★★★★★
It's a challenge for any band with a strong back catalogue to issue a new album. The Cat Empire's self-titled debut of 2003 became a cult classic, and tracks from the Australian outfit's subsequent albums, like 'Sly' (from 2005's 'Two Shoes' LP) and 'Cities' (the title-track of the band's third album of 2006), have successfully united people with previously polarised music taste...
- www.clashmusic.com
2013-08-29
★★★★★
In 10 years, Australian ska six-piece the Cat Empire have released six albums, some of which leaned harder on pop-rock, while others had a distinctly world flavour. Steal The Light is a return to their original aesthetic - a collection of singable/danceable tunes cavorting across jazz, reggae, indie rock, Latin and soul genre lines, anchored by an inspiring rhythm section. Lyrics stick to summery matters like youth and freedom and are sometimes borderline silly...
- nowtoronto.com
2013-05-23
★★★★★
This is the sixth studio album from Melbourne's-own Cat Empire, and the first as an independent release. Almost ten years on from the debut which featured the massive hits Hello and Days Like These, the band have had a huge amount of success at home, in Europe and across the globe. Steal The Light is a pretty enjoyable record, led by excellent opening track and lead single Brighter Than Gold, which makes me feel like I'm in a Guy Ritchie film...
- www.beat.com.au
2013-05-18
★★★★★
Wolfmother is getting all the hype, but the best Australian act going these days is The Cat Empire. In a world of shitty and/or done-to-death hybrid acts, TCE stand out because their sound is like, well, the illegitimate jam-rock lovechild of the somewhat unholy union of jazzy hip-hop-soul and that sexy minx, cubano-ragga-ska. (Huh...
- www.hour.ca
2010-12-07
★★★★★
Melbourne's ultra-versatile Cat Empire can't do much wrong in my book. Debut record Two Shoes knocked mine off, and So Many Nights starts from there. A bit more maudlin than its forerunner, this effort is rife with solid-to-standout tracks (Fishies, Til the Ocean Takes Us All, the title track) and finds strength in small places. Toss a style at these guys and they can play it with heart, soul and gusto, but what really defines TCE is how they convey their pure enjoyment of music...
- www.hour.ca
2010-11-02
★★★★★
Halfway through its Police-tinged opener Waiting, you know that Cinema is going to be something of a departure for Melbourne's finest. The next 20 minutes confirms this. Feeling's Gone and Shoulders (before it turns into an instrumental) find the Empire channelling their signature, uplifting, instrumental Aussie jam sound to, or at least towards, something else: traditional pop. Call Me Home and On My Way at least half-fit this mould as well...
- www.hour.ca
2010-11-02
★★★★★
Big band fans pay heed: Australian rockers The Cat Empire are at it again. Live On Earth, a two-disc, 22-song behemoth of a live album showcases the band's blend of jazz, pop, Latin, rock, ska, and swing revival. It's the latest offering in a long line of releases, which over the past decade has included a live EP, a live DVD, and four studio albums. And if the two plus hours on Live On Earth weren't enough for fans, there's a simultaneous DVD release called Live At The Bowl...
- www.musicomh.com
2010-08-23
★★★★★
Over seven short years of releases, Australia's the Cat Empire have shown an admirable amount of restlessness. Once the group's core lineup and sound came together, it would have been easy for the group to just go on cruise control. After all, the Cat Empire's sound, a mix of styles ranging from ska to punk to jazz to Afro-Cuban rhythms, is bright and infectious...
- www.popmatters.com
2010-07-23
★★★★★
Sound: This is the first Cat Empire CD which I bought, and I am very glad that I did because this is easily one of my top ten favourite albums. I still have not heard any band which has a similar sound to The Cat Empire, however I thoroughly enjoy it. Harry Angus' trumpet makes me want to go and buy one to learn it, especially the solo in Miserere. The highlights for me on this album are The Car Song, Miserere and Sly...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2009-11-15
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