When the Sun Goes Down
by Selena Gomez & the Scene
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 575 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 421 out of 575
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 575
  3. Negative: 126 out of 575
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  1. asjklas
    Oct 30, 2011
    6
    Its straightforward that doesn't reinvent Gomez's sound (or assure that The Scene are actually a band) and each song sounds like another with that same Euro-beat and synthesizers. But when it comes to production and replay value, the songs are magnetic, danceable, and beautifully sang. The first track, "Love You Like a Love Song", starts with a dubstep-influenced Euro-beat and ends with aIts straightforward that doesn't reinvent Gomez's sound (or assure that The Scene are actually a band) and each song sounds like another with that same Euro-beat and synthesizers. But when it comes to production and replay value, the songs are magnetic, danceable, and beautifully sang. The first track, "Love You Like a Love Song", starts with a dubstep-influenced Euro-beat and ends with a seductive, unlayered vocal. "Who Says" and "We Own the Night" are straightforward pop songs that mostly use acoustic instruments. "Whiplash" was originally written for Britney Spears' 2007 album Blackout and is the maturest of the bunch. It uses chunky, churning synthesizers and seductive lyrics that reassure it was in fact written by Spears. Gomez also practices her faux-English throughout the song. The best track is "Outlaw", a Western-influenced dance-pop song with a gentle vibe that makes references to cowboys, criminals, and even Gomez's home state.… Expand
  2. RonaldOVOXO
    Feb 3, 2012
    6
    Great album i really like selena's voice and her style. but it wasnt as good as A Year Without Rain. But i still love this album i bought it and i still listen to it even though im a guy.
  3. FELIPEFERREIRA
    May 16, 2016
    6
    Olha, esse álbum é até legal mas não é bom não. Ele tem duas faixas muito boas, que são "Love Me Like a Love Song" e "Who Says" e umas três razoáveis, mas a maior parte é bem mediano, passível. Dou um destaque negativo pra três faixas, que são "Bang Bang Bang", "That's More Like It" e "Middle Of Nowhere", dando ênfase maior as duas últimas, que parecem demo mal feita da Xuxa.
  4. NathanCabello
    Dec 17, 2014
    6
    Another good album to listen to Selena, is on a par with the Stars Dance, it needs to improve in quality music and this album needed to improve his vocals too.
    Highlights: We Own The Night and That's More Like It
    Lows: Outlaw and Middle Nowhere
  5. Yoshipie
    Nov 14, 2011
    5
    I expected a better album. The songs are fairly repetitive but I couldn't find a lot of songs that had that 'wow' factor and were meaningful. The best song on the track would probably be 'Who Says' - it is quite different to the other songs, using acoustic elements, and it portrays a simple yet effective message. The other songs; however, I found quite lifeless and meaningless. Her voiceI expected a better album. The songs are fairly repetitive but I couldn't find a lot of songs that had that 'wow' factor and were meaningful. The best song on the track would probably be 'Who Says' - it is quite different to the other songs, using acoustic elements, and it portrays a simple yet effective message. The other songs; however, I found quite lifeless and meaningless. Her voice is nice, but she needs to work on her vocals. Overall, though, it is definitely an album that everyone should take a look at. I would like to see some songs in the future written by her do have a more original feel.… Expand
  6. Lopesito27
    Jan 23, 2021
    6
    There's nothing exaggerately bad in here, it's just that it's kinda repetitive and boring, but there actually is good stuff. Just as most of her early stuff, it feels like a zeitgeist of her time, which, in retrospective, is appreciated.
  7. cipriano
    Feb 6, 2020
    4
    Selena and The Scene made a terrible combination, some things fit in but that of that album got out of what i expected. Selena is a talented and giant artist and saw as tracks from "Love You Like a Song" and "Who Says", but the album sounds nauseous and boring at the same time, i hope to have a better return to their two's career.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. PopMatters
    Sep 9, 2011
    50
    On When the Sun Goes Down you get a teenybopper posing as a dorm-hardened college junior, and we all know how convincingly that scenario plays.
    Read full review
  2. The Guardian
    Aug 4, 2011
    40
    Throughout this dance-pop album there's a catch in her throat that suggests an embryonic personality.
    Read full review
  3. Rolling Stone
    Aug 1, 2011
    40
    Gomez may be the most boring teen-pop star of her generation. She makes Ashley Tisdale seem like Lady Gaga.
    Read full review
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