Albums to watch

Strapped

The Soft Pack

Strapped

Second album of indie rock from the fun-loving Californian slackers

ADM rating[?]

6.8

Label
Mexican Summer
UK Release date
01/10/2012
US Release date
25/09/2012
  1. 8.0 |   DIY

    Far too often, a band's second album sees them retreading the well-worn ground of their debut. The Soft Pack have provided a welcome exception to that trend with an ambitious follow up that decisively moves their sound forward
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  2. 7.5 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    As with each of their records, it follows the pattern of having two numbers which will be your absolute favourites, despite the rest of it still ranging from passable to very good
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  3. 7.0 |   The Fly

    They’ve toned down their trademark do-or-die spirit and returned with something far more considered and refined
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  4. 7.0 |   Prefix

    Everything was thrown in. Saxophones punctuate several tracks, while keyboards are slathered over others. "No" was apparently never an option
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  5. 7.0 |   Blurt

    Their dismantled-pop sound has an embraceable strangeness about it, defying genres and making them challenging to pigeonhole
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  6. 7.0 |   All Music

    Strapped isn't a bad album so much as a strangely scattered one, revealing the Soft Pack caught between delivering what they're known for and what they might like to become
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  7. 7.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    Forget the sophomore slump (even though they simultaneously overcome and fall prey to that dreaded scourge): this is a band battling their own sensibilities, pushing musical boundaries while hoping to remain intact
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  8. 7.0 |   Beats Per Minute

    Soft Pack’s knack for a no-tassels hook is what ends up making Strapped worthwhile, and it works best when they tighten the screws and keep it concise
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  9. 7.0 |   Uncut

    A dozen preppy, to-the-point songs tapped into the Nuggets aesthetic. Print edition only

  10. 7.0 |   NME

    Uncomplicated, Spinto Band-ish jangles
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  11. 6.9 |   Bowlegs

    The Soft Pack are on a roll, and with another sixty eight tracks in the vault they are gonna be rolling for a while longer yet
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  12. 6.8 |   Pitchfork

    Long and lush isn't a bad look for the Soft Pack, so long as they're keeping the beat
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  13. 6.8 |   Paste Magazine

    Strapped isn’t groundbreaking, especially by the standards The Soft Pack have set for themselves
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  14. 6.0 |   Q

    West Coast indie-rock that's reluctant to please. Print edition only

  15. 6.0 |   No Ripcord

    Strapped's thirty-something minutes of southern California rock doesn't turn the page on anything new, but is still a worthy listen
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  16. 5.0 |   PopMatters

    An album that seems to both highlight the Soft Pack’s strengths and glaringly reveal their limitations
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The Soft Pack: Strapped

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