The Balance
by Catfish and the Bottlemen
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Apr 26, 2019
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 32
  3. Negative: 8 out of 32
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  1. babyballs
    Apr 26, 2019
    1
    **** awful, its the same as the other 2 albums they shouldve called it the balcony 3
  2. Gainesy
    Jun 18, 2019
    3
    As a long time fan of Catfish, on the release of the Balance I was a little disappointed. The first four songs from Longshot to Conversation all released prior as singles, for me four singles was too much, and as they released the quality dipped. As for the rest of the album, generic indie, big heavy drops, affected vocals, all done before but better in my opinion. I have to say the onlyAs a long time fan of Catfish, on the release of the Balance I was a little disappointed. The first four songs from Longshot to Conversation all released prior as singles, for me four singles was too much, and as they released the quality dipped. As for the rest of the album, generic indie, big heavy drops, affected vocals, all done before but better in my opinion. I have to say the only saving grace of the album is ‘Intermission’ before the finale. The stripped back sound can resinate with the listener adding emotions other than over the top drops to which I can only picture crowds of teenage girls screaming to.
    I'm a firm believer in a bands 3rd Lp being a make or break. If you look at previous examples, Be Here Now by Oasis, they never touched on writing an album as good as What's the Story. Arctic Monkeys on the other hand a band that is known for switching up sounds with Humbug, joining the likes of Oasis as one of the biggest bands to come out of Britain. The Balance fails to bring anyhting new to the table and if the band decides to write a 4th LP, it needs a breath of fresh air because I would hate to see a band like Catfish that show plenty of potential fade away and forgotten.    … Expand
  3. Danm95VFF
    Jun 3, 2019
    1
    One of the most pointless, inessential rock bands out there. How they've become so popular is beyond me. Nearly every song they've done sounds like a second-rate rewrite of an established rock hit. Instead, listen to Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood or even the friggin' Kooks. Flavourless.
  4. emilyc
    Sep 1, 2019
    1
    only like 1 good song all sounds the same really not progressing or improving as a band

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Q Magazine
    May 14, 2019
    60
    While their third third album won't win any prizes for innovation, it's pumped full of the kind of GM-modified anthems expressly tooled for both sticky-floored clubs and gigantic arenas. [Jul 2019, p.109]
  2. Uncut
    Apr 25, 2019
    40
    Parts of the album are perfectly serviceable but largely the songs become indistinguishable. [May 2019, p.26]
  3. AllMusic
    Apr 25, 2019
    60
    They don't expand their horizons, preferring to stick to the hyper-charged British indie they minted with their 2014 debut, The Balcony.
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