The Cords The Cords
The Cords's The Cords arrives as a sunlit, concise manifesto of DIY indie pop, and critics say it mostly delivers. Across three professional reviews the record earned an 85/100 consensus score, praised for hooks, jangly guitars and a youthful wisdom that belies its 30-minute runtime. Fabulist emerges repeatedly as the album's irresistible opener, while October, Bo's New Haircut and closing single When You Said Goodbye are singled out as standout tracks by reviewers who highlight melody and concise songcraft.
Reviewers consistently note how noise-pop edges and minimal production let songwriting and harmonies breathe, creating a nostalgic yet immediate sound. AllMusic praises the band’s knack for turning small moments into memorable refrains and cites You and Yes It's True as examples of noisier textures that never sacrifice melody. Clash Music emphasizes twangy hooks and wiry minimalism, calling several cuts the best songs on The Cords thanks to sharp songwriting and effervescent innocence. Louder Than War frames the record as a lively antidote to overproduced pop, comparing Fabulist to indie forebears while celebrating the sisters as heirs to a DIY tradition.
While the consensus is largely positive, critics temper praise with an awareness that the brief, punchy format leaves little room for grand ambition - its charms rest in immediacy and sincerity rather than scope. For readers asking whether The Cords is good or which are the best songs on The Cords, the critical consensus suggests it is a must-listen for fans of jangly, hook-forward indie pop and a promising debut that rewards repeat plays.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Fabulist
3 mentions
"the ultra-hooky, uptempo "Fabulist," kicking off a nonstop stream of bounce and jangle"— AllMusic
When You Said Goodbye
2 mentions
"Closing with the - shock horror - maturity of ‘When You Said Goodbye’"— Clash Music
October
3 mentions
"the racing "October" ("It's not that it's gone/It's just not the same as it was")"— AllMusic
the ultra-hooky, uptempo "Fabulist," kicking off a nonstop stream of bounce and jangle
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Fabulist
Just Don't Know (How To Be You)
October
Vera
Doubt It's Gonna Change
You
Bo's New Haircut
I'm Not Sad
Yes It's True
Weird Feeling
Done With You
Rather Not Stay
When You Said Goodbye
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
The Cords sound like giddy archivists of jangly indie pop on The Cords, and the best songs - notably Fabulist and October - show why. The opener Fabulist is ultra-hooky and uptempo, a joyous, sugary-sweet rebuke that sets the tone. Elsewhere, the racing October and the surefooted Bo's New Haircut turn small moments into memorable refrains, while tracks like You and Yes It's True push into noisier territory without losing pristine melodies. This is a 30-minute all-ages bop fest that leans on charm, bah-bah harmonies, and an uncanny lyrical wisdom for teenagers.
Key Points
-
The opener Fabulist is the best song because its ultra-hooky, uptempo melody establishes the album's joyous tone.
-
The album's core strengths are pristine melodies, youthful lyrical wisdom, and a joyful embrace of indie pop and noise textures.
Themes
Critic's Take
The Cords sound like a beloved blast from the past recast with fresh sincerity on The Cords, where opener Fabulist and the giddy single Bo's New Haircut set the tone. Robin Murray's voice revels in the record's twangy hooks and wiry minimalism, noting how tracks from October to Weird Feeling deliver thrills and lush introspection in equal measure. The review keeps a conversational, slightly mischievous tone - praising sharp songwriting, effervescent innocence and a streak of inventive originality that makes these the best songs on The Cords.
Key Points
-
‘Fabulist’ stands out as the best song because it opens with twee beats and sets the album’s affectionate tone.
-
The album’s core strengths are sharp songwriting, impeccable hooks, and a sincere revival of indie pop minimalism.
Themes
Critic's Take
There is a fizzing youthful joy at the heart of The Cords, and the best songs - notably Fabulist and closing single When You Said Goodbye - carry that infectious, jangly pop attack with real conviction. Iain Key writes in an enthusiastic, reference-rich tone, likening the opener Fabulist to The Primitives and praising the album as a lively antidote to overproduced chart pop. The record's brief, punchy tracks make it easy to answer questions about the best tracks on The Cords - they are immediate, melodic and bracingly direct. Listening from start to finish you hear why these songs stand out, and why the sisters feel like the next true heirs of the DIY indie tradition.
Key Points
-
The best song is the closing single When You Said Goodbye because it is described as heart-rending, deeper and more immersive.
-
The album's core strength is concise, jangly DIY indie-pop that fizzes with youthful energy and consistent quality.