Hercules And Love Affair
by Hercules & Love Affair
  • Record Label: Mute
  • Release Date: Jun 24, 2008
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 106 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 106
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 106
  3. Negative: 20 out of 106

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  1. andisart
    May 28, 2011
    9
    I dont understand the mixed user reviews here. There is more depth and creativity in this album than most chart artist struggle to put out in a whole career.
  2. BertK
    Jul 5, 2009
    3
    Totally boring and flat production with horrible out of tune vocals. Nothing touching or emotional. Nowhere renovational. A real drag to get through. Cant believe why this gets such good reviews. I looked very much forward to this record :-(
  3. MaxM
    Jul 4, 2009
    9
    Aweshum. The people who rated this 3 or 4 because it sounded like disco, you people are crazy. It's not really disco, it's somewhere between that and the late 80s Talking Heads. Original and fresh from start to finish. Antony's voice is fantastic. The best track, of course, is "Blind" -- give it a listen! Best album of 2008.
  4. MurphyN
    Jun 22, 2009
    10
    I am upset that people rated this album a 4 just because it sounds a little like disco. Voting this album low won't change the music! Hercules and Love Affair do something new with their tunes, and i think most will enjoy the fun times in this album!
  5. JeffC
    Mar 28, 2009
    3
    I can't understand why this has gotten good reviews. This is annoying dance, disco with annoying singing. Yes, I am white and yes disco still sucks.
  6. CH
    Feb 15, 2009
    10
    What a great album. I love the transition about half-way through from technical disco ("You Belong", "Time Will") to something that's hard to describe...a slow, electrosynth version ("Iris" and "Easy") The layers of Hegarty's voice is amazing in this, and Cruz stands up fairly strong as well when being juxtaposed with a voice as unique as Hegarty's. Butler deserves all the What a great album. I love the transition about half-way through from technical disco ("You Belong", "Time Will") to something that's hard to describe...a slow, electrosynth version ("Iris" and "Easy") The layers of Hegarty's voice is amazing in this, and Cruz stands up fairly strong as well when being juxtaposed with a voice as unique as Hegarty's. Butler deserves all the credit in the world with the production on this, especially in "You Belong" and "Easy", which are highlights imo. Great album. My only complaint is that it gets progressively weaker after "Easy" imo.… Expand
  7. JohnP.
    Oct 28, 2008
    4
    Poor. Nothing except for Antony and some catchy-jazzy-funky tunes. I am sorry.
  8. mrpoopy
    Oct 22, 2008
    9
    Just try to be still and listen to this. And lyrics? You can't rate this low just because you don't like the genre. Punk Disco Awesome.
  9. JosephB
    Aug 28, 2008
    4
    Disco. No, I mean it, disco. Andy Butler and Antony Hegarty are bringing you brand spankin
  10. AntonyP
    Jul 26, 2008
    9
    Not really following why the average user score for this is only a 6. Too many white guys who have still not got over the whole 'disco sucks' thing from 30 years ago?
  11. agourne
    Jul 25, 2008
    9
    Dance revolting, enthousiastic, so 80s, 90s and yet so much fresh...music of today, the big surprise from US, sounds european project.
  12. MartinA.
    Jul 23, 2008
    10
    The music isn't about the sexuality, so don't give it a lower rating because it was too "ghey". I think it's a gorgeous, organic album that the music industry needed. It was like a really classy Scissor Sisters album.
  13. JyotirmayaD.
    Jul 5, 2008
    9
    The fact that the tunes are worth listening to as well as dancing to make all the difference to me.. I used to hate house music or whatever they played at the disco's because they did nothing for my mind to make my body want to move. The songs which are co-produced with Antony of Antony and the Johnsons are my favorites.
  14. StephenL.
    Jun 25, 2008
    8
    I am not the biggest fan of electronic dance music but I still find this album to be hard not to stop listening to with tracks like "hercules theme" and "iris".
  15. JustinR.
    Jun 24, 2008
    3
    Cheesy, really really really cheesy euro techno in the worst vein. I got rid of it after one listen.
  16. KR.
    Jun 24, 2008
    6
    Sounds catchy and his voice is beautiful but this is awfully ghey stuff.
  17. AramisG.
    Jun 23, 2008
    5
    Sounds pretty good a first, then gets progressively more typical each repeat listen. Over-hyped.
  18. WesM.
    Jun 9, 2008
    10
    I have to disagree with the user who described Antony's voice as "...not going well with dance music." What better voice to put over new disco beats than a diverse, deep but androgynous one? He seems more at home here than with the Johnsons.
  19. MaryL.
    May 25, 2008
    9
    It´s an amazingly fun album to listen. Fun, deep at times, and well-done.
  20. SergeyA.
    May 24, 2008
    9
    I don't like disco before this disc.
  21. KrisS.
    May 19, 2008
    2
    I bought this on the strength of the reviews on this site. Really wished I hadn't.
  22. EinarJ.
    Apr 27, 2008
    7
    The album is great. However, Anthony's lyrics drench some of the songs, destroying the vitality of the beats.
  23. PaulC
    Apr 16, 2008
    7
    The more I listen to this album the more it grows on me. It's definitely overrated right now, electronic music always seems to get overly praised. That said, this album is definitely worth getting if you enjoy electronic music, or just want something different in the mix.
  24. BrandonS.
    Apr 12, 2008
    8
    Very good first listen. Iris, and Athene are the only ones I replay though.
  25. DejanSt.
    Apr 8, 2008
    9
    Amazing neo disco! It will blow you away!
  26. BobbyK.
    Apr 3, 2008
    9
    Spot on interpretation of dance music over the past 25 years, with a modern feel, and lots of genuine emotion. Sad irony is that Moby's new album made a similar attempt but is not nearly as slick.
  27. MaxwellB.
    Apr 1, 2008
    8
    If you thought Antony had strength on I am a Bird Now, Hercules and Love Affair will blow you away. It's all quality, but his tracks are the cream. A brilliant album that works on multiple levels.
  28. MattA.
    Apr 1, 2008
    7
    Decent but clearly overrated. I actually liked Antony's vocals here more than on his solo debut, but a lot of these songs start to run together, especially toward the end. Still, some great stuff, especially "Blind."
  29. DiegoL.
    Apr 1, 2008
    8
    Great album... "Blind" is amazing!
  30. MitchellM.
    Mar 29, 2008
    0
    PITCHFORK GAVE IT A 9.1! IT MUST BE GOOD.
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best Album of 2008
40
#40 Most Discussed Album of 2008
24
#24 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Drowned In Sound
    90
    This record is as on disco and early house's dick as much as Britpop was on The Beatles' and The Kinks'.
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  2. Dusted Magazine
    80
    Hercules and Love Affair is a sincere and sumptuous stab at the mirrorball splendor of the 1970s.
    Read full review
  3. musicOMH.com
    100
    It's the big numbers, when Hegarty steps up to the microphone, that reveal Hercules And Love Affair as a project that captures not only the full range of moods on a night out on the tiles, but also the full range of human emotions from the start of a night to its end.
    Read full review
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