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CRITIC REVIEWS
90
In many ways this album is a study in 90s alternative rock ... whacked through a lot of harsh clipping ... Tracey Denim is like a lost tape of demos from a short-lived band whose members are now all dead or diplomats in the Middle East.
90
It’s an act made possible by resisting the visual as fetish, closing one’s eyes, and, finally, submitting to the unencumbered beauty of sound.
80
Tracey Denim‘s slow-burning appeal may require patience from some listeners, but ultimately pays off with subtle flashes of genius.
80
The air of mystery that once surrounded bar italia might have evaporated, but with songs like these, they were never going to stay a secret for long.
80
Tracey Denim manages that difficult task, of creating an album that feels like a self-contained world without losing sight of songs that really work in and of themselves.
80
The 15 impressively arranged tracks on ‘Tracey Denim’ will only bolster Bar Italia’s discography to date, ushering them, whether they like it or not, even further into the spotlight.
80
At once intricate and tossed-off, passionate and aloof, Tracey Denim's seeming contradictions and haunting mood elevate bar italia amongst their post-punk reviving peers. It's an album that's complex enough for fans of the band's previous work, and just welcoming enough for a wider audience.
80
The band is a bit of an enigma: no interviews, very little shared back story. But their music makes you feel like you’ve come across these folks before.
73
There are plenty of signs that Bar Italia are poised to reach the emotional heights of Blonde Redhead or Interpol, and for all their love of the past, they are clearly prepared for the future.
70
At 15 tracks it rather drags its anchor, but there's much promise here.
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4w
70
What’s most striking about Tracey Denim ... is that despite working fairly tightly within the confines of idiomatic post-punk throughout, it doesn’t really sound like anything else in that bracket.
70
Tracey Denim is an up-to-date interpretation of the crunchy, middling-to-heavy, plaid-shirted sound that made Matador so influential.
70
The album mostly screams avant-garde in its minimalism, sometimes to its detriment, but there's no denying they have the talent to justify the mystery they've built.
69
With a crisper sound and direct homages to underground music of generations past, the enigmatic London trio’s Matador debut is moody, moth-eaten record-collector rock that gets by on moody insouciance.
65
Tracey Denim lives and thrives in the shadows of past greats, but is unable to escape them.
60
The label move has seen no major monkeying with the formula: bedsit pop enervated by minor-key guitar chugs and sparse synths which are often over before you've unravelled their riddles.
[seated, from left to right] Sue Perkins, Sandra Bullock and Ariel Pink
This unlikely collaboration makes for a rambling lo-fi/indie 'future cult classic'.
Walking down a dark street at night typa shit
Very pleasantly surprised with this one. Had no clue what to expect with this album as a new release but it has a fucking V I B E. It’s not crazy impressive or anything but it does what it’s trying to do very well, and it’s pretty consistent. Also there are hooks for days on this thing. Nearly every song has something catchy about it, which I love to see. Also I love the duel vocals, adds for some cool textures. My favorite song ... read more
I started listening to bar italia out of curiosity because of their connection to Dean Blunt. It’s been fun to seeing them develop their songwriting and create their own sound.
Although I would’ve like more of the experimentation from their previous albums on here, Tracey Denim has some great riffs and really catchy tunes. Looking forward to seeing how they develop their sound further from here.
As melodias daqui tão presas na minha cabeça há semanas sem parar. Bons riffs, boa combinação de vocais. Os sons tão dando um clima perfeito pras minhas muitas madrugadas sem sono. Minhas preferidas são Clark e Friends.
Despite its shortcomings, Bar Italia's new record still manages to offer a decent listening experience.
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Track List
| 1 | guard 2:22 | 74 |
| 2 | Nurse! 3:48 | 81 |
| 3 | punkt 2:25 | 76 |
| 4 | my kiss era 3:32 | 75 |
| 5 | F.O.B. 2:15 | 69 |
| 6 | Missus Morality 4:12 | 80 |
| 7 | yes i have eaten so many lemons yes i am so bitte 2:59 | 74 |
| 8 | changer 3:28 | 83 |
| 9 | Horsey Girl Rider 2:44 | 74 |
| 10 | NOCD 2:55 | 71 |
| 11 | best in show 2:43 | 75 |
| 12 | Clark 2:23 | 76 |
| 13 | harpee 3:14 | 69 |
| 14 | Friends 1:52 | 65 |
| 15 | maddington 2:44 | 75 |
Total Length: 43 minutes
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Added on: April 18, 2023