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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Like a diamond formed under a weight of expectation, instead it’s quite possibly the most concentrated form of everything that makes the band special to date.
90
Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky is a brilliantly crafted album. Stylistically, all 12 tracks feel brilliantly stitched together, and the album as a whole is a complete standout for Porridge Radio as a band.
90
Porridge Radio have picked up FROM where they left us on Every Bad, now with added maturity and vulnerability.
90
It might be riddled with hurt but its takeaway feels a lot like hope.
89
On the Brighton four-piece’s excellent new record, they expand their massive sound in new and surprising ways.
81
Where the band’s first few projects were the manifestations of a numbed mind, body and soul, their latest is the profound exhalation of pent-up passion — a result of holding breath for far too long. To breathe is to feel.
80
While some might see this as a barrier to a more mature sound, Porridge Radio delight in these universal growing pains that ultimately reveal a greater vulnerability, born of not having it all figured out yet.
80
Existentialism is hard, but the search is worth it when it sounds as good as this.
80
Frontwoman Dana Margolin deep dives into heartbreak in the Brighton band’s entrancing follow-up to 2020’s Every Bad.
80
The Brighton band, led by Dana Margolin's excoriating vocals and darkly magnetic lyrics, continue to prove uniquely compelling with album three.
80
When paired with its predecessor, it solidifies Porridge Radio as a go-to band for existential dread.
80
The quartet take another stride towards the big time.
80
The band’s third album has a raw power which has the ability, at times, to stop you in your tracks. It’s also their best work to date.
79
Broadening its sound and tightening its lyrical focus, the Brighton post-punk band conjures mantras of despair and anthems of pure frustration.
65
Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky certainly isn’t the most groundbreaking record musically but Porridge Radio is certainly innovative in approach and original in delivery and have made an ambitious and compelling record that demands attention, but at times is not an easy listen.
60
Crushing catharsis makes for an uneasy listen.
Honestly how did they came from an album like 'Every Bad' to this sort of wannabe trash Arcade Fire vibes?!
Out of the three I prefer the water slide tbh
Missed this post punk record last year idk why because I really like it. Nothing insanely mind blowing but I love the passion on the vocals and there are some great fucking hooks here. Back To The Radio, End Of Last Year, Rotten, Jealousy, and the title track are all really solid songs. Especially that last one, as a more melancholic closer it works really well. But yea I like it!
- - N/A
Back To The Radio - 8.5
Trying - 7.5
Birthday Party - 8
End ... read more
This was a let down. Honestly, this whole project felt like a blur and pales in comparison to their debut. Their debut had such a unique and consistently compelling vibe... this was just very mid.
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Track List
| 1 | - 1:09 | 58 |
| 2 | Back To the Radio 3:07 | 79 |
| 3 | Trying 2:19 | 67 |
| 4 | Birthday Party 4:08 | 74 |
| 5 | End of Last Year 3:05 | 70 |
| 6 | Rotten 3:00 | 72 |
| 7 | U Can Be Happy If U Want To 5:09 | 73 |
| 8 | Flowers 4:11 | 71 |
| 9 | Jealousy 4:13 | 78 |
| 10 | I Hope She's Okay 2 2:27 | 72 |
| 11 | Splintered 4:43 | 69 |
| 12 | The Rip 2:56 | 78 |
| 13 | Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To the Sky 3:22 | 73 |
Total Length: 43 minutes
Year End Lists
| #8 | / | MAGNET |
| #10 | / | The New York Times: Jon Pareles |
| #17 | / | Paste |
| #20 | / | Northern Transmissions |
| #28 | / | The Ringer |
| #40 | / | The Quietus |
| #43 | / | Far Out Magazine |
| #55 | / | Clash |
| #70 | / | Under the Radar |
| #82 | / | Rough Trade (UK) |
More Lists
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1y
Back to the Radio instantly became my favourite song of theirs and perhaps the best song of 2022 so far
Added on: February 20, 2022