It’s not challenging the bleeding edge, or attempting to make huge statements about the world around it. It’s a personal document on a grand scale - a collection of doubts and dreams exploding onto the biggest possible stage.
The Manchester band moves from cult concern to the big leagues with an impressive, deft debut.
For all their goth rock exterior, ‘My Mind Makes Noises’ is ultimately a pop record with substance at its core.
These young Mancunians have perfected what makes pop such an addictive, essential genre, and My Mind Makes Noises is both immediate and idiosyncratic. Pale Waves’ presence may be gloomy, but their songwriting and ambition could not be brighter.
Sure, the lyrics might need a bit of polishing, but this is a strong debut from a band who understood the beauty of a POP song.
A sensational singles band, the sheer adrenalin rush of Pale Waves’ outsider pop benefits from the depth offered by the full-length format on stellar debut album ‘My Mind Makes Noises’.
They’ll probably be the last, following their US twin band Muna and their labelmates The 1975, to get away with this particular production sound, and 14 tracks stretches the hooks a little thin, but My Mind Makes Noises boasts pop craft to rival big-money production teams, and much better eyeliner to boot.
The super-hyped Manchester quartet have some nice melodies, but can’t yet craft songs – and you’ll need to be a heartsick emo teenager to endure the lyrics.
From their aesthetic, you’d expect Pale Waves’ debut album to be a modern goth revival. But it will take less than a minute into Eighteen to dissuade you of that notion. This is a pure pop record, through and through. There’s plenty of great pop music out there. However, Pale Waves fall short.
I have a soft spot for this album. Does it sound like The 1975? Sure. Is it better than The 1975? Absolutely. It has all of the pure pop goodness with none of the pretentious twaddle that makes that band insufferable. It's simply a great pop record.
One of the worst things I've ever heard
Ever since I started making reviews, I have sometimes given use to the word "generic", each time I've used it, it has been to describe a track or album that really doesn't have anything special, nothing worth mentioning, nothing impressive or even remotely fun, it's just there, it exists, it sounds like everything else.
Now, I'm only mentioning this because the word generic has changed its meaning for me in just about 50 minutes, and now, I ... read more
This was one of my favorite bands since the second I heard Eighteen. It is mostly carried by this album, the whole thing slaps, emotive vocals, I love Heather's voice and then excellent 80s style pop composition, it definitely sounds like The Cure or The 1975 for sure but I just love what they did with it on the first EP and this LP. Black is wonderful, you really feel the guitar in that one. There's a Honey is a sunny bop, Eighteen is super catchy and just slaps as a pop song. Red goes super ... read more
someone called this the 1975 but good. the 1975 without the pretentious bullshit, and I agree.
I am a small fan of Pale Waves.
This release is so catchy.
I wouldn't skip a single song on this release.
Positives- great dancing atmosphere
I would purchase this one, and a little excited to spin it again.
1 | Eighteen 3:00 | 87 |
2 | There's a Honey 3:50 | 84 |
3 | Noises 4:06 | 86 |
4 | Came in Close 3:03 | 79 |
5 | Loveless Girl 3:04 | 69 |
6 | Drive 4:14 | 82 |
7 | When Did I Lose It All 3:57 | 77 |
8 | She 4:14 | 72 |
9 | One More Time 2:39 | 79 |
10 | Television Romance 3:24 | 83 |
11 | Red 3:56 | 89 |
12 | Kiss 3:10 | 79 |
13 | Black 3:54 | 83 |
14 | Karl (I Wonder What It's Like to Die) 3:39 | 89 |
#33 | / | The Line of Best Fit |
#53 | / | NME |
#72 | / | God Is In The TV |
/ | Alternative Press | |
/ | Radio X |