• Record Label: Domino
  • Release Date: Jul 25, 2006
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Mojo
    80
    An 11-song set that's melodically insidious and swings like a noose. [Apr 2006, p.90]
  2. It's a journey through the West Country trio's brand of infectious bluesy garage rock and evocative of a head on collision between The Kills and the Arcade Fire.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    It's one drawn-out primal scream that goes from dark and broody to blissed-out drone. [11 Mar 2006, p.43]
  4. There's an impressive coherence on Derdang Derdang, showing how well ABO has developed an original and guiding aesthetic.
  5. This is probably the most exciting record that Domino will release in 2006, eleven songs of hillbilly hoe-down, gothic atmospherics, scuzzy rock & roll, acerbic post punk noise, and dark sexuality.
  6. Q Magazine
    60
    While Derdang Derdang has killer hooks aplenty, they're all too often obscured by stop-start rhythms and the unhinged-sounding vocals of Sam Windett. [Apr 2006, p.119]
  7. Uncut
    80
    Blends bluegrass, backwoods folk and hammered blues with a motorik groove. [Apr 2006, p.106]
  8. The album falls out fairly evenly between catchy little gems and more run-of-the-mill, refreshing but ultimately forgettable, garage rock--the kind of songs you enjoy once or twice, but after a month don’t really ever play.
  9. Spin
    70
    They sound ready to take on Franz Ferdinand. [Aug 2006, p.76]
  10. ABO keep the music tight and enclosed to match the lyrical mood, making Derdang Derdang a succinct, purposeful statement.
  11. These first five songs are like a good singles collection, every one of them free-standing and complete, none of them particularly relating to the others. The rest of the album is slighter and less compelling.
  12. Alternative Press
    80
    As much fun as a desperado can have without going on a tri-state crime spree. [Oct 2006, p.214]
  13. Paste Magazine
    80
    Through all the sax squall, noisy racket and oftentimes-undeniable melody... this is a band imploring you to come along for the ride. [Oct 2006, p.81]
  14. What this band needs is a microphone maestro on the order of, say, an Albini, instead of the deep-fried Southern crunch that leaves these eleven songs sounding thin and brittle, ultimately highlighting their clear melodic and structural similarities until what could have been a gut-punching EP becomes a substantial-but-marred LP.
  15. It's garage rock, sure, but it's so much bigger and heavier and totally bloody-knuckled from a bar fight.
  16. Magnet
    70
    The uniformly dark, driving song cycle has no real high or low points--just 11 consistently thrilling guitar and drum loops led around in circular crescendos by Windett's wire-taut tenor. [#73, p.84]
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. BobR
    Jul 24, 2007
    10
    An album of dark uprising cool... love it
  2. LanceM
    Aug 2, 2006
    10
    I first heard the single when in the UK - grabbed the record when it just came out last week. these guys do not disappoint - their sound is I first heard the single when in the UK - grabbed the record when it just came out last week. these guys do not disappoint - their sound is tribal, dark, blues with an alternative rock edge. the production kicks ass - by the guy who worked on The Colour, Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon and Tom Waits Full Review »
  3. Balsamo
    Aug 1, 2006
    9
    Totally unpretentious, down and dirty weirdness that rocks, surprises and beguiles. Great b/w garage video on their web page.