Albums to watch

Big Echo

The Morning Benders

Big Echo

Second album of upbeat, mainly acoustic, indie pop from the Californian quartet, produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear

ADM rating[?]

7.1

Label
Rough Trade
UK Release date
09/03/2010
  1. 9.0 |   God Is In The TV

    The first four tracks are incredibly strong as an opening, and despite a more laid back second half, the album is very successful as a whole
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  2. 8.7 |   Beats Per Minute

    A remarkable achievement of an album, full of beautiful, memorable songs whose sheer class belie their creators’ youthful inexperience
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  3. 8.2 |   Pitchfork

    Giving too much credit to Taylor's influence and direction ... undermines the Morning Benders' stylistic transition, one any band would envy and many listeners will love
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  4. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    It’s the slowburning melodies, and especially a string of effortless harmonies, that dominate this impressive, memorable outing
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  5. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    Big Echo won't change the direction of modern music but it's such an easy, pleasurable listen that it can't fail to enrich whatever environment it's played in. Unreservedly recommended
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  6. 8.0 |   FasterLouder

    It’s easy to forget that Chu is still in his early twenties, and Big Echo is the sound of a very talented songwriter finding the sounds to fit his musical vision
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  7. 8.0 |   Culture Deluxe

    Big Echo isn’t going to have a profound impact on your life, and that’s a fact. But it will easily slot into it so snuggly with it’s laid-back vibes and catchy melodies
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  8. 7.5 |   The 405

    The best way to sum up Big Echo I think is to say that it’s organic. It’s like looking at a landscape – nothing in it is fascinating per se to just look at by itself but put it all together and it’s quite beautiful
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  9. 7.5 |   Bowlegs

    Only time will tell whether ‘Big Echo’ will be considered timeless, but The Morning Benders have definitely laid down a statement of intent with this album
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  10. 7.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    The Morning Benders have made major process down the path towards becoming a truly special band
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  11. 7.0 |   No Ripcord

    The Benders sound buttoned-up and clean-cut, infinitely pleasant and inoffensive
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  12. 6.0 |   NME

    Print edition only

  13. 6.0 |   BBC

    The Morning Benders aren’t quite there yet. But they’re firmly in control of where it is they want to go, so fireworks next time around shouldn’t be ruled out
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  14. 6.0 |   Blurt

    Big Echo may emphasize just what its title promises, but it also boasts reasonably big songs
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  15. 6.0 |   PopMatters

    Big Echo is hardly a bad record, and is not without its charms. It contains a clutch of songs and moments that long-time fans will cherish for years to come, yet is grievously unable to sustain that excellence in light of such a wealth of new circumstances
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  16. 6.0 |   Tiny Mix Tapes

    While The Morning Benders navigate the unstable boundary between tried-and-true pop structure and spacey excursions, the songs fall apart when they lean too far in either direction
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  17. 6.0 |   Uncut

    Print edition only

  18. 6.0 |   State

    A record of carefully crafted and expertly produced chamber pop, taking clear cues from producer Chris Taylor’s own band, Grizzly Bear
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