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Broken Machine
Studio album by Nothing but Thieves
Released	8 September 2017
Studio	Ranch Studios, California Grand Cru, London
Genre	Alternative rock indie rock hard rock
Length	43:31
Label	RCA Sony
Producer	Mike Crossey
Nothing but Thieves chronology
Nothing but Thieves (2015) Broken Machine (2017) What Did You Think When You Made Me This Way? (2018)
Deluxe edition cover
Singles from Broken Machine
"Amsterdam" Released: 2 May 2017 "Sorry" Released: 14 August 2017 "Broken Machine" Released: 21 August 2017 "I'm Not Made by Design" Released: 26 August 2017 "Particles" Released: 11 January 2018

Broken Machine is the second studio album by English rock band Nothing but Thieves. It was released on 8 September 2017 under RCA and Sony Music and produced by Mike Crossey.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
GIGsoup	76/100
The Music
PopMatters	8/10
The Soundboard
Varsity
Genre Is Dead!

Upon release, Nothing But Thieves received generally positive reviews from critics, with several comments on the development of the band's style. Roisin Oconnor of The Independent described the album as being among 'the best rock albums of the year'. She wrote that it 'showcases the band's consciousness' both on their own development and on the global events taking place around the world.

Varsity's Sarah Taylor awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, writing that there had been notable anticipation leading up to the album's release and that it ' not disappoint'. Taylor also praised the album for 'pushing more boundaries than the last', highlighting the variety in their music and lyricism as an example of them further defining their style.

Linda Köke of Genre Is Dead gave similar praise, writing that the band had showcased their ability to 'follow in the footsteps of rock giants' with their latest album. Köke praises the album's energy while Taylor praises the album's experimental nature, though Köke provides a slightly contrary opinion, describing the tenth track "Hell, Yeah" as being an 'almost mandatory late-album ballad'. Köke does however go on to award the album 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Luke Nuttall of The Soundboard builds on the more critical thoughts of Köke by describing the album as having only 'fragments' of the strongest elements from its predecessor, with most of the 'heavy lifting' being done by the vocals of Conor Mason. Nuttall echoes criticism of final tracks "Hell, Yeah" and "Afterlife", going as far as to argue that the tracks are only 'tolerable' because of the band's capabilities. Nuttall also criticised the production quality on the album, describing it as seeming more 'lax' compared to their debut. He provides a contrasting opinion to that of Taylor and Köke, stating that the band's attempt to experiment with their sound as 'falling flat'. In closing however, Nuttall does describe the album as having 'some nice ideas that are definitely eligible to carry on into the future'.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the Deluxe album notes.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Deluxe album's liner notes.

Nothing but Thieves

• Conor Mason - vocals
• Joe Langridge-Brown - guitar, percussion
• Dominic Craik - guitar, percussion, as well as piano on "Particles (Piano version)"
• Phil Blake - bass
• James Price - drums

Additional personnel

• Mike Crossey - production, mixing, programming
• Dominic Craik - programming, mixing on "Sorry (Acoustic)" and "Particles (Piano version)"
• Jonathan Gilmore - engineering, programming
• Joseph Rodgers - engineering on "Sorry (Acoustic)" and "Particles (Piano version)"
• Robin Schmidt - mastering (Mastering)

Charts and certifications

Certifications

Release history

See also

• Kintsugi

References

1. "Nothing but Thieves on new single 'Amsterdam', tour plans and taking advice from Muse's Matt Bellamy - NME". NME. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
2. ^ "Nothing but Thieves - Broken Machine". Discogs. 8 September 2017. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
3. ^ O'Сonnor, Roisin (1 September 2017). "Nothing but Thieves interview: 'There's no guidebook for being in a band'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
4. Rodz, Theo. "NOTHING BUT THIEVES 'BROKEN MACHINE'". GIGsoup. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
5. Emily Blackburn (6 September 2017). "Nothing but Thieves Broken Machine Emily Blackburn". themusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
6. Carr, Paul. "Nothing but Thieves: Broken Machine". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
7. ^ Nuttall, Luke (11 September 2017). "ALBUM REVIEW: 'Broken Machine' by Nothing but Thieves". Retrieved 11 September 2017.
8. ^ Taylor, Sarah (15 September 2017). "Review: Nothing But Thieves - Broken Machine". Varsity. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
9. ^ Köke, Linda (4 October 2017). "Album Review: Nothing but Thieves - Broken Machine". Genre Is Dead. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
10. ^ Nothing But Thieves (2017). Broken Machine (booklet). Sony Music.
11. "Australiancharts.com – Nothing but Thieves – Broken Machine". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
12. "Austriancharts.at – Nothing but Thieves – Broken Machine" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
13. "Ultratop.be – Nothing but Thieves – Broken Machine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
14. "Ultratop.be – Nothing but Thieves – Broken Machine" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
15. "Nothing but Thieves Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
16. "Dutchcharts.nl – Nothing but Thieves – Broken Machine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
17. "Nothing but Thieves: Broken Machine" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Nothing but Thieves – Broken Machine" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
19. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Nothing but Thieves". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
20. "Italiancharts.com – Nothing but Thieves – Broken Machine". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
21. "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
22. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
23. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
24. "Swisscharts.com – Nothing but Thieves – Broken Machine". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
25. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
26. "Nothing but Thieves Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
27. "Nothing but Thieves Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
28. "Dutch album certifications – Nothing But Thieves – Broken Machine" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 13 July 2022. Enter Broken Machine in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2022 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
29. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 December 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Broken Machine in the search box.
30. "British album certifications – Nothing But Thieves – Broken Machine". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 June 2023.

• 2017 albums
• Nothing but Thieves albums
• Albums produced by Mike Crossey