Famous First Words (Viva Brother album)
Encyclopedia
The album was panned by critics upon release, with reviewers criticizing the lack of original content and the clumsiness with which the band attempted to emulate popular acts of the 90s. Alexis Petridis of the Guardian
likened the band to a tragicomedy
and remarked that "Viva Brother haven't got a new idea in their heads – as every song fades out, you somehow imagine the theme music from TFI Friday fading in". Martin Headon of musicOMH
praised certain aspects of the album, but noted that overall it was clichéd
, had "few arresting melodies" and lacked courage. Similarly, Hari Ashurst of Pitchfork Media
lamented the "chugging guitar and infant grade lyrics", ultimately judging the album to be "pretty brainless stuff, the special kind that makes you feel somehow stupider for having listened". John Meagher of the Irish Independent
wrote that Viva Brother "might just be responsible for the most uninspired, downright awful British album of the year".
NME
's Emily Mackay gave the album a more moderate score of 5/10, commenting positively on "New Year's Day" and "Darling Buds of May", but going on to criticize the rest of the songs, saying, "there’s no lyrical content here with lasting weight or worth much comment at all..." The review ultimately described the album as "disappointing [and] formulaic". On the other end of the spectrum, Daniel Dylan Wray of No Ripcord
gave the album a scathing review with a score of 0/10, calling it, among other things, an "abomination", and going on to say, "This so-called ‘reinvention’ of Brit Pop is perhaps the most frustrating element ... it’s no re-birth ... [Viva Brother] are simply people with regressive tastes, mindsets and attitudes". He ultimately concluded with, "while everything about the persona of Viva Brother may scream ‘Like us or else…’ the content has nothing to say at all."
Each of the three singles that preceeded release of the album failed to chart. The album peaked at number 34 on the official UK album charts in its first week of release. It dropped off the charts the following week.
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
likened the band to a tragicomedy
Tragicomedy
Tragicomedy is fictional work that blends aspects of the genres of tragedy and comedy. In English literature, from Shakespeare's time to the nineteenth century, tragicomedy referred to a serious play with either a happy ending or enough jokes throughout the play to lighten the mood.-Classical...
and remarked that "Viva Brother haven't got a new idea in their heads – as every song fades out, you somehow imagine the theme music from TFI Friday fading in". Martin Headon of musicOMH
MusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
praised certain aspects of the album, but noted that overall it was clichéd
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
, had "few arresting melodies" and lacked courage. Similarly, Hari Ashurst of Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
lamented the "chugging guitar and infant grade lyrics", ultimately judging the album to be "pretty brainless stuff, the special kind that makes you feel somehow stupider for having listened". John Meagher of the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
wrote that Viva Brother "might just be responsible for the most uninspired, downright awful British album of the year".
NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
's Emily Mackay gave the album a more moderate score of 5/10, commenting positively on "New Year's Day" and "Darling Buds of May", but going on to criticize the rest of the songs, saying, "there’s no lyrical content here with lasting weight or worth much comment at all..." The review ultimately described the album as "disappointing [and] formulaic". On the other end of the spectrum, Daniel Dylan Wray of No Ripcord
No Ripcord
No Ripcord is an online music and film magazine based in Sheffield, England.-History:The website was originally created in April 1999 by editor-in-chief David Coleman and A.M. Booth...
gave the album a scathing review with a score of 0/10, calling it, among other things, an "abomination", and going on to say, "This so-called ‘reinvention’ of Brit Pop is perhaps the most frustrating element ... it’s no re-birth ... [Viva Brother] are simply people with regressive tastes, mindsets and attitudes". He ultimately concluded with, "while everything about the persona of Viva Brother may scream ‘Like us or else…’ the content has nothing to say at all."
Each of the three singles that preceeded release of the album failed to chart. The album peaked at number 34 on the official UK album charts in its first week of release. It dropped off the charts the following week.