Artist: Bombay Bicycle Club Album: Flaws

Year: 2010
Duration: 33:54

A Critical Review of the Album Flaws by Bombay Bicycle Club

London based indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club has been in the music industry for 14 years now. Throughout their career, the group has garnered a loyal fan base with their unique sound, addictive tracks and soulful lyrics. Flaws is one of the band's most critically acclaimed albums, released in 2010. It was a major hit among indie fans all over the world. In this blog post, we will be taking a critical review of this album, discussing the brief history of the band, the music genre of the album, the best songs of the album, the most innovative parts and a critic to the album.

Bombay Bicycle Club was formed in 2005 at the age of 15. They started performing at local venues and it didn't take long for their music to gain popularity. Flaws is their second acoustic album that was released in 2010, which deviates from the upbeat indie music the band is known for. The album is pretty mellow, with a more stripped-down sound compared to their previous work. The album heavily leans towards Folk music and acoustic sounds, inspired by artists like Bob Dylan. The album consists of 10 tracks, with the lead singer, Jack Steadman, crooning through each one.

The album starts on a high note with Rinse Me Down. The track is upbeat, a nice introduction to the mellow sound that the rest of the album holds. Dust on the Ground” and Ivy & Gold are two other notable tracks off the album. The beauty that is Flaws lies in how distinct it is from Bombay Bicycle Club's usual sound. Jack Steadman's passionate vocals take center stage throughout the album as he communicates with ease and raw emotion, making the album quite relatable.

The most innovative aspect of Flaws is its minimalistic yet beautiful packaging. The artwork is just black and white text on cardstock and the inside of the CD cases is lined with cute illustrations by band-members. The acoustic guitars that feature heavily on this album were also attached a great deal of technical modifications, making the album an ode to acoustic experimentation.

As a critic, I must say, the production quality of the album falls short of the high-quality Bombay Bicycle Club is famous for. It seems the recording process for Flaws was hurried, with some songs' recording quality sounding subpar. Another critical aspect of this album is its lack of variation concerning tempo and tone, which might cause some listener fatigue for those who aren't keen on morose songs.

Bombay Bicycle Club's Flaws is a different ball game from their previous energetic indie releases. The album marks a deviation in sound for the band in a beautiful way. While this album may not appeal to some long time listeners, it's a worthwhile listen for those fond of acoustic melodies, minimalist packaging, and emotionally charged lyrics. Bombay Bicycle Club superbly showcases just how versatile they are. Overall, the album is a great reflection of the band's growth and maturity musically. While it may not be their best work, it's delightful enough to pique curiosity over what might be possible from them in the future.