White Men Are Black Men Too
by Young Fathers
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. The Guardian
    Apr 2, 2015
    100
    They manage the rare feat of melding pop and politics into a potent mix, and continue a tradition--begun by the likes of Smith & Mighty, Tricky and Massive Attack--of reinterpreting pop, hip-hop and soul through the filter of black British life.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    Apr 10, 2015
    90
    It’s more immediate, more instantly gratifying and more technically proficient, but there are also dark, difficult corners which hint at hidden terror.
  3. Exclaim
    Apr 8, 2015
    90
    White Men Are Black Men Too is a perfect storm of influences and talent that make for an unforgettable album.
  5. musicOMH.com
    Apr 6, 2015
    90
    Ultimately, there is no getting away from the fact that WMABMT is a remarkable album. In fact, it is hard to think of anything else quite like it.
  6. PopMatters
    Apr 6, 2015
    90
    Without any context, White Men sounds like it could have been made at any time in the last few decades, it simply defies general tags (both in time and genre).
  7. The 405
    Apr 2, 2015
    90
    Genuine, life-affirming innovation is hard to come by, but you recognise it when it asks more questions than it gives answers. I challenge you to find an album that's less intended for straight-up consumption.
  8. The Line of Best Fit
    Apr 10, 2015
    85
    Young Fathers had nothing to prove in 2015, which makes White Men Are Black Men Too such a start to finish joy to listen to. Even the tail end of the record is packed with surprises.
  9. Uncut
    Apr 29, 2015
    80
    What most impresses is its warmth, dynamism and unforced difference. [Jun 2015, p.84]
    All this publication's reviews
  10. Mojo
    Apr 21, 2015
    80
    White Men Are Black Men Too places Young Fathers firmly alongside Suede, Dizzee Rascal and Arctic Monkeys in the pantheon of those whose post-Mercury follow-ups confirm they know exactly where they're going and aren't going to let winning a modest prize distract them. [May 2015, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews
  11. AllMusic
    Apr 20, 2015
    80
    No musical ghetto here as White Men Are Black Men Too suggests Young Fathers are quintessentially ahead of their time, even when their music is tight, attractive, and vital enough to be enjoyed today.
  12. Clash Music
    Apr 15, 2015
    80
    Mad and all-consuming, this is music for disillusioned youth with enough wry wordplay to back it up. In all its angst and menace, you can't help but feel liberated.
  13. The Quietus
    Apr 13, 2015
    80
    This album flips that fail-state on its head courtesy of being 39 minutes of utterly triumphant fusion pop. Everyone should hear this.
  14. Spin
    Apr 10, 2015
    80
    The LP is the group’s most enjoyable, but also their most potent, all the more menacing for its unlikely grinning.
  15. NOW Magazine
    Apr 8, 2015
    80
    Young Fathers' alarm at being boxed in has led them to make an uncompromising, and, yes, prize-worthy pop statement.
  16. The Observer (UK)
    Apr 7, 2015
    80
    On first listen it’s a disparate amalgam of sounds, but a couple of plays in, what becomes more apparent is the mellow singing, the catchy melodies and a sense of playfulness.
  17. DIY Magazine
    Apr 3, 2015
    80
    It’s chaos, the most extreme kind of hybrid imaginable. With that freedom, they sound more excitable and progressive than ever, like they’re chasing a pot of gold that contains endless truths.
  18. Q Magazine
    Apr 2, 2015
    80
    The sound is raw, yet dense and intense, each track a microdrama of shifting textures and competing motifs. [May 2015, p.113]
    All this publication's reviews
  19. Sputnikmusic
    Apr 13, 2015
    70
    The album won't win many new fans, but for those already clued in it supplies a fresh batch of engaging, abstract production and, especially in the meat of "Old Rock n Roll", a few meals' worth of food for thought.
  20. New Musical Express (NME)
    Apr 2, 2015
    70
    If White Men really recalls anything, it’s those early TV On The Radio records made before Dave Sitek had figured out what he was doing--and you can take that as a sincere compliment.
  21. Pitchfork
    Apr 9, 2015
    68
    It’s triumphant music for the hyperactive, plural city; it’s confrontational as a means to achieving communality, with no particular loyalties except to an anonymous, shifting collective of people who all want the same thing as Young Fathers--to be one thing, then the next, then the next.
  22. The Telegraph (UK)
    Apr 6, 2015
    60
    Yet for all its exuberant DIY spirit, Young Fathers’ songs sound like another bunch of interesting demos, full of passion, spontaneity and left-field inspiration, but too often failing to really nail the song or message down.
  23. Consequence
    Apr 8, 2015
    58
    The band fails to make a significant statement of their immediate necessity with this sophomore effort.

Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Best Album of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 53
  3. Negative: 3 out of 53
  1. Lovdahl
    Jan 31, 2016
    9
    Even though some label Scotland’s Young Fathers as a PBR&B group, they are decidedly more serious about their perceived image in hip hop thanEven though some label Scotland’s Young Fathers as a PBR&B group, they are decidedly more serious about their perceived image in hip hop than the aforementioned Action Bronson. In fact, the alternative rap trio are closer in alignment with Kendrick Lamar: both artists are interested in using their medium to deliver social and political messages. The difference is that Young Fathers rely more on lo-fi elements in their production, like swallowed bass and slightly fuzzier vocals. Each song sounds very intimate, like the listener is allowed to live in their groovy, foot-tapping world for roughly three minutes. It’s simultaneously immersive and distant, certainly one of the most unique and important recordings of the year.… Full Review »
  2. nirvanafreak
    Jun 25, 2015
    9
    YES, LOOK HERE. LISTEN THIS IS VERY **** IMPORTANT YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THIS **** This is pop/rock gold the only other album that might beYES, LOOK HERE. LISTEN THIS IS VERY **** IMPORTANT YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THIS **** This is pop/rock gold the only other album that might be better this year is death grips. mebbe… Full Review »
  3. quotes
    Apr 20, 2015
    10
    Intense and genius, these are the best adjectives that we can give to this record. Young Fathers has made a great work, uniting strong andIntense and genius, these are the best adjectives that we can give to this record. Young Fathers has made a great work, uniting strong and ironic lyrics, just talking about real life, with exotic melodies, creating songs that we weren't waiting for, what makes the album **** awesome. White Men Are Black Men Too can be one of the best albums in 2015. It's very good to listen, you won't waste your time with it.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »