The Editors album reviews
In This Light and on This Evening
[7/10]
'In This Light and on This Evening' is the third studio album from The Editors which features the Depeche Mode inspired new single 'Papillon'.
The Birmingham band released their well received debut album 'The Back Room back' in 2005 when it peaked at number 13 in the UK charts, however, the album returned to the charts in January 2006 peaking at number following the success of the singles 'Munich', 'Blood' and 'Bullets'.
In July 2007 their second long player 'An End Has A Start' entered the UK charts at number one and the lead single 'Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors' crashed into the top 10.
10 Reviews
Read All 23
Adamski
I was really looking forward to this but listened to a preview and it's so bland. Lyrically uninspired, only 1 memorable track Papillon. It's actually worse than the last Depeche Mode album.
This record will lose them many of their fans. On my 2nd listen now and I was right 1st time it's not very good.
2/10
[published
9/28/2009 1:18:48 PM]
Mac
The Editors are a truly awful band; they copy bands who copy other bands. Interpol revived the Joy Division sound so the Editors rode on the back of that but now they have decided to follow Passion Pit by copying their own clone of early Depeche Mode.
Go away Editors and White Lies
2/10
[published
9/28/2009 2:22:04 PM]
Aignis
My god, this reviews are bulshit....
-editors are fine band..
this album is a bit of surprise...
go away with all your stupid, let's say, rock bands....
take care
8/10
[published
9/29/2009 4:02:48 PM]
Pwerto
Although the influences for this album areprobably too obvious thats always been the case with Editors and they still manage to produce good music.
7/10
[published
9/30/2009 11:21:19 AM]
James
I personally think its a cracking album.
I saw them during the early days of the back room gigs and thought they were alright nothing special pretty bland, the back room was an alright album not great by any means. I hated An End Has Start and they were totally blown off my radar. Wasn't a big fan of Papillon but then listened to the album and fuck me its great.
Comparison to Joy Division/New Order and Depeche Mode. The Synth work is not very New Order at all, the only comparisons are that its a synth full album. Give a Fuck. Much more sound like the soundtrack work of 80's films like Terminator and Blade Runner, which i happen thing makes very interesting translation to pop songs. The Big Exit also reminds me of the Walker Brothers "The Electrician" its a very creepy stalkerish tune
He has a voice thats deep but i haven't heard Ian Curtis sing falsetto like the singer does on this album.
I don't know why im defending them i never really liked them but i have a feeling a huge amount of injustice is about to happen based on the preconceptions of this band.
This album has some amazing moments "In this light on this Evening" "Bricks And Mortar" "The Big Exit" "Raw Meat" "Walk The Fleet Road"
Anyway Judge for yourself but forget preconceptions of an Interpol/Joy Division Rip off band. This album is full great production Dark Drama and escapism.
I hope they get chance to push it further on the next.
8/10
[published
9/30/2009 9:00:14 PM]
Bittersweet
@James, here, here!!
I'm very glad someone not so big of a fan responds to the over and over same BlaBla a lot of people have to say about Editors. Really liked your review and they DO deserve a fair chance IMO.
Like the new album as much as I liked The Back Room.
Glad they tried something different with this album, would'nt have wanted An End Has A Start part 2.
And yeah, I'm a huge fan of them, and yeah, I'm tired of all the preconceptions a lot of people seem to have about Editors.
Just like it or don't, that's all.
9/10
[published
10/2/2009 10:36:18 AM]
Tommy
im a big fan of editors,they r right up there with my favourite bands,but im a bit gutted with this new album,ive been waiting for ages for this album and fell a bit let down.there is some cracking songs on there like papilion and bricks and mortar but then there is alot of nothing songs that dont really go any where.But saying this i think untill you see a band perform new material live you cant really comment and after seeing editors several times i know they want let me down when i see them perform this album!UP THE EDITORS!!!
6/10
[published
10/3/2009 10:55:03 AM]
Keri
-This album has taken me totally by surprise. The Back Room was such a good debut album and I saw them live at the time and was equally impressed. Then came the second album! OMG it was such a disappointment. So this new album is not just a welcome return to form but a breath of fresh air. I am in total admiration of them for moving their sound on in a new direction with more moody synths and atmospheric vocals.
I have been listening to the 9 track version of the album online all weekend and every track is a gem. Other reviewers have highlight certain tracks but I see this as a total album that has not one weak or misplaced track To put his into perspective can I was fortunate to both see both Joy Division and New Order live in the early days. Listening to this album makes me realise how no group so far has even come close to sounding like they did. The Editors are no tribute band and this is no tribute album and those who constantly reference the editors to the these iconic bands really annoy me. This album is as good as anything I have heard in recent times and time will tell how it will stand up against. I am no Editors fan but if they continue in this direction, well resistance is futile!
Based on this album I have now booked a ticket to see them live in a few weeks time.
10/10
[published
10/4/2009 5:42:55 PM]
gogi
i think the joy division-new order progression was one that had to be made. Real fans would not be interested in continuous guitar based albums becoming ever more generic and aimed at the masses (i.e KOL). I dont agree with alot of reviews saying there are a lack of singles as Papilon, Bricks and Morter and Eat Raw Meet ( terrible name!) are very good singles. Walk the fleet road will become there atmosphere in years to come and the boxer has a haunting charm which i havnt heard from them since there cover of lullaby.
All in all a class act that i expected....See u thursday in Dublin!!!
10/10
[published
10/5/2009 5:01:50 PM]
steve
i'm drawing a lot of paralels with Talk Talk. there was another band written off as derivative, but Mark Hollis led his band where he wanted to go. with Talk Talk imho it ended up with brilliant critically acclaimed music, but sadly it wasn't commercially successful. i hope the Editors can pull off this difficult balancing act, because based on what i've heard so far they deserve to be up there with the best of this current crop.
music is all about emotion. listening to the editors makes me feel good, if sad. I'll be buying this on release!
8/10
[published
10/7/2009 1:27:25 PM]
An End Has A Start
[8/10]
An End Has a Start is the follow up to 2005 critically acclaimed debut The Back Room featuring lead single Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors
10 Reviews
Read All 23
macky
The Editors take no risks with the formula that give them success with their first album.
The swirling glacial guitar effects and Ian Curtis vocals are used throughout the album on every single track resulting in the album sounding very similar to The Back Room, the only slight differences are that certain tracks are more radio friendly presumably for the Coldplay market.
It's a decent album, but there has been – and will be – far better albums in 2007
Key tracks: 'An End Has A Start' and 'When Anger Shows'
7/10
[published
5/30/2007 12:03:00 PM]
Ben Chod
Several palys & I'm not impressed by the material here compared with their debut LP. A real disappointment this is nothing more tham a IC wannabe.
1/10
[published
6/7/2007 10:24:00 AM]
goaldendj
Another disappointment from a much hyped band.
The songs are,quite frankly,dull.
They all sound the same and never seem to go anywhere.
The musicianship is ok but the whole cd lacks the warmth of similar artists.
I hope this is the beginning of their end!
3/10
[published
6/9/2007 5:24:00 AM]
Nialler
If there's anyone under-hyped it's Editors. When do you see them on the front cover of magazines such as the NME or Q? Never. Editors have simply released their stuff and let word of mouth do the rest.
The new album is fantastic. It's Editors taking a step up in the world of music. The songs rang from powerful anthems to quiet homely songs.
This album will fly of the shelves. Editors will be playing stadiums. Their singles will go top ten. None of this could happen if this was a poor album as you two above are saying.
This is not the beginning of the end it's the start of a new beginning.
9/10
[published
6/10/2007 5:06:00 PM]
Joe Sheerin
Song after song after song. Every time I play An End Has A Start, every track makes the ahirs on my neck and arms stand up.
They know how to add energy, passion and meaning to their songs and Tom Smith's voice is so brilliantly haunting and blends in with the music to perfection.
AEHAS is without a doubt a positive and exploring move forward for Editors. They sound like a band ready for the big time, ready for the big places and, even though it is unneeded, ready for big hype.
It's only a amtter of time before Editors reach the dizzy heights of the bands like Razorlight, Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs. The quintet are bringing themselves forward for stardom and my god, on the basis of this lp do they deserve it.
One Word... Essential.
10/10
[published
6/10/2007 10:33:00 PM]
AJC
A stunning 2nd album by one of the best bands right now in music. Powerful and uplifting.
9/10
[published
6/11/2007 12:14:00 AM]
matoran
Ok, so this is no Back Room, and anyone hoping for Back Room II may be disapointted, but if you are a true Editors fans you probably wont be. The first 4 songs on the album I admit, are a bumby rollercoaster ride which just seems to be a random collection of possible singles but by the time "When Anger Shows" hits, you on for a steady ride for the rest of the album. And even though there are only 10 tracks and the closing track "Well Worn Hand" is only 2 and half minutes, it leaves you satisfied. One difference between The Back Room and this album is with TBR, you can pick out individual songs and listen to them, classify them as likely singles and rock out to them on the stage. Whereas An End Has A Start this is the case for the first few tracks, but the rest of the album, particularly songs like "When Anger Shows", "Push Your Head..." and "Spiders" has to be heard in an album context and wouldn't work in the above senarios. But then again, surprise me. Even though a lot of people dislike the albums tracklisting, I think that the album is beautifully crafted to take you on a journey, with a sad moving ending.
I wont pick out any personal highlights, every song on the whole album stands out for me. Particularly with the second half, it's hard to single out tracks (though edited versions of "Racing Rats" and "Escape The Nest" would work well on radio).
This review is becoming directionless and repetitive now so I'd best stop before I confuse everyone. I'll just say - buy this album.
8/10
[published
6/11/2007 4:09:00 AM]
R
Actually this album suprized me, a lot. I don't think that there is too many better albums released in this decade. It get's better all the time and every song stands it's ground. I like it more then the Back room and if Interpol wants to make a better album they really have to do wonders!
10/10
[published
6/12/2007 3:32:00 PM]
Hatman
After a glut of disappointing second albums from the likes of the rakes and Maximo Park this follow up is a wonderful reprieve. The band obviously chose to follow an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it†approach which, whilst makes it difficult to listen to both albums consecutively, keeps the band in safe territory allowing them to do what they do best: morbid intelligent lyrics with epic high pitched guitars swirling throughout the entire album.
Fortunately Editors have not taken the snow patrol approach and written songs that are over radio friendly, and have somehow gone to far with trying to avoid the Coldplay syndrome leaving an end without a start without an obvious single, however leaves the album with depth and layers which should be fully appreciated by all music and editors fans.
8/10
[published
6/14/2007 5:52:00 PM]
Tom Ledden
I admit I did not expect Editors to impress on their 2nd album, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is more understated than "The Back Room". The tracks don't rely so heavily on catchy guitar riffs, though they are still prevalent. More piano and vocal and lyrical development show Editors have got serious talent. Some cracking tunes on here, for me its better than the 1st and has far better replay value
8/10
[published
6/15/2007 3:03:00 PM]
The Back Room
[8/10]
10 Reviews
macky
Another month and another 80’s retro glacial guitar band release a debut album. The Editors opt for the Interpol approach, dark intense Ian Curtis like vocals against a backdrop of high toned guitar riffs and plectrum picked bass-lines.
The dangers of creating such as riff reliant album is that the song writing has to be shit hot to prevent the album from becoming to stale in places, and this where ‘The Back Room’ sometimes suffers.
‘Munich’ and ‘Blood’ are well penned, and are worthy of the hit status which they have achieved whilst closing tracks ‘Open Your Arms’ and ‘Distance’ are progressive and atmospheric epics and may well be the way forward for Editors. Applying a little more creativity and adventure may well see Editors alongside familiar artists such as The Killers and Interpol.
‘The Back Room’ is a decent enough debut, and one can’t help but think that better is to come.
7/10
[published
7/3/2005 12:00:00 AM]
Betty Clarke
Editors, a four-piece from Birmingham currently suffering from slow-burning hype, don't so much jog memories of Joy Division as channel the ripe but fashionable spirit of Ian Curtis and co.
Bursting into another endless fit of angry buzzing, the duelling guitars pose the question as to whether this is a thrilling and euphoric post-punk vision of bleakness, or merely the hypnotic sound of two trapped wasps torn between flight or fight. But the longer you listen, the better they become.
Through the dense sound comes gleaming hints of pop; the snatched joy of All Sparks, the exorcism of Camera, which ends in a swirl of recriminations and hope. Into the Elbow-esque soundscapes, singer Tom Smith emits low, dissociated vocals, until Fingers in the Factories leads him to a rage of plaintive demands, his voice sharper than the stabbing rhythm, rendering even the darkness stunning.
8/10
[published
7/22/2005 8:10:00 AM]
musicspotlight.co.uk
One look at the cover art and packaging tells you that this is not going to be an album full of glorious summer melodies and joyful pop songs. In ‘The Back Room’ Editors have created an album full of dark, epic, yet at the same time uplifting songs.
The album begins with ‘Lights’, which sets the stall out for the rest of the album impressively. After racing their way through Lights (the song is the shortest on the album at just 2 and a half minutes), the band unleash the 2 singles ‘Munich’ and ‘Blood’. ‘Fall’ introduces another side of Editors, as they slow things down to create a slow-burning epic, before ‘All Sparks’ picks up the pace once again.
Then comes the centrepiece of the album – the sublime ‘Camera’. Described by the band as their attempt at a ballad, it showcases Editors’ full range of talents and is arguably the best track on the album. Trying to follow a song such as Camera is no mean feat, and Editors would be forgiven for letting the quality slip for a second – but that is not the case. ‘Fingers In The Factories’ matches the brilliance of Camera in an altogether different way – this time with a menacing chorus and a driving drum rhythm which never relent.
The debut single ‘Bullets’ keeps up the quality before the album closes with two more of the slower songs – the anthemic ‘Open Your Arms’ and the beautiful ‘Distance’.
If The Back Room is not one of the best albums released this year then I will eat my proverbial hat. Now is the time to open your arms and welcome Editors to your town.
9/10
[published
7/31/2005 8:44:00 PM]
Daymo
Went to see this band at Birmingham Barfly last night and they were fantastic. The album is a strong debut with Blood, munich, All Sparks and Camera being my favourites. I can see the Ian Curtis similarity which everybody goes on about too. Overall a strong album but not perfect. This band has better to come im sure!!
8/10
[published
12/11/2005 4:49:00 PM]
jonny murray
i saw editors at franz ferdinand on 16th nov and they were amazing and their album is really good, i listen to it loads and munich and all sparks are such strong singles. Also Fall is now my fave track after them performing it live it hads made it really great!and their from birmingham!:) jug of ale wow
9/10
[published
12/20/2005 5:27:00 PM]
Yo, yo
Bought the album off the back of the first release of single Munich last August(05)because it seriously rawwwkedd.
Well written songs, catchy, nice guitar sounds, a bit moody.
Excellent stuff and great live as well. Went to the Levis Ones To Watch in York
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/articles/2005/12/12/the_editors_gig_review_feature.shtml
and it was pounding (in a good way)
8/10
[published
2/13/2006 3:41:00 PM]
alx z.
this is not bad, not bad by far! it might not rock the industry but it does rock you, delivering a good, stable, post-revival and yet slightly 80ish, mock-90ish, sound that can be best described as 'we heard what everyone was trying to do before us and we've decided to make all their efforts worth while'. this is exactly the feeling i get when i listen to this album. i feel that the music is very familiar and yet it is so in-there, not missing a note of originality. if you like, it's like the best 10 revival albums of this century all mixed together in a very good and tasteful manor (which is in itself a note of brilliance) and delivered in a package that will easily find it's way into your collection.
8/10
[published
2/18/2006 11:08:00 AM]
Pete Paphides
The Editors’ rapidly growing legion of fans sent the group’s recent single, Munich, into the Top 30 — and by the time you read this, its successor, Blood, will surely propel them into the realm of Popworld and CD:UK. But if everything’s mustard, you wouldn’t necessarily know it after a while immersed in the monochrome hinterlands of The Back Room.
Therein, of course, lies the predominant charm of these songs: the ectoplasmic squall of Lights; the four-to-the- floor whiteout of Someone Says; and the austere whipcrack of All Sports. Even when Tom Smith’s elliptical paeans to the human condition stay just the wrong side of helpful, his singing radiates a thoroughly believable edge of existential alarm. Which, in the circumstances, is just as well. With peers such as Maximo Park and British Sea Power boasting formidable wordsmiths in their ranks, who can blame Smith for keeping lines such as “we’ll look in the back room where we hide all of our feelings†off the CD booklet? Suffice it to say, lyrics that look a little sixth-formy on paper need a hell of a band to give them life, and that’s one thing that Smith has at his disposal. Behold the adrenalised clatter that pushes his fretful intonations forward on Blood: “Blood runs through your feet/That’s where our similarity ends,†sings Smith, before giving way to a rising torrent of finger-shredding noise.
The Back Room harks back to a pre-Oasis time when indie bands observed an important distinction between making a big beautiful noise and yielding to rock’s more priapic excesses. Much of the credit here must go to the drummer, Ed Lays, who had yet to be born when his closest musical relation, Stephen Morris, pounded his way through several of Joy Division’s finest moments.
As Lays and the bassist, Russell Leetch, drill an almost oppressive military momentum into these songs, it’s left to the guitarist, Chris Urbanowicz, to soften the picture with a series of FX-heavy power chords. “I’m so glad I found this,†sings Smith on Munich. Circumstantial evidence suggests that he might be singing about the box in which his parents have hidden all their old indie records — but The Back Room is no worse an album for that.
8/10
[published
2/27/2006 10:39:00 AM]
pinch
I was unbelievably ashamed to discover that a band like Editors could be acclaimed so much by the listening British people. Can we all still hear? Because when listening to this album, nothing at all grabbed me. Musically it is mediocre, the production extremely average and the song writing very poor. Even the front cover oozes a feeling of dreary, luke warm music that neither excites nor uplifts the music soul. It is not beautiful, delicate, thrilling, exciting, new or distinctive. When seeing the band live at the Hi:Fi North festival, I was taken by surprise that they were worse live! Not a single one moved, talked to the crowd or looked as though they were enjoying what they were lucky enough to do as a living and they should never have been recognised as a "hot new band." Go and yawn somewhere else Editors, we do not need your grey music.
1/10
[published
1/19/2007 3:51:00 AM]
Karl Pollard
There's not much to say except that this album is amazing... Probably one of the best I own... And i'm sure it will be for years to come.
10/10
[published
9/5/2007 2:55:00 PM]
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