Cults

Cults | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia
• ASIN: B004RV6ZTI
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,052 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Abducted

2. Go Outside

3. You Know What I Mean

4. Most Wanted

5. Walk At Night

6. Never Heal Myself

7. Oh My God

8. Never Saw The Point

9. Bad Things

10. Bumper

11. Rave On

Editorial Reviews

The full-length self-titled debut from enigmatic, pop due Cults was recorded and self-produced in the band's hometown of New York City. Working with engineer Shane Stoneback (Vampire Weekend, Sleigh Bells) the album is chock full of some of the most deliciously offbeat, slanted and enchanted songs you're likely to hear all year and includes some of the band's most coveted, first released tracks: "Go Outside," "Most Wanted", and "Oh My God."

Tracks like "Most Wanted" and "Go Outside" compress key points in the history of pop including nods to everyone from My Bloody Valentine to Phil Spector to Jay Z and Lesley Gore, taking the listener down some very unexpected (and sometimes, unexpectedly dark) places indeed.

Gorgeously infectious melodies sit alongside surreal samples, soaring, cinematic choruses envelop lyrics detailing restlessness and heartbreak, and lush, out-and out- pop hits ("Bumper", the anthemic closer "Rave On") rub up against tracks of a decidedly more sinister bent ("Walk At Night", "Never Saw the Point"). This is a pop record boldly unafraid to wear its idiosyncrasies on its sleeve, as well as its vivid harmonies.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An A+ Debut. June 7, 2011

By A. Pack

Format:MP3 Music

I have been obsessed with Cults since the first time I heard about them. I really enjoyed their sound on first listen and was anxiously awaiting their debut album.

Cults have a 60s vibe/sound with a modern twist. This is understandable, since the only kind of music the two of them both enjoy is from that time. They have combined something they both love and put their own twist on it. While some may complain about this style saying it's just repackaging, I disagree. I found this band and their debut album to be completely wonderful and a great listen. A perfect summer soundtrack. On the other hand while the music is upbeat, the lyrics are on the darker side. It's the perfect contrast, I think. You are humming/singing along to a catchy song with a nice beat, then all of a sudden you do a double take because of a lyric you just sang. I love that about music, and Cults do that quite well. (Some of my favorites: Abducted, Go Outside, Never Saw the Point, and Bumper.)

Take a listen. I don't think you will regret it, and before you know it you will have a summer soundtrack.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cults release their throwback self-titled debut February 17, 2012

By Perverted Alchemist

Format:Vinyl

When British singer Lily Allen started embarking on other endeavors, one of the things she did was start her own record label. Her Columbia Records distributed imprint In The Name Of found the New York indie pop duo Cults. Comprised of singer Madeline Follin and guitarist Brian Oblivion, they originally were a couple who just happened to share the same interest- a career in music. They decided to form a band- the only problem was their music tastes weren't exactly along the same lines. Melanie leaned toward Americana and folk music, while Brian was more into electronic music like Aphex Twin and Squarepusher. To find a common ground, they both met in the middle with an affinity towards 60's pop music. From there, they recorded and released their self-titled debut in which they produced themselves with assistance from recording engineer Shane Stoneback.

While this album is heavily influenced by the music of the 60's, their album is less Motown and more Wall Of Sound. Look no further than the leading track and first single "Abducted", where Madeline sings about being loved and later abandoned. On the catchy "Go Outside", they sing of a couple confined to being homebodies when one of them wants to get out and see the town. They nail down the old doo-wop sound on "You Know What I Mean" and sing of heartbreak on "Never Heal Myself". Madeline sings lead on most of the songs, but gets rare guest vocals from Brian on the aforementioned "Abducted" as well as on the uptempo "Bumper". They close out the album with the swinging style of "Rave On". As upbeat as a majority of the songs sound, most of the tracks have an underlying theme of heartbreak and sadness. It's also a brief recording as well, with most of the songs being real short bringing the album to being well under 35 minutes. Overall, this debut album is a great starting point from Cults and from the looks of it, we may hear a lot more from them.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Debut August 20, 2011

By Robert Rives

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this after reading the reviews and I was definitely not disappointed. "Cults" is a blast from start to finish. If Lou Reed wrote songs for a Motown girl group and Phil Spector produced it might sound like this. The tracks are bouncy and hook filled and with Madeline Follin's voice buried in reverb you might not notice how dark the lyrics really are. While it sounds totally different, the album made me think of The Cars self-titled album, as they're both debut albums that for most bands would be 'greatest hits' compilations. Highlights are "Go Outside" (of course), "You Know What I Mean", "Never Heal Myself" and, erm, well frankly its ALL highlights. Some of the riffs are a bit familiar, but that's what rock musicians do: borrow/steal from their influences. The album is a bit short, but again that didn't phase me; 30 minutes of genius is preferable to an hour of mediocre any day. The samples from cult leaders are a bit gimmicky but they work. They don't get in the way of the tunes and help to emphasize the scary undercurrent beneath the sugary surfaces. Highly recommended.