Reviewed by: Todd Hutlock
Reviewed on: 2005-04-08

Posted 04/08/2005 - 11:40:42 AM by booyar75:
	Sorry, but this is a poor review of a poor album. Loved Decline...(though the songs “Men Together Today,” “Apologies To Insect Life,” or “Favours In The Beetroot Fields” weren't really indicative of the rest of the album - i personally didn't like them, luckily they're bunched together at the start..skip,skip,skip) - this is a slow, lethargic follow up without the passion & invention of songs like Carrion, Fear of Drowning etc. A couple of good tracks (Be Gone's my favorite) but on the whole disappointing and more C- than A-. A real shame...
Posted 04/08/2005 - 11:54:58 AM by NickSouthall:
	I have to side with Hutlock here - this is fat becoming one of my favourite records of the year. They've seized on the promise of Something Wicked and The Lonely and made a proper slow-burning album of songs, actual compositions and moods and ideas rather than trend-surfing riffing and production flourishes. It takes some time to sink in because it's not brash or crass in anyway, but it's worth it. North Hanging Rock is one of the best moments of music this year for me.
Posted 04/08/2005 - 12:04:45 PM by hutlock:
	As I stated in the review: "If you fell in love with British Sea Power’s first incarnation and wanted them to stay that way forever, I am sorry, this is not the record for you." I do find it interesting that you "loved" Decline and yet you skip the first three tracks (or roughly one quarter of the album).
Posted 04/08/2005 - 02:12:03 PM by lovezero:
	good review but overrating to the album.
Posted 04/08/2005 - 10:49:38 PM by graeme:
	I've been a huge fan of this band for quite some time now (bought their first single on Golden Chariot), and I've watched their sound progress into "Decline..." so I must admit I did fall in love with their "first incarnation". However, I'm also a big fan of artistic evolution, transcendence, or maturation....whatever the case may be. I find this review to be spot on and yes, the JAMC analogy is perfect. They could've pulled the same stunt that their friends in Interpol and the Strokes pulled, namely playing it safe the second time around, but instead they improved. Personally, I was hoping this album would sound more like "A Lovely Day Tomorrow" or "The Lonely" and less like "Apologies To Insect Life" (although I find that track brilliantly insane) so I'm pleased.
Posted 04/20/2005 - 01:55:18 PM by meatbreak:
	I was hoping that the visceral live performances would be bottled in a studio. More 'Insect Life'. But the BSP pop epic they have created is satisfyingly exciting in a totally different way. How much can your heart sewll before it really does burst?