Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect
by Sundara Karma
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
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  1. AllMusic
    Jan 13, 2017
    60
    Sundara Karma have talent, ambition, and youth on their side, but so do a lot of other rising bands. In the end, it's personality and distinction that endure.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    Feb 16, 2017
    50
    Big and bold when it hits, underwhelming and otherwise transient elsewhere, it’s a debut that manages to occasionally impress while leaving a lot to be desired.
  3. PopMatters
    Jan 13, 2017
    60
    Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect is a strong introduction to Sundara Karma, with some true high points and it will surely benefit from good radio coverage, a positive critical response and most importantly, strong public support that this young band can hopefully build on.
  5. The Guardian
    Jan 5, 2017
    40
    Their lyrics indulge in the sort of social commentary the 1975 would probably relegate to the draft folder (“Wild eyes, skinny jeans, disengaged at just 19”).
  6. The Observer (UK)
    Jan 9, 2017
    40
    There’s promise here, but ultimately too little to mark them out from the rest of the pack.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. scepticpurple
    Aug 8, 2017
    7
    Everything from their softly delayed guitar tones, skinny jeans, effeminate front-man and awkwardly contrived wit lands Sundara Karma firmlyEverything from their softly delayed guitar tones, skinny jeans, effeminate front-man and awkwardly contrived wit lands Sundara Karma firmly amongst the ever growing pile of indistinguishable Indie-Guitar bands somewhere between The Hunna and High Tide. What saves them from becoming just yet another 1975 wannabe though, is their inescapable ability to craft a good handful of surprisingly catchy anthems, that give their album just enough memorability to prevent it from disappearing completely.… Full Review »
  2. Didolina
    Jan 10, 2017
    4
    I preordered the album based on the Flame and She Said - and the positive critiques. I regret it now. Chant-along choruses? Where? These guysI preordered the album based on the Flame and She Said - and the positive critiques. I regret it now. Chant-along choruses? Where? These guys don't know what a 'chorus' means. NOT ONCE was I tempted to stop listening the album and look up the lyrics so I could chant along. All the songs melt down into one boring, monotonous sound. There's occassional slight shift in rhythm, but nothing 'catchy'.

    The lead's weak voice doesn't help it. He obviously can't sing higher tones, whenever you expect there would be one, he "artistically" drops down (most obvious in Vivienne). It's interesting once, maybe twice. Then it becomes ridiculously repetitive.

    Last but not least, the lyrics. One of the positive articles praised them for deeper meaning of lyrics that shows their religious upbringing. Where? What? You meant the clichéd, wannabe rebellious youtfhful anti-church rants like in Be Nobody? That kind of "deeper meanings" has been done to death already. Or Loveblood, simulating orgasm? Wow, SO unheard of! Not.

    Flame and She Said remain the only remarkable songs by this band. The Night and Olympia are also quite good and show some potential - which is why I give it 40%. None of them are news songs, however. The new songs are mediocre at the best. What a pity that they now decided to ruin the Flame by replacing their best video with the uninspired and weird Oscar's dancing.

    They MIGHT be good one day, if Oscar takes some singing lessons and if they stop focusing on "rebellious teen" clichés.    … Full Review »
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