They Were Wrong, So We Drowned

Absolutely fucking trash. Annoying and amateurish. I couldn’t get through a single song without skipping to the next one. Awful. atrocious.

Background noise, literally noise.

Better than the rating would suggest for sure… kind of a minimalist, percussive noise rock with some catchy little bits here and there. 6/10

museum of modern art-core

A very interesting experimental punk album. Those who know me better know my secret appreciation for noise music, so the content of the album did not scare me off. It did surprise me by how different it is from anything else I've listened to before. The dark overtones in this album give it an unsettling vibe in stark contrast so the albums we have had until now. I'm glad I got introduced to this album and that I got to experience it, but I do not think I will ever listen to it again.

weird UUCK

4.25

this is awful and just killing me, not going to be able to finish it

the way i would describe this album is finding organization in disorganized noise. unfortunately, my brain is very much not compatible with this. i... uh, had a bad time.

Really, guys? Why is this on here? I mean, I like some ‘experimental’ stuff such as Radiohead’s later stuff/Thom Yorke/Atoms for Peace, and I can see bits of them in this. Also early PJ Harvey. And the premise about the witches is fun. And some tracks were listenable. You know it’s not great though when you think to yourself ‘ooh this is a bit better’ and then realise that the album has finished and the station has moved on to something else Note to self: you have to listen to them all, all the way through, because that’s the game 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Some of these songs seem practically purpose built for driving listeners away. The album has the affect of a schizophrenic's notebook.

Cacophonous but pretty goood

I'm going back to my original rating method for this album. What are the chances I'll listen to this album again?

This seems like a pretty obvious shift in perspective, but i don't think i consciously thought this is more of an "art piece" than "music". This is non-traditional and i don't know any who would have bought this album and just gets in a mood to listen to this music. However, if you think of this as a movie, or piece of art, you can "experience" it... and at that point you can better accept it's noisy and unsettling delivery. It is still hard to appreciate the overall work if i engage it with a musical hat on... a very challenging listen. Still, i will grant a second star because of how it has changed my perspective on having to engage actively with an album as a piece of art.

Credit goes to the curators here, for ruining an afternoon of mine

I did not dislike this album as much as so many others here seem to do. It's hypnotising and at times terrifying industrial avant-garde. Pretty? No, not at all, but that doesn't seem to be the goal of the album.

Huh. I was worried that this one would be a total torturous chore when I saw that it was noise rock. Got even more worried when I saw the average rating of 2.22 stars. But in the end I actually kind of enjoyed it. Yeah it's unhinged, avant-garde, noisy and haunting. It even feels quite tribal and definitely gives the atmosphere of a ritual sacrifice. The dance-punk element is there though, in enough measure to make this whole thing somewhat danceable. No doubt that it verges on aurally torturous at times, but maybe I'm just turning into a masochist? All I'm saying is if I'm in a situation where I'm about to be sacrificed, I'd ask for the murderous cult to put this on. It's approaching halloween so maybe I'm just in the mood for some spooky shit. Either way I enjoyed this and I think I could vibe with this again. Favourite: There's Always Room on the Broom

Really weird and interesting album, though it sounds like something that came from the 70s/80s rather than 2004 Creates a great primal atmosphere Favourite tracks: Broken Witch, There’s Always Room on the Broom, We Fences Other Gardens…

The no wave brain tickles are most recognizable and appreciated, but there's plenty of push and pull happening as well. Semi-distinct is what I can only describe as fingers moving. If their decay is a kind of dance, dance is evoked here. Given the timbre, one has to add toes to those fingers; Adjust appetite accordingly.

Never optimistic with the label Noise Rock and sure enough I hated almost all of this. Struck me as reaching towards the wierdness of The Residents but nowhere near as clever or artful. At the end it did resolve into something tolerable but not enough to redeem it for me.

Dreadful, absolutely dreadful, how is this on the 1001 albums list?????

Bit insulting to my ears this one.

It's not that bad. I understand why people might hate it, but I also understand why people could like it. I liked the singer's voice and some of the music had an interesting sound, but it's not exactly something I want to listen to again. I think my favourite song was They Don't Want Your Corn - They Want Your Kids, but it was a bit hard to differentiate the songs for me.

Please just fuck off

I often felt that I hated this, but then I often felt fascinated by it. And sometimes it was really cool.

My first impression left me with a hard NO on this one. However, I got interrupted and had to continue my listening task later. When I returned, I had lost my place...so I started over. My attitude changed a bit. There ended up being some moments that I found enjoyable. This enjoyment was balanced with some moments that would likely have me leaving the room if someone put this on at a party. So, overall, it is an album of extremes for me.

I absolutely loved the first two-thirds of this. Fuzzy, screechy, whiny against some totally danceable grooves. The last few tracks lost my interest but I was captivated by most of it. Yes!

Well this certainly gave me a WTF moment shortly into the first song… what kind of slog is this?! And then… click… something about sitting alone in the dark in a cabin listening to cleverly titled songs about brooms and witches… I’ve been known to embrace wackadoo music… this is pretty out there… do I really like this? Yes, I think I do. Do I expect to play this in the company of anyone else I know? Perhaps at a Halloween party? Even then I’d expect this musical selection to be quickly vetoed. I’ve listened to this a few times now and I keep thinking about this. I have subsequently discovered from Wikipedia that this was recorded in a cabin in the woods… strange coincidence… Crazy original. Crazy good. Crazy! Favorite songs: They Don’t Want Your Corn, They Want Your Kids and There’s Always Room On The Broom

Dislike. Very harsh and discordant to make a point.

Noise rock, dance-punk. Bastante rollo.

I got excited seeing the poor reviews, because what’s “too much” for most people often hits my sweet spot. As a fan of noise rock and experimental music, They Were Wrong, So We Drowned is a fantastic find.

Not my kind of tea but it helped me focusing on work

Unlistenable. 1/5

Sucesión de canciones sin ningún orden ni ritmo especial. No me ha parecido ni de lejos un disco relevante. Ningún tema destacable ni nada que lo haga especial. Lo definiría como un tanto experimental

I actually thought we had hit lowest possible already, but this might have reclaimed the throne? First song is basically a bunch of out of tune noise, more like a soundscape (which can be nice ofc, but not like this). And it just went on the same unfortunately. 0 stars if it would've been possible.

This album has a fun concept and fun witch themed names like "There's always room on the broom" and "If you're a wizard then why do you wear glasses"! That's unfortunately where the fun ended. Some songs are unbearable to listen to and while some songs have brief moments of fun quirkiness ("They don't want your corn, they want your children" to name one) as a whole this has to be a 1.

Never heard of them before. I don't mind something experimental like this as a palate-cleanser

WTF sounded like some kids in a kitchen with lots and pans and a drunk parent. 0/5

Can't say I was a fan of this. The genre name hit the nail on the head here with this definitely being noise. Some decent moments, but overall pretty trashy sounding and had to skip parts of songs due to them being more annoying than tolerable. Definitely won't be listening to any more of this if I can help it. 1/5

Surprisingly subdued for something like this. Dancey in spots, but mostly meanders and only has flashes of anything interesting. Favorite track: "They Don't Want Your Corn, They Want Your Children"

This is rough. It's like they sampled a fax machine, old ADSL router and then smashed in the scaps that Beck decided was "too weird". It has no right to be anywhere near this list and I can only assume that the editor is related to this band somehow. Described as Noise Rock, I describe it as utterly shit

Usually up for a bit of experimental but this was curiously flat

Horrible, weird music

No

I think I would’ve appreciated a lot of this stuff a year and a half ago, when I was really into experimental stuff. I just find it a little bit too nebulous and esoteric for me now, I don't have anything against it just not for me now

Didn’t know what to expect but enjoyed it.

j'ai pas tenu

Nice album, had to listen to it a few times

Some good tunes buried among the gravelly arthouse flatulence.

The album artwork is so offensively bad that this record can't possibly be good. Yes, I am correct. This fucking sucks. It never stood a chance.

There's something here I could get into but the majority was just offputting.

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Hold hands and it will happen anyway

A tech-ey musical element with nonsensical lyrics. Just not my thing. Had some good rhythm which I didn't dislike.

TROP DÉPRESSIF

Personne n'a jamais écouté ça Robert il faut que tu te réveilles.

A ne manquer sous aucun pretexte avant de mourir.

Liars are great!

Brilliant! Totally outside-the-box, no two songs sound the same. The kind of thing I'm here for

Pretty good, this is an album that definitely held my interest the whole time, even though it never really went the places I wanted it to.

Weird ass album. I didn't hate it, but for the most it didn't click with me. I don't get it, I guess. 2.49/5

Pretty decent, a good mix between then-modern indie and eternally cool post-punk. Not the most exciting or original sound, but I think it works! C

1.5/5

Very strange.......

No: why is noise rock even a genre? It felt random and totally uncalled for. I can see why so many will go about slandering this album bc it's just not nice. The lyrics are annoying to listen to and the sporadic noises just give you a headache by the end of the first track. Not again.

I was living in Brooklyn during the 00s and had fallen in love with the Liars from the start with "They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top". Honestly when "They Were Wrong, So We Drowned" came out I was befuddled and felt a little betrayed and yet...after some time passed...was intrigued. It's easier for me now to see how they got from there to here and through on to other musical territory.

Quite enjoyed this but can't say I was listening that closely ...

Pants on fire.

when your fanfic is crappy creepypasta, you're doing it wrong

This album had such an incredible amount of original experimentation that a listener should never feel bored, but here I am. 2/5

I liked it. I thought Liars were just another of those meh NME bands from the early 00s, but this is a noisy, weird and darlky fun record!

not a fan

Did not really get into the lofi noise vibe of it right now

Interesting, kind of rubbed me the wrong way I guess. Disappointing for me, as I liked some content but not some creative choices that they made. Hold Hands and it will Happen Anyway was my least favourite track.

Like in EDM where a pleasant sounding song goes nowhere and you’re sitting there waiting for something interesting to happen. Except this isn’t pleasant. It’s obnoxious people playing out of tune instruments and messing around with feedback. Which would be awesome if it were a hardcore punk album but the lead singer sounds like he just drank a bottle of NyQuil.

New band for me and wasn't sure what to expect but honestly it was ok, not great. I still may search out some more material.

Maybe worth a single listen through. Some interesting sounds and songs, but nothing I need to explore further.

Not what I was expecting. Pretty good, i'm just not sure if i'd listen to it again.

I had no idea what to expect going into this one. And I found that I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I was going to. I could see listening to this one again. Maybe not soon, but sometime in the future.

The right kind of experimental rock

I admit I only listened to three songs but only because it sounded like total garbage

This kind of music is not the most enjoyable ones, but this album deserves praise for its originality, depth (apparently, it tackles a struggle between a village and some alleged "witches: as well as the Walpurgisnacht legend which states that one of the ways to drive a way witches is by making noise), and overall interesting adventure that it packs. It may not be pretty, but art doesn't have to be pretty.

Entiendo que puede estar bueno pero creo que no estaba en el mood para escuchar tan random jeje me parecieron muy repetitivos y poco armoniosos los ritmos de las canciones.

I’m sure I’m being contrarian by giving this 5, but I don’t care.

98ito8io8s9p9989989e8lf 88999998

I really like experimental stuff but it has to be good. This just isn't. It tries with eerie noises and dark sounds but it only works on the closing track wich is the only one that I actually liked. The bird sounds and the quieter instrumentation was actually quite good... The rest is either terrible, annoying, bland or a combination of all. The vocals were pretty bad too and most songs would have been better as an instrumental 2/5

Hard to categorise- at times a wall of noise, others there’s something fascinating going on. An album to come back to.

Noise rock, not my sound.

I can't for the life of me work out what's on the cover of this. I usually don't start listening until I've made a quick guess... but I have no clue what I'm looking at here. Band and album titles... indie? folk? DIY garage punk? Whatever it is, it seems homemade. WELL! About halfway through the fourth song and I still don't know. Vaguely percussive noises and odd yelling. Sounds like a cross between a skipping record and a countdown alarm in a video game (update: the whole album was like this). Either way, it's not really music. That's not a sledge; I mean it in a very clinical sense - this likely does not meet any commonly-accepted criteria for what a human would consider music. 1/5.

Someone from the early 2000s that I haven't heard of - this is either going to be awful or obscure. And boy is it obscure. It's noise. It's also good.

1 because I'm feeling generous.

This is so great. Love the tracks Broken Witch, There's Always Room on the Broom, Hold Hand and It Will Happen Anyway as well as They Took 14 for the Rest or Our Lives. I look forward to spending more time with this band.

Occult noise rock? Ritual dance punk? I'm down! I think I've listened to most of Liars' output once or twice previously, but I could definitely do with spending more time with them. I like their schtick. Fave track - "There's Always Room on the Broom"

Track 1: 2 minutes in, and I will be amazed if this gets above a single star. Track 3: The singer thought "what would a high school rock band's take on The Downward Spiral sound like?", surrounded themselves with yes-men, and hit record. Track 4: This is noise. Track 6: There's a part of me that wonders if I'm missing something. It's the same irrational, depressed as fuck part that blames myself for 9/11 even though I was 5 years old at the time. Track 7: Fine. I don't like music any more. You win. Track 9: God is dead and is buried behind a Bob Evans

Way outside my comfort zone. I kinda liked it though? Terrible dinner music and I liked the album theme.

wtf? Bonkers. I hate experimental/avant garde 'music'. Great name though.

Noise album with not-so-great voice. It was ok :)

A concept album about witch trials: it sounds interesting! Weird opening. This first song is alright but very, very strange. I guess I should have expected that from an album about witchcraft? Clearly very experimental. They deserve the 'noise rock' label. Again, the first word to come to mind for the second track is just plain 'weird'. I do have to say that I don't think it's actually all that bad? Probably a 3. I mean, if you like this sort of thing, go listen to it. Not really my type, but maybe, just maybe, I'll come back to it. I did finish it and thought it was OK, bordering on good. It was also fairly easy to listen to -- not really a chore: probably because it was alright and because it was fairly short. 6/10.

Wow the genrator reviews really hate on this...I didn't mind it, some cool sounds mixed in w the fucked up random noise. I'm esp into Flow My Tears the Spider Says

Well I can say that noise rock definitely sucks based on the albums I’ve gotten so far. This one had fleeting moments of things that I could’ve enjoyed but none of it lasted before regressing back into annoying, edgy, shitty-sounding rock. Overall it was just a less interesting Kollaps without any increase in listenability.

Absolute nonsense.

Not in my edition of the book! 2004. 1 star. Pretentious, irritating, pointless noise. WTF is this shit doing on this list, and who selected it?

Instant hate.

Pretentious noise bullshit. 2 stars.

I first listened to this in a busy natatorium where I couldn't hear a lot of detail, and I tolerated it more than hated it. I revisited later to see if my first impression was good, and friend, it was not. This album sucks.

gross

I'm usually not one for experimental rock, but this album was a blast. Definitely worth the experience.

Definitely noise rock. I listened once and didn't find it worth a second listen. This was not for me.

I'm still unsure if I liked this album or not. In case of doubt, let's say I did not.

Nope.

I'm generally enthusiastic with the stuff more outcast, experimental and noisy, but I can't see why this one is interesting or good. Nice try, tho.

Not for me

An album that feels like each track is pulling in a different direction – was hoping for a bit more out of this one, certain songs are executed well and show strong songwriting, but when each track feels like it’s off a different album it’s hard to constitute a focused LP.

Absolute hot garbage. I have no fuckin idea why you ‘need’ to listen to this album before you die other than to realize music this bad does indeed, actually exist.

If I had a tattoo on my face I might give this a 2 rating.

I'm alright wit the noise, especial when it's used in a song intro, but the results, when they bring in the "music" and especially the vocals, are annoying. Maybe someone like Rob Zombie on vocals would have made it more palatable.

Well at least this band has an original sound. They’re hard to categorize, sorta experimental industrial post punk. Although they have some intriguing beats and rhythms their album isn’t quite fully fleshed out, but they do have potential.

2-

I'm pretty sure I didn't have a headache an hour ago.

I couldn't listen to this, I tried to be objective, but this is just noise. I did not like it at all

Billlll

Very cool album! I think their debut is their best, but as an evolution of those musical ideas and simultaneously a complete left turn this holds it’s own. I like the repetitive choruses used here and there, they’re catchy

Det här var koolt! Gillade inte sångaren jättemykke men musiken var unik, groovy, nasty. Intressant att höra på fast ja int vet hur ofta jag kommer återvända. Skulle ske oftare om det inte fanns sång tror jag

If a Hangover had a soundtrack. Truly horrible noises.

Wh..what

Kinda like NIN if they were weird and goofy. I liked it! Don't know when I'd put it back on, so it gets a 3 instead of a 4. Hey, at least it isn't more post punk from the UK.

Noise, almost pure noise. I don’t get it.

Duurde even om met het genre vertrouwd te raken, maar daarna vond ik dit wel een goeie plaat

Listened Before? N Ugh. More 'art rock'. This stuff is not good guys. I could definitely have lived without hearing this before I die. Anyway, nope. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: If You're A Wizard....

The concept behind this album, exploring the legends of the Brocken Witch, is more interesting than the album itself. Often it feels as though the band have simply lost track of what they were attempting to say.

Yeah I don't know what that was supposed to be.

Fucking hell

Ughhhhhhhhhh

It’s kind of impressive that this can be released and end up on a list of 1001 albums you must listen to before you die

I like that cover, but man - one track in and you're already hitting me with repetitive noise, huh? This was not for me.

I applaud the intent and the willingness to create awkward music like this. Still, this is all rather unpalatable over toast and cereal of a morning. When should I listen to this? Never?

Oof. Yeah, no way am I making it through all of this. Just fartin' around on the web and I see that Spin magazine gave this album an F and called it "unlistenable." Whoever that brave journalist is and where ever you are... I salute you.

About half of this album is bad sound effects. It’s characterized as noise rock and I just didn’t get it. Move along!

Can't say I understand why this is on the list, but I am glad I listened to it. The arrangements and instrumentation are challenging, yet I found my head bobbing along to most of them. Feels like a scary campfire story in musical form.

Liars at their peak before they go out the window with "Drum's Not Dead." They strike a decent balance between noise and rock. I like they way they start the album with the buzz of an amp that has an attached cord being touched to metal in a melodic/rhythmic way. Would make a good soundtrack to a horror movie.

Woah, based on the name and album art I did not expect such an experimental/dissonant sound. This is generally in my wheelhouse of musical pleasures so I'm down with it. Never knew the band so glad to broaden my knowledge. Crazy industrial-like drums with artsy vocal trappings, a combo I haven't heard much. Definitely propelled to a professional level with the production, which elevates it from indie-artsy-trappings to something a bit more grand. I'm into it, definitely gonna explore further. I should listen to listen to more noise-rock. Definitely not for everyone though.

Not sure what to make of this one.

This was fine. I cannot say I found this to be anything special, although more listens may change my mind.

It just didn’t go anywhere.

I do like the theme and approach of this LP but it feels all a bit forced. I think something more melodic here and there would be the proper contrast to the ever-droning sound. It is the same problem for all LPs of this sort: It is just too much in the same direction.

Not just no, but fuck no

Not as crazy as I expected

Damn the editors of the 1001 Best Albums book must've been smokin' penis to put this on the list. What. The. Hell. 1/10.

5/10. Didn't sound great, but the witchcraft themed concept album aspect of it did a lot to save it in my mind. I could listen to this in the background on Halloween.

This album is a huge miss from the editors. It’s not critically acclaimed or well-received, not at all popular, alternates between boring and flat-out bad, and it’s not even significant outside of a creepy pasta mentioned on the Wikipedia article for this album. I read the creepy pasta and even that was garbage. Maybe they should’ve instituted a 5 or 10 year buffer on new music before putting an album on the list just to stop something like this from happening. 3/10

Not my thing.

INT

Dreading this as soon as the genre was "noise rock" I'm sure it's arty and influential to someone. But as a listen it's unbearable for more than 10 seconds at a time. 1

I should like this album more since I'm into noise/experimental music, but this album wasn't really for me. It's a bit directionless and all over the place. The first half of the album was worse than the second half where there were some better and more interesting songs. 2.5/5

Þetta er... áhugavert. Þarf að hlusta aftur við tækifæri. Mjög hrátt.

too repetitive for me!

I did not like this album, but maybe I judge it wrong because I just listen the first song.

Weird

Not my tempo

Idk, I feel I should like this more than I do. There are some cool punchier tracks here, but there’s just too much aimless noise that makes the album feel bloated, and this brand of post-punk just really isn’t my thing. 2.5/5