User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect
by
Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect Image
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the British indie rock band led by Oscar Lulu was produced by Larry Hibbitt.
Buy Now
Buy on

Top Track

Lose the Feeling
As I was roaming through The vast and sacred valley At the heart of the clearing I saw a woman who approached me She had old, wise, tired eyes And... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Q Magazine
    Jan 17, 2017
    80
    In short, electrifying. [Mar 2017, p.115]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. The Independent (UK)
    Jan 5, 2017
    80
    For the most part the songs are full to bursting with youthful melodies that lift the weight off the more serious of topics.
  3. DIY Magazine
    Jan 6, 2017
    80
    This is a record made for the cavernous expanse of Brixton Academy, fancy light show in tow, chant-a-long choruses guaranteed.
  4. PopMatters
    Jan 13, 2017
    60
    Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect is a strong introduction to Sundara Karma, with some true high points and it will surely benefit from good radio coverage, a positive critical response and most importantly, strong public support that this young band can hopefully build on.
  5. AllMusic
    Jan 13, 2017
    60
    Sundara Karma have talent, ambition, and youth on their side, but so do a lot of other rising bands. In the end, it's personality and distinction that endure.
  6. Drowned In Sound
    Feb 16, 2017
    50
    Big and bold when it hits, underwhelming and otherwise transient elsewhere, it’s a debut that manages to occasionally impress while leaving a lot to be desired.
  7. The Guardian
    Jan 5, 2017
    40
    Their lyrics indulge in the sort of social commentary the 1975 would probably relegate to the draft folder (“Wild eyes, skinny jeans, disengaged at just 19”).

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. scepticpurple
    Aug 8, 2017
    7
    Everything from their softly delayed guitar tones, skinny jeans, effeminate front-man and awkwardly contrived wit lands Sundara Karma firmlyEverything from their softly delayed guitar tones, skinny jeans, effeminate front-man and awkwardly contrived wit lands Sundara Karma firmly amongst the ever growing pile of indistinguishable Indie-Guitar bands somewhere between The Hunna and High Tide. What saves them from becoming just yet another 1975 wannabe though, is their inescapable ability to craft a good handful of surprisingly catchy anthems, that give their album just enough memorability to prevent it from disappearing completely.… Expand
  2. Didolina
    Jan 10, 2017
    4
    I preordered the album based on the Flame and She Said - and the positive critiques. I regret it now. Chant-along choruses? Where? These guysI preordered the album based on the Flame and She Said - and the positive critiques. I regret it now. Chant-along choruses? Where? These guys don't know what a 'chorus' means. NOT ONCE was I tempted to stop listening the album and look up the lyrics so I could chant along. All the songs melt down into one boring, monotonous sound. There's occassional slight shift in rhythm, but nothing 'catchy'.

    The lead's weak voice doesn't help it. He obviously can't sing higher tones, whenever you expect there would be one, he "artistically" drops down (most obvious in Vivienne). It's interesting once, maybe twice. Then it becomes ridiculously repetitive.

    Last but not least, the lyrics. One of the positive articles praised them for deeper meaning of lyrics that shows their religious upbringing. Where? What? You meant the clichéd, wannabe rebellious youtfhful anti-church rants like in Be Nobody? That kind of "deeper meanings" has been done to death already. Or Loveblood, simulating orgasm? Wow, SO unheard of! Not.

    Flame and She Said remain the only remarkable songs by this band. The Night and Olympia are also quite good and show some potential - which is why I give it 40%. None of them are news songs, however. The new songs are mediocre at the best. What a pity that they now decided to ruin the Flame by replacing their best video with the uninspired and weird Oscar's dancing.

    They MIGHT be good one day, if Oscar takes some singing lessons and if they stop focusing on "rebellious teen" clichés.    … Expand

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
All Current Music »