctive, intoxicating sound! I’m sure some listeners were put off by the vocals, but I liked their experimental, often-near-atonal quality. After three listens, some of the lyrics remain . . . opaque to me. But I’ll keep at it. An early highlight for me: “We Still Got the Taste Dancin’ on Our Tongues.”
Cool vibe but weird voices. Backend of the album is much better than the beginning
This album really works for me. There's just a bit of whimsy, and the androgynous vocals are lovely and intriguing. There's an ethereal quality to the album which draws me in, I doubt anyone who knows me would be surprised that I enjoy this one. Favorite track: "We Still Got The Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues"
I just didn't really enjoy it
I think I could get into these guys if I can just figure out what to do with those vocals.
I haven't listened to Wild Beasts in at least a decade. As this album began I thought, “This is groovy. Why don’t I listen to this more?” And then Hayden Thorpe started singing…
The late 00's had a distinctive sound, great high water mark for the indie scene. This isn't the best of it, tho. Nothing terrible but not a top 1000 album of all time. Better than a lot of the boomer slop that is all over this list but that's a low bar.
This album is very of the time it was made. Everyone seem to be doing this sound. Given that I'm not sure what's really different in this album from any of those others from this era. Its okay.
Fascinating Vocals and some good songs, but that's it
This is, respectfully, not for me.
On the one hand, the music is pretty great; really interesting and very dreamy. The vocals however, are AWFUL. And not just bad, but bad AND don't seem to complement the music so much as distract from it. Would love to hear someone strip this down into an instrumental album.
cool indie
A nice little album. Reminds me quite a bit of that Elbow album, but if the lyrics were pretty nonsensical. Fun though! 8/10
De beats zijn nice, beetje house achtig. This is our lot is mn favoriet
The music was decent but the vocals killed me
Quite liked this, though it wasn't drawing me in so much as pleasant background music. There's a certain time and place I have in mind to listen again to see if I am drawn in. Last track was my favourite.
Not for me.
That was certainly an album.
for about 45 minutes, I think I must have felt how Peyton in OTH felt about music... and especially this genre... oh! how lovely it would be to have this record playing on a turntable, with my webcam on, drawing a page of a comic book about high-school and the struggles of being popular and emo🧡💔
It sounded like the soundtrack of an absurdistic musical or film. I kinda liked two dancers i (the song) and through the Iron Gate, and there were a few interesting lines in the songs I guess. To far out for me though, and I found the 'falsetto' vocals to be distracting mainly.
4.3
5/10… indie pop
Who's going to tell all those one star reviews freaked out by the voice about Sparks? How will they cope? Anyway, I quite liked this even if it struggled to stick.
I love Wild Beasts, but I don't think this is their best album, and I think that while there are some absolutely amazing songs, I think it has "low" points and therefore doesn't go above 4 stars for me, 4.5 at its peaks. However, they are an important band that never got the credit they deserved, and I hope that they get "rediscovered" in time, maybe in part due to this list.
Weird and unenjoyable. First song was good but it was all downhill from there.
definitely was not my cup of tea, still fun to listen to though!
well done but not my preference
Liked the music. Disliked the vocals.
I don't love the vocals, but I like the instrumentation.
What a joke. Doesn't belong on this list or any other list. Seriously a waste of time. The instrumentals are almost there but the downright pretentious lyrics and the dismal falsetto vocals are unforgivable nonsense. I thought I was being too harsh until after it was over that I read that in almost 9 years, they only then had managed to cross the 54,474 albums sold mark. I don't listen to this list to pretend that crap might be actually be great if I just imagine hard enough. The public already spoke on this album with its deafening silence. It is undiscovered, it is just meaningless indie drivel. Britain, what are you doing? You keep nominating what would be the most middling of bands in America for Mercury prizes?
Musically, it's okay but the vocals are a major turnoff. The band really needs to hire a competent singer instead of a high pitched, whiny warbler who sounds like he's sucked too much helium.
No me movió mucho
Le doy un 3, porque me gustó pero QUE AGUDA LA VOZ CTM. Me pareció un disco re chill pero le faltaba ese no se que
Me gusto que me hizo acordar a imagine dragons No me gusto que me hizo acordar a imagine dragons
Fue la mezcla entre el disco de arcade fire y el de sigur ros. Para mí: un embole
indie rock 4.5/10
Now I know why I've never heard of them before. Nothing remarkable on for me.
Repetitive
Very interesting sound!
Jangly guitars- check Groovy bass- check Interesting sounding singer- check Is this the Smiths reincarnation
One of those albums that I would absolutely love if it wasn't for the vocal delivery. I find it extremely grating. The music is wonderful though. 3/5
The androgynous vocals really worked well for me. I liked this less for particular standout songs and more for the feel of the album overall. Some of the lyrics are a little pretentious/odd, but they meld into the music well enough that I didn’t find it distracting.
Another album and band that I was unaware of, and I made the mistake of looking at the other reviews. Oh dear. I was expecting the worst. Actually listen to it .... It wasn't that bad. Some high pitched vocals (reminded me of Geneva (the band, not the city) and the album creaked with pretension, but .... generally midling. At a friends BBQ, if this came on, I'm just carry on drinking and eating. and quietly judge the friend for his pretentiousness,
Sans grand intérêt.
Not what I was expecting. I liked the unique sound. It reminded me of the music my dad listens to. I think my fave was All The King’s Men but to be fair I wasn’t paying a ton of attention bc I kinda got bored/distracted.
Very very cool art-rock with beautifully unique vocals. Haters can go suck, this is fresh and good! Must-listen 173.
WTF
Not my fave. But, certainly not as bad as I think a lot of these reviews make it seem. The vocals are pretty brutal, not gonna lie. It's decent. Frankly just surprised it's on this list. Fave songs: - The Fun Powder Plot - Hooting & Howling - All The King's Men - Two Dancers (ii) - This Is Our Lot
The second track was decent, but the rest was just completely unmemorable.
I will not remember this album in a week.
Seems cool but not really enthralling for me, a little too chill and a little too intentionally weird. Probably amazing while high.
This was great, hadn’t heard of this band before. Amazing unique vocal styling that I am sure is polarizing but I really enjoyed it. Solid all the way through.
1. fun - 1.5 2. hooting - 2 3. men - 0 4. zleepy - 1 5. tonguez - 1 6. dancerz - 1.5 7. tuuo - 1 8. lot - 1.5 9. belly - 1 10. nezt - 1 11. gate - 1.5
Okay Wild Beasts, y'all got some fucky lyrics, but damn if the tunes aren't good.
This would be a 3.5 if given the choice. Lots of very weird fun cool stuff in this album, I don't think it quite makes my regular rotation but I found myself really enjoying a lot of it.
Not really much to this album for me. I enjoyed the twin title tracks and one or two songs after them, but otherwise nothing really caught my ear - it sounded like it was being quirky for quirky's sake.
The voice was unbearable for half of it and the music behind it wasn’t good enough for me to ignore that.
The falsetto voice suuuuuucks, and the lyrics aren’t helping. Right from the opener, you’ve got bad lines like “disowned us daddies like the poopers of the party,” delivered with an off-putting cadence that plagues a lot of the album. Thankfully, tracks 8-10 save this from being a total disaster. This Is Our Lot actually cooks, and the transition from Underbelly into Empty Nest was genuinely a cool moment. Standout: This Is Our Lot
I really wanted this to be a 4. I feel there is a 4 star album in here, but every time I was really vibing they would do something silly. Hooting and Howling is legendarily bad and I can't believe that was their single. The less said about When I'm Sleepy, the better. But I could see myself listening to this again a few months later and bumping it up.
No thank you
Interesting. A new album I haven't listened to yet. No idea why it really made the list though after giving it a listen. Great for the background and overall was good. But nothing stood out or was great.
Wasn’t expecting to see Wild Beasts here, but it’s a pleasant surprise. They were one of the more interesting indie bands of the era, blessed with not one but two highly distinctive vocalists and a kind of enchanted-forest mystery to their sound. Perhaps they never recorded an end-to-end masterpiece but this is probably their most consistent effort, featuring a trio of great singles plus interesting textures and rhythms throughout.
complicated. feels lilke a fever dream
i gotta say... i was pleasantly surprised by this album... some cool electronica songs, but with some cool bass and pristine production... great vocals... like a more modern Tears For Fears... with U2 and Talk Talk thrown in with Muse as well... there are no hall of fame first time listen HITS... but the album as a whole is a really nice aural experience... use headphones... i'm an old fuddy duddy, so i give it Four stars... i'm sure the younger whipper snappers will give it Five... xoxo
Fine. It was interesting background music. Probably one that I need to spend a few more days with to appreciate more.
Does improve a bit in the back half. But of all the 00s indie rock that could have been included on the list, this choice is pretty uninspired.
Meh. indie
Musically this was okay, but vocally u absolutely hated this. Enough to make it difficult to make it through.. grasping at straws trying to not rate this a 1, but I just can’t find anything. Got this on a bad day I guess
This is a big nothingburger with only the vocals being memorable for all the wrong reasons. It’s like they went through the Mercury shortlists and picked out the most annoying ones on there
Some interesting pieces; some too odd wondering why this album is on this list.
Not my thing. Boring.
lowmid
I like the guys voice Very good loser rock production
Good vibe Riminescent if 80’s new wave later bands
Really not too sure what to do about this one. Music is kind of cool but weird vocal stylings are a bit of a turnoff. Kind of growing on me over time, but is repellent enough that I’m not sure I’d seek it out again. OK in small doses.
Ouch, that singer's attempted falsetto hurt my ears.
Arctic Monkeys if they were born with depression instead of developing it as adolescents
An album that was somewhat easy to listen to, but there is nothing thrilling here or any reason (that I can hear) that warrants it's inclusion on the list. Drone-like at times and sometimes Smith-esque dreaminess, but don't read too much into that because they are not in the same league as the Smiths. Not very interesting and I probably won't be buying any Wild Beast albums anytime soon, but it killed time in a not so horrible way.
Maybe one day I could love them as much as The Smiths or XTC. Not bad but nothing jaw dropping
ns sin mas
Tfw the actually interesting instrumentals get bogged down by Tiny Tim moaning in my ear 😔
This wasn’t for me unfortunately. I appreciate the musical talent on this album but it was really slow, and it had all the vibes of the pop music that I hated as a kid cause it was everywhere. Very “Coldplay-esque” so if that’s your thing you will probably love this. That being said I liked this way more than Coldplay. In fact I saved the songs “all the kings men” and “the fun powder plot”. But yah at the end of the day this just isn’t for me.
Not bad but falsetto singing should be banned forever
In all honesty these vocals remind me of someone doing a dreadful impression of the man from sparks 2/5
Music was very cool but vocals were unbearable.
This album was probably pretty cool in 2009, now there’s a hundred bands doing this exact shoegaze-indie sound. Decent album, didn’t blow me away.
das album startet stark, der sound super - und dann startet der gesang. schade!
Mir etwas zu schwierig.
I had a massive urge to turn it off, I hated the vocals, the polyrhythms were nice but the instrumental parts were uninteresting. Like Anohni and Foals but less good than either. Bad Sparks impressions
It’s ok.
377/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
Me soprendió muchísimo. No conocía a los Wild Beasts y su sonido me pareció genial, muy experimental, muy poderoso y siempre sorprendente. En general todos los tracks me parecieron muy buenos, pero ese último, qué volón de cabeza. Increible disco.
This is no bueno. 1/5
No easy listening. Would at least need a few listens to potentially stand out.
felt like a great mix of bjork and jungle
The first track was strong but the subsequent tracks droned identically to the first. It was repetitive and some of the lyrics.... well, the first and final track were good. The middle was meh.
Notable favourites from the album: All the Kings Men, Two Dancers (ii), This Is Our Lot, Through the Iron Gate. Interesting album and not something I would normally pick to listen to although I really enjoyed it. Was nice to listen to something that I had not heard before. Some notable great riffs, especially in This Is Our Lot. I found the vocals a bit much at times during my listen, but still can appreciate that they are brilliant. 7/10 - solid album but knowing my own interests, its likely to be a forgettable album in the journey
I don’t like deep vibratos. Falsettos are weak and no support. Sorry terrible lead singer. Music is meh.. but I’ll have to say the production is solid. It makes a less appealing album appear “better”. Every-time I expect it can get better because of the production. Even though it didn’t, it helped me finish the album. Otherwise I couldn’t even finish it..
i didn't have a good time listening to this album. despite being only 40 minutes or so, it took me all day to get through it. didn't capture me, didn't draw me in... it's a no from me
Such a tease. The music started off so good and thought I was going to get a solid indie rock band and then the voice. Just so bad.
Pretty forgettable, except for the Elmo-sounding falsetto lyrics in the beginning of the album. Maybe it deserves a second chance, I just don’t know if I’ll ever get back to it.
I love the music. I hate the vocals. Find a new lead singer.
Do not like the vocals at all
p923. 2009. 2 stars. Decent production and handful of half decent songs do not make for essential listening. And I cannot be doing with one of the singer's squealing falsetto, it makes my ears bleed. Note to self: if no-one is talking about an album more than 5 years after it came out, it's not essential listening.
The music is great. The vocals are a complete mismatch for it. This needs some real chillwavey singing, not this falsetto garbage.
Estoy pensando si ponerle 2 o 3 estrellas porque la verdad me resulta rarísimo el falsetto que hace constantemente, y las lyrics son bien raras a veces tipo muy random y no banco mucho. Pero hay temas que me gustan overall y los riffs y la instrumental me parecen excelentes, y cuando no usa el falsetto me parece muy linda su voz. Capaz es un album al que me tengo que acostumbrar más digamos.
3.5/5
2/5
This album fucking sucks. By far the worst album on this list so far. It's like it's stuck in 1990s world music. I could imagine hearing this playing in Pier 1 Imports or the Nature Store.
Very mid-late aughts indie. It was really missing that one song you could drunkenly dance to at your local dive bar while you ignored the thoughts of your student loan debt and the fact that you paid for your PBR in quarters.
Beautiful music, moderate voices
Pretty good. Voice was different for Indie music but good.
Two Dancers has been praised for its sophisticated sound and sensual atmosphere, where falsetto vocals and elegant guitar lines weave together in an art-pop universe marked by desire and restlessness. Many highlight the album’s poetic qualities and its subtle, dark mood. Personally, though, it didn’t grab me at all. I can appreciate the musical structure and intention, but the overall mood – and especially the vocals – drain all energy from the album for me. It feels extremely dull, like listening to something trying to be mysterious and artistic, but ending up completely devoid of edge and life. 1/5
Ei tää indie vaan uppoa. Tylsääää
Jos joku väittää et aukeaa vasta useamman kuuntelun jälkeen, ei itse ole kuunnellut tätä kertaakaan. We still got the taste dancin' on our tongues sisältää sellaista menevyyttä, mutta laulanta on vaan ajoittain aivan kamalaa määkimistä. Ei, ei ja ei.
Noh tasapaksua indiemenoo mistä ei jäänyt mitään mieleen kun taustalla soi
Nyt ollaan kyllä taas meikäläisen makuun liian indie kulmassa. Kollega sanoi, että nää indie levyt aukeaa vasta muutaman kuuntelun jälkeen. Mutta mitä jos ei vaan yksinkertaisesti pysty edes kuuntelemaan yhtään kertaa
Kivan kuuloista instrumentaalia joka on valitettavasti pilattu ärsyttävämaneerisella laulajalla joka tunkee vibratoa melkein konsonanteillekin.
Am a fan of Wild Beasts and although this isn't my favourite of theirs, it is a good album. 3.5
Meh
Certainly intriguing. I have to accept the steady rhythms and the joyfully aggressive wordplay. Not normally my tea service, but enjoying these steady sips. A strange (to me, at least) foray into the oddest of constructions--synth mixed with drums mixed with guitar, each on its own on the playground but getting along well. I know I'll be re-listening, because or despite the bolt shot through my head.
I really could not connect to these songs. I really tried but there was such an emotional barrier. I preferred the songs where Tom Fleming was singing rather than the falsetto tunes.. But it was a bit of a battle. Maybe if I listened again, I’d get on with it more but I really can’t be bothered.
I do not like this. The singer’s voice is too swoopy.
I didn't like this at all. The vocals were certainly the main reason. Rather than bring emotional resonance to the lyrics, they just seemed performative in a way that was difficult to endure. All The King's Men sent me over the edge and I couldn't find my way back.
The music was often compelling, and the lyrics, when I could understand them, were often quite dark. But it's hard not to be distracted by the vocals. Sometimes it worked, though I can't help but feel that this is yet another album that's on here thanks to the British slant of this list.
Enjoyable!
3/5
I didn't mind the singing on this and I've heard worse Indie music. But like most Indie music it just sort of sits there. Happening at me.
Favorite Track: All The King’s Men
Liked All The King's Men, Two Dancers (I and II), Through The Iron Gate
if you weren't obsessed with the dance floor in 2009, you were obsessed with polyrhythms. some groups fresh from the freak folk scene, like Dirty Projectors and Tune-Yards, mined "tribal" sounds, sort of taken of context and turned into something appreciated by thine white hipster US blogwriters. i like those acts too, but if i liked them at the time and still liked them now instead of turning my back on them, there'd probably be some Maoist ass struggle sessions taking place. going across the pond, however, you see a lot more "math pop" -- something coined for whatever was going on in San Francisco in the late 90s -- with TTNG and Foals going for a more original (and less approximated) sound. Wild Beasts are a part of the latter group. however, what people remember about this band isn't their incredibly intricate guitarwork and musicianship, but the vocals of Mr. Hayden Thorpe, who has one of the most distinct falsettos in all of indie rock. (his biggest solo release appears to be a cover of "Goodbye, Horses", which makes sense for him to perform.) accompanying the voice is oddball poetry for lyrics like "This is a booty call; my boot up your arse hole / This is a Freudian slip; my slipper in your bits" or "O, unpluckable flower of the moon! / O, untetherable bird of the blue!" -- and you know how much i love crude poetics. altogether, it makes for a delicate package of crystal and china all covered in dust. in my opinion, Two Dancers is quite special. unlike most stuff that was pushed by the British Music Press before hitting the ground like a dropped frog, it deserves to be remembered.
Song: The fun powder plot This song is sad and weird i do not really like it but i would give it like a 1 star because it is just scary and i have no idea whats it even saying it like mumbling but talking loud i do not know but it is weird Song: hooting and howling This song is weird i do not really like it i can barely hear what it says I would give it a 1 star again Song: all the kings men this song is weird but this is the one that i really like out of this album i would give this album like a 1 star
Do you want to listen to some music that is calming? Well in The Fun Powder Pot you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I highly recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has is calming? Well in Hooting & Howling you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I highly recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that is calming? Well in All The King's Men you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song.
I don't like this because I don't like how to instruments sound and I don't like the beats that there are in these songs. I would not recommend this to someone else because I don't think they would actually enjoy listening to the voice of the person signing. I give this 2 stars.
The Fun Powder Plot, I like this song because it has that beat in the first part. Hooting & Howling I like this song because I can hear the beat and some drums.
Приличный инди-поп нулевых. Лучшая песня - Underbelly.
I mean, I didn't hate it, but nothing in here makes me want to listen to it again. The singing is irritating at times.
Nowt special
I was vibing with it
No.
Absolutely not for me
I love this album shile i am sure it is offputting for some, I find it oddly beautiful and seems like it follows a stylistic path the starts with Bowie and Bryan Ferry. The music and lyrics are captivating and I was glad to listen again, surprised it was on the list.
Meh. Like super market music
Very fun listen
Woah, more turgid British indie, no thanks. Rated O - Oneida is an album that was also released in 2009. Also The Planets are Blasted - Boston Spaceships. Belting American weirdness, yes please.
Het duel tussen aan de ene kant de rijke, dromerige productie, en aan de andere kant de repulsive vocalen van de frontman. Ik hou wel van dissonantie, maar hier doet het afbreuk aan de zalige instrumentaties. Ik kan er daardoor gewoon niet helemaal inkomen. Het is wel al veel verrassender en dynamischer dan het voorgaande album. 6/10 Highlights: We Still Got The Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues
Britse indie uit 2009 zijn vaak toch wel ingrediënten voor succes bij mij. Wild Beasts ken ik echter niet zo goed. Vaker geprobeerd maar nooit echt gevat op één of andere manier. Nu ik het weer hoor denk ik dat dat door zijn stem komt. Die is niet meteen heel toegankelijk en vraagt wat gewenning. Dat lukt geleidelijk gedurende het album, maar ik kom er niet helemaal in. Er zijn/waren veel betere indie bands in de zeroes. 6,5/10 Highlights When I'm Sleepy
This is truly one of the worst albums in this book by quite some distance
I really enjoyed this. Always great to hear an 'indie' album that breaks the mould - this avoids rockists tendencies or layers of quirky electronics, focusing on the performance and that voice. The pace changes nicely throughout too. Am not sure if I like the main vocalist here, but I certainly admire their uniqueness. One to revisit.
This was a lot more soulful and sensitive than I was expecting. For some reason I always thought Wild Beasts were horrid BritRock. Apparently not. There's so much depth and layers to these songs. They drift off a little at tangents, but there's a strong feeling of tranquility throughout. Decent.
Did not appreciate the vocals at first (to say the least) but production choices grew on me. Keeping the songs brief was a plus.