Witching Hour
by Ladytron
  • Record Label: Rykodisc
  • Release Date: Oct 4, 2005
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 81 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 81
  3. Negative: 13 out of 81

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  1. arostislavna
    Dec 8, 2021
    8
    More pure electro Ladytron, and some lacking sounds with minimal reverb that Ladytron is known for.
  2. xuxapreta
    Jan 1, 2021
    10
    Those who have loved Ladytron’s move toward a mix of harsher electro and lighter pop elements will find this a welcome progression, and seemingly a natural one, too.
  3. Klayton1892
    Jan 1, 2021
    10
    The standouts are too numerous to mention, and all in all, Ladytron have set a new peak, getting to the heart of their best previous moments and expanding on them.
  4. Oneminded
    Apr 5, 2020
    8
    This was the album that got me hooked on Ladytron!

    Featuring their most well-known and beloved song “Destroy Everything You Touch” and a slew of other great tracks It also features their first venture into adding live instruments to collide with their synth pop styling which make this a more dream pop album than their previous titles and paved the way for the future iterations. The    This was the album that got me hooked on Ladytron!

    Featuring their most well-known and beloved song “Destroy Everything You Touch” and a slew of other great tracks It also features their first venture into adding live instruments to collide with their synth pop styling which make this a more dream pop album than their previous titles and paved the way for the future iterations.

    The cohesion of style and tone on this album is largely uneven and often experimenting with where they want to take their new sound. Many fans were curious what direction they would take next. Their follow-up album Velocifero helped solidify the dream synth pop style that was introduced here in a more cohesive manner.

    Tracks like “International Dateline” help highlight the strong personal tone from Marnie that she was merely hinting at in previous albums and brought back in force with their follow up albums.

    All in all this is where most casual Ladytron listeners should start and will likely enjoy on repeated play-throughs.    … Expand
  5. EludiumQ36
    Aug 11, 2018
    10
    This is probably my favorite Ladytron album. Favorite songs: High Rise, Destroy Everything You Touch, International Dateline, Sugar, Beauty #2, and All the Way. Love their sound, their lyrics, their imagery, and the feeling the music inspires.
  6. JeremyN
    Oct 25, 2006
    8
    In early electro, pop hooks were fundamental (see early John Foxe and Young Marble Giants); in recent its-story, they've been viewed with epicurean distaste, as if the only thing left to do were not to write a convincing chorus. Ladytron (or their producer) now realizes the psychological power of a chiseled nursery hook attached to ineradicably catcy bass keys and droning guitars In early electro, pop hooks were fundamental (see early John Foxe and Young Marble Giants); in recent its-story, they've been viewed with epicurean distaste, as if the only thing left to do were not to write a convincing chorus. Ladytron (or their producer) now realizes the psychological power of a chiseled nursery hook attached to ineradicably catcy bass keys and droning guitars from Lush and Secret Shine, but distilled to relentless 80s pop loops. Shamelessly, the first single references "You Really Got Me"; Ladytron has finally managed to prove how mercilessly intelligent exploitation can be. This is the first album in a new and promising genre: synthsploitation.… Expand
  7. VictorD
    Oct 21, 2006
    9
    Great songs I can't get out of my mind. A referent in electronica. Stays always in my MP3 player.
  8. TimP
    Sep 27, 2006
    10
    A friend of mine made me go to their concert last night when I had never heard of Ladytron before 2 days ago. I downloaded the album from itunes the night before and have been listening to it ever since! It is a darkly sexy, mysterious, noisy and disturbing set of brilliant pop songs. I find myself humming the songs constantly, yet they are not the kinds of songs you would expect to leave A friend of mine made me go to their concert last night when I had never heard of Ladytron before 2 days ago. I downloaded the album from itunes the night before and have been listening to it ever since! It is a darkly sexy, mysterious, noisy and disturbing set of brilliant pop songs. I find myself humming the songs constantly, yet they are not the kinds of songs you would expect to leave that kind of impression. A really unusual but excellent pop treasure.… Expand
  9. andyp
    Aug 25, 2006
    9
    Deliciously subversive, slinky, and sexual.
  10. DaveE
    Aug 11, 2006
    5
    Little of the fun synthpop is left, in favor of a rehashing of the exact same mood of My Bloody Valentine.
  11. LikoS
    Jun 18, 2006
    10
    this album owns, I used to hate ladytron...without actually having heard them...but i gave this one a try and it owns! its definitely played at work a lot. drives my co-workers crazy. hahaha.
  12. johnh
    May 27, 2006
    9
    Junior Boys meet Notwist, I like it a lot.
  13. jyotirmayad
    Apr 27, 2006
    10
    Oh, this CD is their best. It is glorious. I love the textures of the music and the vocals and outasite lyrics. Ladytron rule right now.
  14. DagmarJ
    Mar 21, 2006
    9
    Really an excellent album. Unfortunately the voting here has been skewed by one nutty fan who is clearly voting repeatedly down. This album is certainly worth a listen.
  15. IvanB
    Feb 20, 2006
    9
    Wonderful
  16. AndyB
    Jan 17, 2006
    10
    Previously, I had found Ladytron to be a fairly disposable electro scene band, and god knows there are enough of them. However, then I heard Witching Hour: the best album released by a British band other then Belle and Sebastian in about ten years. A few people have suggested the last few songs don't meet the standard of the first half of the album, and this is true. However, an Previously, I had found Ladytron to be a fairly disposable electro scene band, and god knows there are enough of them. However, then I heard Witching Hour: the best album released by a British band other then Belle and Sebastian in about ten years. A few people have suggested the last few songs don't meet the standard of the first half of the album, and this is true. However, an overwhelming majority of successful celebrated bands will never in their entire careers produce something as good as International Dateline or Destroy Everything You Touch - Ladytron produce half a album of this quality, and then half an album which is merely very, very, VERY good. This album couldn't be better if it came with free money.… Expand
  17. LeonardoF
    Dec 11, 2005
    9
    i love the dark/shoegazing mood of this album, the synths sound fantastic too. great album.
  18. JasonT
    Nov 29, 2005
    9
    Great CD from start to finish! One of the best this year.
  19. walterj
    Nov 24, 2005
    4
    Kelly Clarkson will cover Sugar in a year or two.
  20. ancag
    Nov 15, 2005
    10
    The best album of the year so far! Mindblowing and soul burning.
  21. aj
    Nov 13, 2005
    8
    The song Destroy Everything You Touch is fantastic- the rest of the record rolls through pretty evenly. A solid mix of electroclash and shoegazey guitars. Dark and sexy. Good work Ladytron.
  22. cue
    Nov 13, 2005
    1
    wow i was expecting so much from this but i dont know how anyone would be able to give this anything above a 3 at most its a powerdrill to my ears all these critics jump on band wagons and say this and that but 8 out of 10 times they're totally wrong and its all just hype
  23. CarolG.
    Nov 11, 2005
    8
    It's a grower, not a show-er.
  24. lebiel
    Nov 7, 2005
    9
    Witching Hour is to Ladytron what Gran Turismo was to the Cardigans - the darker, denser, more mature album. Good stuff.
  25. RoxyM
    Nov 5, 2005
    2
    I think ladytron are having an identiy crisis. I always thought that they might miss they're own point. This album is a clear indication of that.
  26. CaptainSensible
    Nov 5, 2005
    0
    Strange how some people only seem to say their older stuff was like "the human league" or someone. Man, thats so totally wrong. Any resemblance was superficial, and shows these guys didn't really listen to them. Don't they think that they sound like somebody else now? Maybe theres no-one new to copy! Bon jovi, that's so funny.
  27. MartinMcfly
    Nov 5, 2005
    0
    Their albums were full of electronic delight. They used to sing about prositiution, drugs and were pretty observant on human nature, and I dont think anybody here has really got it! That's probably why they didn't sell so well. To water down an album so its "innofensive" so it can appeal to those who find profoundness in weak lyrical suggestion is poor.
  28. DocBrown
    Nov 5, 2005
    0
    Ha, seems the doc was right. These new reviews/comments (?) have merely reiterated what he said and what is wrong by giving an album 10/10. Are they trying to be ironic or just ignorant? Geez this album is lame.
  29. FarshS
    Nov 5, 2005
    0
    Just goes to show how totally irrelevant these scores are and the knee jerk amateur journalism that
  30. EdwardH
    Nov 1, 2005
    10
    Oh, yes. Yes! In comes the cavalry, in the shape of Ladytron, to save 2005 and make my day. Definitely the best british band of today.
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Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Most Discussed Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Get past Ladytron's aloof exterior and you'll discover bristling guitars that anchor the most pneumatic of beats--and supremely catchy songs that pulse with life. [7 Oct 2005, p.76]
  2. Playlouder
    80
    Where Ladytron's first two albums might have felt to some to be alienating and monochrome, like a shallow bender on champers and very nice drugs, but a shallow bender nonetheless; 'The Witching Hour' is blessed with a far greater palette of sound and sensation, and is as fine a spell as you'll succumb to all year.
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  3. Pitchfork
    83
    The Witching Hour is the most urgent and immediate of their career. The earlier records were sort of toylike and plastic; this not only has a pulse, it has chilled blood in its veins.
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