This Is A Fix - Critical Response

Critical Response

The record received a very mixed reaction from critics. Rock Sound magazine rated the album the 24th greatest record of 2008, whilst Rocklouder.co.uk rated the album the 4th greatest album of 2008. Al Fox of the BBC praised the band's second album also, saying "The album is absolutely dripping with new ideas: the band's willingness to try them for size and to drop anything that doesn't immediately seem to be working means that only the cream of a very good crop of songs has made it onto the disc". Drowned In Sound reviewer Mike Haydock was not as praising of the band's second album, stating; "This Is a Fix may be good enough to save their bacon, but only just" criticising some of Rob Hawkins lyrics in "Bad Guy" and "This Ship", however was praised singles "Steve McQueen" and "Magazines", overall labelling the album as "a pleasant mess".

Trevor Baker of Rock Sound magazine praised the album, giving it 8/10, saying "they appear to have gone into studio with the intention of making a record that doesn't let energy levels drop for even a second". Emma Johnston of Kerrang magazine praised the bands comeback; "The melodies are relentless, almost pop in places, thanks to an underlying disco groove, arty and complex elsewhere. Forget the summer of Monster. This is a band reborn, and better than any could predict".

Alex Lai of Contact Music stated "Casting their net further than would have been expected actually sees The Automatic producing their best results", positively speaking of the album, also stating "Certainly there is nothing here which will be anywhere near as prolific as "Monster" at uniting the masses, but that may be the trade that has to be made in order to establish themselves as a serious rock act - and this is a decent start to doing that" Sputnik Music's Dan Smith also positively reviewed the record, giving 3.7/5 "This Is a Fix reveals new surprises with every listen, and is on the whole a very strong pop-rock album, with a far greater depth and variety than anyone could have expected" "‘This Is A Fix’ is a solid, enjoyable return." Niall Doherty of The Fly stated "What’s that coming over the hill? It’s an… improvement".

At the far end of the reviews The Guardians Rob Fitzpatrick severely disliked the album, particularly the lyrical content, how they talk about the government, magazines, record industry and Hollywood and how they all supposedly 'lie', giving the record 1 out of 5. Reviewers also compared the record to the sounds of Ash and McFly with Metallica and Foo Fighter riffs.