Andy Bell Ten Crowns
Andy Bell's Ten Crowns arrives as a jubilant, club-ready collection that foregrounds emotional vocal turns amid melodic electronic dance production. Critics note that the record balances unabashed pop/dance uplift with moments of tenderness, earning an 84/100 consensus score across 2 professional reviews that praise its best songs and stylistic confidence.
Reviewers consistently point to standout tracks as proof of the album's strengths: “Heart's A Liar” emerges as the emotional centerpiece, its duet with Debbie Harry singled out by multiple critics, while “Breaking Thru The Interstellar” is celebrated as an ecstatic, vocodered opener. Other frequently mentioned highlights include “Don't Cha Know” and “Lies So Deep,” and The Spill Magazine elevates the gospel-tinged closer “Thank You” as a quiet masterpiece. Across these songs critics praised Bell's mix of clubbiness, gospel influence, and nostalgic homage to classic dance-pop.
While both reviews applaud Bell's command of melodic EDM and the chemistry with producer Dave Audé, they also imply the record is less about radical reinvention and more about refinement - Bell romping in his signature style and expanding it with duets and experimental flourishes. The critical consensus suggests Ten Crowns is worth listening to for fans of polished, emotive dance music and anyone searching for the best songs on Ten Crowns like “Heart's A Liar” and “Breaking Thru The Interstellar”. For a closer read, the professional reviews below map where the album's highs and softer moments land in Bell's catalog.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Heart's A Liar (lyric)
1 mention
"“ I’m so broken, and you’re so beautiful ”"— The Spill Magazine
Heart's A Liar
2 mentions
"long-time hero and chum Debbie Harry pops up to dispense her effortless Debbie Harry-ness on the fantastic ‘Heart’s A Liar’"— The Quietus
Breaking Thru The Interstellar
2 mentions
"quite literally on the opener ‘Breaking Thru The interstellar’, where a vocodered Bell darts among the rave stabs with an ecstatic nod to ‘Nightflight To Venus’"— The Quietus
“ I’m so broken, and you’re so beautiful ”
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Breaking Thru The Interstellar
Lies So Deep
Heart's A Liar
For Today
Dance For Mercy
Don't Cha Know
Dawn Of Heaven's Gate
Godspell
Put Your Empathy On Ice
Thank You
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Andy Bell arrives on Ten Crowns with a celebratory, clubby swagger, and the best songs - notably “Breaking Thru The Interstellar” and “Heart's A Liar” - underline that joyous thrust. The opener “Breaking Thru The Interstellar” is a literal joyride, vocodered and ecstatic, while “Heart's A Liar” is lifted further by Debbie Harry and stands as one of the album's emotional centres. Tracks such as “Lies So Deep” and “Don't Cha Know” extend Bell's pop/dance/gospel template without ever feeling redundant. Overall, the record is less about sonic reinvention and more about Bell romping freely in his Andy Bell-ness, delivering the best tracks on Ten Crowns with relish.
Key Points
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The best song is the opener 'Breaking Thru The Interstellar' because it is described as an ecstatic, vocodered joyride that sets the album's tone.
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The album's core strengths are its uplifting pop/dance/gospel template, clubby energy, and Andy Bell's liberated, celebratory performance.
Themes
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Critic's Take
Andy Bell has fashioned on Ten Crowns an infectiously melodic EDM record that still lets emotion breathe, with songs like “Heart’s A Liar” and “Thank You” standing out as the best tracks on the album. The duet “Heart’s A Liar” with Debbie Harry is heartbreaking and incredibly beautiful, a highlight that showcases Bell's tender delivery. The closing “Thank You” is called a masterpiece here, intimate and gospel-tinged, and should be at the top of any list of best songs on Ten Crowns. Throughout, Bell and producer Dave Audé balance perfect beats with clever, infectious melodies that make these tracks the album's most memorable moments.
Key Points
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“Thank You” is the best song because it is deeply honest, personal, gospel-tinged, and called a masterpiece by the reviewer.
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The album’s core strengths are its infectious melodies, perfect dance beats, strong emotional vocals, and tasteful experimentation.