In the years since Pip Paine… and Nights Out the group had seemed to be more focused on recording albums than three-minute-hits. The two sides of the group, both new and old, combine gloriously in Summer, creating a pure pop climax some of the supposed greats of the genre would be proud of.
Summer 08 may not have been designed to build on the success of Love Letters and The English Riviera, but it still very well may; it's every bit as resourceful, offbeat and pleasing as anything Mount has done to date.
Nodding strongly towards everything from Hall & Oates, to Justice, and Patrice Rushen, and flaunting all of Mount’s influences without a hint of irony, Summer ‘08’ is from start to finish, a back to basics, pure-pop odyssey.
Summer 08's exuberance and sophistication are a testament to those skills, as well as to music's power to define and evoke a period in time -- and one of Metronomy's most enjoyable albums yet.
Mount remains an exceptional musical craftsman, who continues to shift and change and toy with his formula, which is proven to result in fun listens like Summer 08.
While it might lack the chaotic charm of Nights Out, or the lush, well-rounded sound of The English Riviera, it makes up for that by simply being fun.
Summer 08 is Metronomy stripped back and as a result plays to frontman Joseph Mount's strengths.
In anyone else’s hands, Summer 08 might seem strange and cold. But from Mount, as ornery as it is, it feels like a gesture of trust.
‘Summer 08’ is the banger-filled record Mount has always wanted to make, for fun, and we’re very much glad that he did.
Summer 08 is good work from Mount, and an album with its fair share of corking tracks.
Overall ... there is more than enough on Summer 08 to reconfirm Metronomy’s position as one of this country’s wittiest, most original and purely enjoyable pop acts.
Metronomy seem to have ever so slightly lost their way since the sublime high-water mark of 2011’s The English Riviera.
After starting strong, Summer 08 fizzles out, much like a failed night on the town.
Back Together - 72
Miami Logic - 74
Old Skool - 76
16 Beat - 100
Hang Me Out To Dry - 73
Mick Slow - 70
My House - 92
Night Owl - 83
Love's Not an Obstacle - 71
Summer Jam - 74
Maybe it was the longer absence from listening to Metronomy albums, but I really vibed with Summer 08. I had heard previously that this was another project which was mainly put together by Joseph Mount alone, so I was curious to hear how it would turn out, considering that a lot of time and changes in sound had passed ever since Metronomy's debut, and luckily the end result was awesome. The footing does get lost for a brief moment at the middle segment of the album, but it comes back with a ... read more
Maybe it was the longer absence from listening to Metronomy albums, but I really vibed with Summer 08. I had heard previously that this was another project which was mainly put together by Joseph Mount alone, so I was curious to hear how it would turn out, considering that a lot of time and changes in sound had passed ever since Metronomy's debut, and luckily the end result was awesome. The footing does get lost for a brief moment at the middle segment of the album, but it comes back with a ... read more
Back Together: 80 ★
Miami Logic: 80 ★
Old Skool: 80
16 Beat: 70
Hang Me Out to Dry: 80
Mick Slow: 60
My House: 60
Night Owl: 80 ★
Love’s Not An Obstacle: 60
Summer Jam: 70
Average: 72 / 100
1 | Back Together 3:40 | 75 |
2 | Miami Logic 3:20 | 75 |
3 | Old Skool 5:13 | 88 |
4 | 16 Beat 3:16 | 73 |
5 | Hang Me Out to Dry 3:50 with Robyn | 73 |
6 | Mick Slow 5:02 | 78 |
7 | My House 3:19 | 78 |
8 | Night Owl 4:28 | 83 |
9 | Love's Not an Obstacle 3:15 | 80 |
10 | Summer Jam 3:43 | 83 |
#39 | / | Gaffa (Norway) |
#42 | / | Fopp |
#79 | / | Under the Radar |
/ | Esquire (UK) |