Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll
Critic Score
Based on 5 reviews
1988 Ratings: #74 / 182
User Score
Based on 638 ratings
1988 Rank: #35
Liked by 125 people
September 19, 1988 / Release Date
LP / Format
4AD / Label
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
Drowned in Sound

Musical analysis aside though, Blue Bell Knoll is simply a rich, beautiful, liquid record - expressive and ambitious yet never impenetrable or awkward.

80
Sputnikmusic

As always, the Cocteau Twins weave their atmosphere seamlessly from start to finish, and so if you can get past Blue Bell Knoll’s marginally less inviting tone, you’ll find it as worthwhile an experience as any of their essential works.

60
AllMusic

While Blue Bell Knoll has some striking moments that are pure Cocteaus at their best ... it's still the band's least noteworthy release since Garlands.

palomacola
85

I can't unlink an album from the time when I discovered it, and luckily for Blue Bell Knoll that was on my first entirely solo vacation to Lisbon - where the album became this city where I can't speak the language but can move through its tessellated beauty. Like dang, what are they saying.

FattyMcNeill
96

I'm convinced Elizabeth Fraser died and came back to life to start speaking the language of angels.

This feels like a proto "Heaven Or Las Vegas" like it screams everything great about the dream pop era of Cocteau twins that would be perfected only a couple of years later. It's feels much less dark compared to "Treasure" but it still holds a level of mysteriousness that was also present in Treasure.

It was at this point where the gothic element of their work began to fade ... read more

TheFagThatWon
80

We are just gonna ignore the second track
Edit: it’s actually not terrible but still the weakest for the Cocteau standard

LizzyDelRey
89

I twerked at the start and i cried at the end
Fav tracks:Blue Bell Knoll,Carolyns Fingers,Cico Buff,Sucking The Mender,AKORF

Retsila47
98

Another Cocteau Twins album that has just blown me away. This album is so strange and yet so ethereal and beautiful. There’s only one song I don’t like but I don’t think it takes away from the experience. Cocteau Twins are quickly becoming one of my favorite artists, and I’m sure they will be once I listen to their other stuff.

fartmonger
99

still lush, still beautiful, just missing that little extra that heaven or las vegas had. elizabeth's high notes are crazy impressive. some people may criticize the lack of discernable lyrics, but i actually quite like it. lets you really soak in the atmosphere and sound without needing to consider whats being said

fav tracks: blue bell knoll, athol-brose, for pheobe still a baby, the itchy glowbo blow, cico buff, spooning good singing gum, ella megalast burls forever
least fav: none

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Added on: April 15, 2013