Never Trust a Happy Song
by Grouplove
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Sep 13, 2011
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
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  1. Q Magazine
    Sep 21, 2011
    80
    L.A.-based quintet unleash positively euphoric debut. [Oct 2011, p.120]
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  2. Alternative Press
    Sep 13, 2011
    80
    Hopelessly happy, Grouplove should be required listening in seemingly hopeless times. [Oct 2011, p.107]
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  3. BBC Music
    Sep 8, 2011
    80
    Never Trust a Happy Song is far from a cohesive album, but that actually works to its advantage--because it encapsulates the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows, of this emotional rollercoaster known as life.
  5. AllMusic
    Sep 30, 2011
    70
    Ultimately, Grouplove's Never Trust a Happy Song is a cohesive if ramshackle crowd-pleaser, full of melodic double-lead vocals, handclaps, ringing electric guitars, and staccato synth parts that tips a hat to '80s dance-rock while still retaining the band's obvious love of experimental '60s folk-rock.
  6. Spin
    Sep 13, 2011
    70
    Transpose the communal exuberance of Los Campesinos! to the U.S. and you've got this quintet, who prove that sunny, adolescent, pop-rock catchiness will never go out of style.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    Sep 12, 2011
    60
    Like most blasts of carefree romance, its charms may not endure--'Spun', for example, is so saccharine that it's in danger of making your teeth itch--but often in this life, the sweetest things aren't built to last forever.
  8. Slant Magazine
    Sep 8, 2011
    60
    The Californian quintet returns with a full-length release that quite literally recycles the acmes of their EP: "Colours" and "Naked Kids" return untouched and unchanged, while the remaining 10 tracks suggest the band may be a one-trick pony.
  9. The Guardian
    Sep 8, 2011
    60
    What it lacks in originality it makes up for in sweet vibes, which may not keep Grouplove going for ever, but is enough for the moment.
  10. Consequence
    Sep 8, 2011
    60
    A lot of them work; and some fall short. But even with that being said, for a debut, it's a fun, promising effort from a band who has already established themselves as a live show mainstay in the indie realm.
  11. musicOMH.com
    Sep 8, 2011
    60
    On their own merits some of these tracks are classy pop songs, but there needs to be more depth and scope to Grouplove's sound if they are to look forward.
  12. PopMatters
    Oct 6, 2011
    50
    For every song on Never Trust that's listenable, there's an equally unlistenable counterpart.
  13. Drowned In Sound
    Sep 8, 2011
    50
    Somewhere in Never Trust A Happy Song are the fragments of a great band, but sadly they aren't enough to make a great album.
  14. The Observer (UK)
    Sep 8, 2011
    40
    There's no lack of tunes here but precious little spark.
  15. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Sep 29, 2011
    20
    The more you listen, the worse it gets.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. lukemeta
    Dec 11, 2021
    7
    pretty great early 2010's album that really captures the moment of that era of music. first four tracks are great, slips a bit in the latterpretty great early 2010's album that really captures the moment of that era of music. first four tracks are great, slips a bit in the latter half but still has decent moments.… Full Review »
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