Some Cities
by Doves
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 69
  3. Negative: 5 out of 69

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. [Anonymous]
    Mar 9, 2005
    10
    11 masterpieces = a masterpiece record That's an easy review
  2. DaveK
    Mar 9, 2005
    10
    Great CD! I still think I like Lost Souls slightly better, but this comes very close.
  3. melanier
    Apr 5, 2005
    10
    Another fantastic, melodic, soulful, intelligent offering from The Doves. I just hope that they all comtinue to get along and keep producing music with such longevity. Am still not tired of the first album. Ambition is a beautiful offering. Snowden, Sky starts falling and Walk in Fire, in fact there is not a bad song on this album.
  4. noemier
    May 20, 2005
    10
    tis the best
  5. JPNesker
    Dec 30, 2005
    10
    This record makes my top 3 of 2005, along with "Plans" by Death Cab, "Man-Made" by the Fannies, and "Illinoise" by Sufjan Stevens...anyone who isn't moved by the peerless pop genius of doves has no musical soul...nuff said.
  6. MattD.
    Mar 7, 2005
    10
    A masterpiece! Don't listen to the snobs.
  7. StephenC
    Apr 29, 2005
    10
    What a great album. The Doves are great at making albums that feel so complete and as though they've gone through the motions to write. I dont deel they write songs just so they can release a single or an other reason apart from making good music. The write and play what they are feeling. Brilliant and great beats.
  8. JoeDP
    Apr 3, 2005
    10
    Not an easy listen...but well worth the replays...which will leave the melody's ringing in your head and make you take a closer look at each song (from stucture to lyrics)...The DOVES are England....if you have ever been there or lived there you will understand...What I have always enjoyed about the DOVES is the way their music is PERSONAL and its up to the public to catch on...you Not an easy listen...but well worth the replays...which will leave the melody's ringing in your head and make you take a closer look at each song (from stucture to lyrics)...The DOVES are England....if you have ever been there or lived there you will understand...What I have always enjoyed about the DOVES is the way their music is PERSONAL and its up to the public to catch on...you either like them or want nothing to do with there world.… Expand
  9. MackB
    Dec 29, 2005
    10
    Nine months of owning this album (and much listening) have not dulled its intensity or impact. I understand that this music might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you have enjoyed previous Doves releases, then this one shouldn't dissapoint. To me, it seems like they took the best elements of their first two albums and combined them here - without rehashing previous material Nine months of owning this album (and much listening) have not dulled its intensity or impact. I understand that this music might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you have enjoyed previous Doves releases, then this one shouldn't dissapoint. To me, it seems like they took the best elements of their first two albums and combined them here - without rehashing previous material and yet still maintaining a trademark sound. I can certainly understand that enjoying music is related to an emotional connection - but that said, I think that the Doves' music is often times described as 'boring' by those who lack the attention span to sit through one listen of their albums. (As a side note, Elbow seems to receive the same treatment, despite making such enjoyable albums.) There are plenty of hooks - but many of these songs are slow to develop, and grow on you after multiple listens. A single listen might seem disappointing to those who need instant gratification from their listening experience. But, to each his own. To me, this one is definitely a keeper.… Expand
  10. NickPik
    Mar 28, 2005
    10
    Brilliant again...they keep pushing the boundries of music the no other band can imagine.
  11. SimonH
    Apr 26, 2005
    10
    Amazing! No more no less.
  12. BodinA
    Jul 12, 2005
    10
    Great album !!! Pop, Dark pop, Soul......
  13. Steve
    Mar 21, 2005
    10
    Beautiful, elegant, and creative. There's not much of that in today's music. Shallow-minded listeners like Robert P and alice better go look up the top five albums of the week at billboard.com to make sure it's cool.
  14. MikeH
    Apr 22, 2005
    10
    LOVE IT. One of the best albums I've picked up for a long time. Going to the show in Vancouver May 6th and I can't wait!!!!
  15. SeanH
    Aug 18, 2006
    10
    Sing Jimmi..Sing! Blow your lungs out! Very nice piece of work!
  16. MatthewA
    Mar 20, 2005
    9
    Takes a while to get used to, but Some Cities definitely passes as one of the best albums so far this year.
  17. MaciejW
    Apr 5, 2005
    9
    Lush and atmospheric, The Doves know how to craft mind powering tunes, and although this record doesn't have as strong a consistency as Last Broadcast does, it definitely does not fall short of its mark boasting some of the best Songs the Doves have written to date (especially the first 4 tracks of the record).
  18. GregH
    Feb 3, 2006
    9
    Beautiful. Layer upon layer of melodic, moody rock, which soothes rather than bores. From Motown to 90s to New Age, it's tough to name an influence these chaps don't draw from. And successfully at that.
  19. RobEggnog
    Mar 1, 2005
    9
    This years first great album. More windswept than it's predecessor, listen to 'Snowden' and you'd be hard pressed not to be impressed.
  20. TomB
    Mar 1, 2005
    9
    Their high watermark. I would love to sit the Playlouder critic down and hash this out with him, because either the guy has tin for ears or he didn't get Jimi to autograph his tit back in 1999.
  21. ColR
    Mar 3, 2005
    9
    Doves are the greatest post brit-pop indie band to come out of Manchester. This album is as consistently great as the previous two. Any critic who doesn't praise this awesome aural treat doesn't know music.
  22. DaveL
    Mar 7, 2005
    9
    Absolutely brilliant. Close to Lost Souls as their best work, it combines the last two albums into a big soup of greatness.
  23. JohnW
    Apr 23, 2005
    9
    Stunning mostly
  24. TonyS
    Sep 18, 2005
    9
    Some Cities, is a great album, not quite as good as their first "Lost Souls" but an improvement over "The Last Broadcast". This album is full of great songs. My personal favourites are, Snowden, Almost Forgot Myself, Someday soon and the towering, Sky starts falling. Sky starts falling is a an almost, "Jam" like tune, Jimi Goodwins vocals even have a Weller like feel to them, the drums Some Cities, is a great album, not quite as good as their first "Lost Souls" but an improvement over "The Last Broadcast". This album is full of great songs. My personal favourites are, Snowden, Almost Forgot Myself, Someday soon and the towering, Sky starts falling. Sky starts falling is a an almost, "Jam" like tune, Jimi Goodwins vocals even have a Weller like feel to them, the drums pound and the guitars soa, it is the most fully realsied and formed Doves song we have yet to hear, when I first heard it, I knew it had to be a single. Doves are one of the 5 best bands in the world and have been for about 5 years but they are in such a subtle and understated way, that they will never get the acclaim for this. Long may they carry on producing records of this quality.… Expand
  25. NickR
    Mar 25, 2005
    9
    Inspiring third album from Doves. Showcasing Jimi Goodwins incredible soulful voice to great effect. The first 8 tracks are all killer, the last 3 lose focus a bit i think, but still a great album. More Lost Souls than Last Broadcast, and maybe their best yet!
  26. BenS
    May 2, 2005
    9
    Fantastic Album. First Four songs make the album worth a buy alone. Not quite as good as Last Broadcast, but still, impressive.
  27. CarlosM
    May 4, 2005
    9
    An excellent anthemic and epic album. The first 6 songs are awsome. We are at the verge of the first really great band of the latest nineties and the begining of the new century. Coldplay will pass, Travis already passed, but Doves have an intensity, and athmosphere of their own that can't be missed and will be remembered at least for the next 25 years. Some cities is dark, An excellent anthemic and epic album. The first 6 songs are awsome. We are at the verge of the first really great band of the latest nineties and the begining of the new century. Coldplay will pass, Travis already passed, but Doves have an intensity, and athmosphere of their own that can't be missed and will be remembered at least for the next 25 years. Some cities is dark, melancholic, and is filled with a sense of urgency that responds to a sad urban life that envolves many of us.… Expand
  28. mol
    May 18, 2006
    9
    It's almost a ten worthy achievement, but due to some of the easilly forgotten segments of the album, it falls slighlt short. Most of these are after the song "Walk In Fire", which is the album's highlight. Great album though!
  29. MarkusK
    Feb 28, 2005
    9
    Don't care what the critics say, but this is really great album. For me, it's even better than their first one, and definitely better than the second, that was really "grey" and dumb album. This one is full of life and wonderful musically.
  30. SaeedG
    May 11, 2005
    8
    Solid all around, though is not as accesible and memorable as Last Broadcast. Highlights: Some Cities, Black & White Town, Snowden, Sky Starts Falling Skip: The Storm
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Most Discussed Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 28
  3. Negative: 3 out of 28
  1. Rolling Stone
    60
    Some Cities is less self-consciously arty than Souls, though the murky atmospherics and nondistinct Brit voices here will likely confine the album to the nether regions of America's Top 100.
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    There's an almost antiquated quality to this wondrously exhilarating, shimmering pop masterpiece. [4 Mar 2005, p.73]
  3. Urb
    80
    They throw light on their shadowy melancholia, resulting in positively euphoric tunes. [Mar 2005, p.111]
See all critic reviews »