"'Rip It Up' is a classic dancefloor smash in the making, and at 2 minutes 31 seconds inspired the comment from Lillywhite, “In 25 years of producing it’s the first time I’ve actually had to try and lengthen a song, instead of editing it!” Despite its brevity, ‘Rip It Up’ has the hooks and chords to motivate you away from the wall and out cutting a rug or ripping a stitch on the dancefloor"
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What's On The NME Stereo (November)...?
"Bristling with speedy charm and a top chorus - Razorlight are the UK rock princes in waiting"
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Sounds XP
Veteran producer Steve Lillywhite said of his work on this single that it was the first time in 25 years that he'd had to try to extend a record rather than edit it shorter. The finished product is still only two and a half minutes long but it's not a moment too long as the Dalston four piece deliver a hook-friendly Television-esq jerky gem with a great dance inducing chorus. Terrific.
Paul M.
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Drowned In Sound
"Hey Girl, get on the dance floor" - Not the opening of one of those piece-of-shit-euro-trance songs, but the jump-start launch of Razorlight’s spiky second single. Frontman Johnny Borrell delivers ‘Rip it Up’s instructive lyrics with a tonal quality as English as The Libertines' teapot and as gritty as the inside of their kettle. With U2/Talking Heads nob-twiddler Steve Lillywhite at the controls, this song's cutting guitars and furious drums are controlled in usual Razorlight fashion, by a languidly defiant vocal. Although this offering is not as captivating as some of the lyrical fluidity Borrell displays during Razorlight’s live shows (a trait that separates this band from the rest), 'Rip it Up' is a satisfyingly rockin' single - the least you'd expect from one of this year's most exciting bands.
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Rockfeedback
The shaky timbre of Tom Verlaine, chiming guitars of, er, Verlaine… and…
Yes, Razorlight are clearly suckers for the past, but it’s tough to veer too far off the boil when you’re choosing the infamous art-punk of Television as a canvas. ‘Rip It Up’, however, is a joyous pop-ode in its own right – quirky, a touch innocuous (‘Get on the dancefloor,’ vocalist Johnny Borrell bellows with frightful politeness) and an absolute safe-bet to soundtrack a landmark, druggy/sexed-up house-party of a lifetime.
’Rip it up, yeah’. You heard the man – obey his command, or face wiggling to the not-quite-so-glamorous competition.
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Dotmusic
"It's taken Razorlight a little over a year to emerge from the derelict East London rehearsal rooms they once called home. In that brief existence they've played ramshackle party gigs, landed support slots with The Libertines and followed The White Stripes into Toerag studios to record an acclaimed three-track demo.
'Rip It Up' was one of the tracks laid down at those sessions and, listening to it ahead of its official single release, it's clear that Razorlight's ascent to the top of the 'ones to watch' list wasn't all just down to good luck. Their sound is in part 60s rock'n'roll, part new wave NYC and all parts irresistible.
Frontman Johnny Borrell and co apparently have what it takes. It's pretty obvious they have the sounds, and a quick look at some promo pics will show you they have the looks to match. It's anyone's guess where Razorlight will be in another year's time, but here's guessing it won't be back in an East End squat."
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Blazin Vibes
"The contagious “Rip It Up” is bound for serious dance floor play with its catchy, simple and dynamic quality, and no doubt the B-sides “Spirit”, “Yes, You Should Know” and “Here It Comes” will follow suit. The story format of B-sides “When He Was 20…” and “Heartbreak Soup” are less punchy than the others, but are amusing and upbeat.
Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the title song and B-sides ring of an obvious mixture of influences like The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Cure, and Lillywhite’s old collaborates, The Talking Heads.
“Rip It Up” is out now on two different CD’s, each with two B-sides, and a 7’ with one B-side."
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NME - October
"...you might also want to have a shifty bounce to 'Rip It Up' by Razorlight, which is one of the better things to come out of The Hoarily Authentic Pogo Rock For Beginners Vol.One this week. Oh yes."
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What's On The NME Stereo (September)...?
"Frantic Television-esque after hours anthem from Dalston's dankest."
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Manchester Music
"More retro musings from Razorlight that cuts its jangled guitar with a rumbling bass, on a mission that's distinctly retro. It’s when the guitar break flutters out that the song gathers some momentum and begins to shine.
It’s stop start, stabbing punctuations work well with the “Rip It Up” reverberated vocal line. Not as smooth as the Strokes and not as wildly and deliberately obtuse as The Hives, it sits somewhere, rather comfortably inbetween."