The Hair, The TV, The Baby & The Band
by Imperial Teen
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Aug 21, 2007
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. PopMatters
    50
    Power pop must be one of the most difficult genres to maintain as you get older, because its energy and its subject matter are so tied to youth. And yet, Imperial Teen manages to pull it off a couple of times, with bouncy, shout-along songs that fall just short of their best material.
  2. Q Magazine
    60
    Their fourth album is another collection of winning boy-girl-harmony-laden indie confections. [Jan 2008, p.106]
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  3. Spin
    60
    On this foursome's fourth collection of infectious indie pop, they downplay the sly smirking of the past. [Sep 2007, p.132]
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  5. Tiny Mix Tapes
    60
    What saves the album from musically becoming a boring, going-through-the-motions exercise is Imperial Teen’s ability to write good hooks.
  6. Uncut
    60
    It's quite fun picking off the trio's various folk-pop influences, with traces of The Mamas & The Papas, Astrud Gilberto and Natalie Merchant filtering through the mix. [Jan 2008, p.90]
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  7. Village Voice
    60
    They've become lapidary masters. The trouble is, who's listening and learning?

User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. ChampiodiP.
    Jul 14, 2009
    9
    Imperial Teen were never a band of big sounds. This album though sees them stripped down even further with an almost lo-fi quality and I say Imperial Teen were never a band of big sounds. This album though sees them stripped down even further with an almost lo-fi quality and I say quality as this album could be their Masterpiece. Stuttering tempos and beautiful short snappy melodies, wonderfully free flowing anthems indie-rock anthems (opf the highest order), low budget glorious indiepop this is throughout, tinged with typical Bottum humour exceptional pop music.… Full Review »
  2. JC
    Aug 24, 2007
    8
    Classic Imperial Teen. Moves mostly between the sounds of "On" ('Do It Better' is a close kin to 'Sugar') and "What Is Classic Imperial Teen. Moves mostly between the sounds of "On" ('Do It Better' is a close kin to 'Sugar') and "What Is Not To Love". "What You Do" is probably their best bittersweet closer yet. Good to have them back.… Full Review »
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