What Do You Think About The Car?

Declan McKenna - What Do You Think About The Car?
Critic Score
Based on 16 reviews
2017 Ratings: #369 / 940
User Score
Based on 628 ratings
2017 Rank: #285
Liked by 76 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

85
The Line of Best Fit
Opening with a rush of pure pop before moving onto more serious topics, McKenna’s debut bursts into life with a point to prove and those aims have certainly been fulfilled.
83
GIGsoup
‘What Do You Think About The Car?’ isn’t just a bunch of great songs thrown together, this album is perfectly crafted. Declan McKenna is the voice of a generation, shining light on social issues as well as producing arena ready tracks at the tender age of just 18.
80
NME
To all intents and purposes McKenna is a teen breakout star, but describing him that way feels reductive after listening to his debut, on which he proves himself a serious lyricist who deserves more than to be put in a box.
80
DIY
See, while there’s a huge swathe of ‘What Do You Think About The Car?’ that could well owe its sound to the dour singalongs of the post-Britpop years, everything here is doused in sonic hundreds-and-thousands, the kind of synth beeps and squelches and breakdowns your average bucket hat would turn their sunburnt nose up at.
80
The Guardian
They are protest songs, but sound anything but worthy or world-weary. Instead, they are sun-soaked aural fizz bombs which channel indie rock through his love of David Bowie and Abba.
80
Dork
While most – even his more experienced peers – would turn an ear for social responsibility into a world of overwrought, over-sincere ‘authentic’ drones, McKenna would pale at the thought. Instead, he conjures up technicolour worlds with playful thoughts and sincere meaning.
70
No Ripcord

Rather than trying to position himself as an overtly political artist, he instead manages to create something that feels wholly representative of what being a teenager is like in 2017. If Lorde was aiming to soundtrack a chaotic house party on Melodrama, What Do You Think About the Car? is the soundtrack of the much less glamorous high school angst.

70
Northern Transmissions
McKenna has managed to take a snapshot of teenage feelings but without forging an album that won’t be looked at as one made by just a kid.
60
Clash

For such a young talent, his lyrics are strong, but give him a few more years of life experience and they could be in a different league.

59
Pitchfork
There’s promise here, but it’s confused.
jlebon
77

At 15 years old, Declan McKenna wrote 'Brazil'. At 15 years old I got offered the Brazil national team job on a FIFA career mode. We are not the same

currentjoyys
100

FAVORITE TRACK: Isombard

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: None

I never really talk about it but Declan McKenna is one of my favorite singers alive. I fell in love with Brazil the first time I heard it and this album was a game-changer for me at the time I heard it. I've seen Declan live when he toured for this album and I've made some amazing friends through his fanbase.

What Do You Think About the Car? is an essential album for modern day pop rock. McKenna's songs are personal and catchy with amazing ... read more

MarkCooper
NR

Declan's album should be in declearance section

75

I believe that this album show a talent growing in the music scene. Declan, at such a young age, has crafted songs with commendable lyrics and instrumentals. However, in some tracks, I found myself feeling a bit bored; certain parts felt overly repetitive, and some mixes didn't quite hit the mark for me. Additionally, some of the lyrics come across as if a teenager wrote about things they may not fully understand, resulting in lines that feel a bit cringeworthy.

Overall, it's a commendable ... read more

SquishyRain
67

I already knew two songs of this album for years before i finally decided to give a listen to the full masterpiece.

And uh welp i did just that

Why do you feel so down? And brazil are definitely songs that i recommend to give a listen to

The other songs on this album were either mid or just below average

Listening to the full album is a lil boring and just feels like a very long elevator ride

annasimshady
83

i really enjoy this album, it just works and like i wish i was that level of talented at his young age making this album
top tracks: Brazil, Paracetamol
bottom tracks: Make Me Your Queen

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Added on: May 15, 2017