-
9.0
11958
9.0 |
musicOMH
It's a bold, dramatic, more than a little screwed-up and stunningly exciting statement
Read Review
-
9.0
12613
9.0 |
Rave Magazine
Of all the trendy, over-hyped bands of the last few years, I’d never have guessed Crystal Castles would be the ones to make it out unscathed with a brilliant second album
Read Review
-
9.0
12627
9.0 |
God Is In The TV
Ethan has captured Alice's voice and bits of both their souls, trapped it in machines and valves and amps, and now the two of them are letting it escape one bit at a time
Read Review
-
8.5
11707
8.5 |
Pitchfork
As rewarding as this new album is, it's even more impressive when you consider its context: Crystal Castles may have come on at the tail-end of the blog-house/nu-rave/French-touch mini-rage, but they've now transcended it, moving from scene linchpin to indie stars
Read Review
-
8.5
13761
8.5 |
Prefix
The group's bleak, sinister quality has always been one of its best assets, and in humanizing themselves, even in the record's shinier latter half, the musicians take on a slightly stronger shadow
Read Review
-
8.0
13226
8.0 |
Spin
By dispensing with empty bravado, Crystal Castles reveal a depressive, darkwave charisma
Read Review
-
8.0
12750
8.0 |
Bowlegs
Crystal Castles have upped their game considerably, from noisy neighbours, to your number one party guests
Read Review
-
8.0
13005
8.0 |
PopMatters
They’ve made a bigger, denser, more accessible record but in so doing, have not lost sight of their strengths—rather, those strengths now shine through even more clearly
Read Review
-
8.0
12679
8.0 |
The Skinny
Might just have found a way to elude their haters and continue on making dance music that many people would be piss scared to dance to
Read Review
-
8.0
12504
8.0 |
Evening Standard
It's hard work, granted, but there's gold here if you're willing to dig
Read Review
-
8.0
12513
8.0 |
The Times
The cacophonous distortions of Doe Deer aside, a poppier direction is perceptible here
Read Review
-
7.5
12938
7.5 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Much more inviting and entrancing, ostensibly welcoming everyone in to their non-stop glitch-pop dance party. And what a tempestuous party it turns out to be
Read Review
-
7.0
12877
7.0 |
Tiny Mix Tapes
It presents very little in the way of new twists or turns for the duo, choosing instead to focus on the same aesthetics offered the first time around
Read Review
-
7.0
12539
7.0 |
Independent on Sunday
Clearly, this is one electro album that will never be left playing in hair salons or hotel lobbies, but that's fine
Read Review
-
7.0
12743
7.0 |
Sydney Morning Herald
Provides the louche soundtrack for the sort of party that would take days to recover from
Read Review
-
7.0
11728
7.0 |
NME
Awkward, intractable, occasionally brilliant, always human
Read Review
-
7.0
11847
7.0 |
The Observer
A fuller, less fractured and much more satisfying record than its predecessor
Read Review
-
7.0
12486
7.0 |
The Digital Fix
Despite lacking some of the blood, sweat and tears of their debut its progression highlights that this duo are not short of ideas or ambition
Read Review
-
6.0
11841
6.0 |
State
The highlights are astounding, yet few and far between, and you’ll just have to get past Alice Glass’ high-pitch, slightly demented MC act first. Proceed with caution
Read Review
-
6.0
12314
6.0 |
The Sunday Times
On songs such as Birds and Pap Smear, Kath’s necromantic soundscapes and Glass’s blank-eyed vocal emissions become genuinely terrifying
Read Review
-
6.0
12430
6.0 |
Drowned In Sound
Crystal Castles may have lost some of the old romance and enigma, but turns out they’re good enough songwriters to get away with it, at least part of the time
Read Review
-
6.0
12469
6.0 |
The Guardian
Feels a little stranded, not quite pulling off the icy, slightly scary pop one suspects is the intention – good enough, but no Ladytron or the Knife
Read Review
-
6.0
12471
6.0 |
The Independent
Alice Glass's sensuous vocal murmurs with the waspish synth buzzes and undulating electronic stutters from which Ethan Kath sculpts the electropop grooves.
Read Review
-
6.0
12631
6.0 |
Uncut
Print edition only
-
6.0
12574
6.0 |
Q
Print edition only
-
6.0
13031
6.0 |
The Irish Times
They’re still abrasive and diffident, and now Crystal Castles show they can be seductive as well
Read Review
-
6.0
14600
6.0 |
FasterLouder
Although there are fleeting moments of creativity, Crystal Castles have disappointingly failed to produce the masterpiece that fans were anticipating
Read Review
-