Editing What It Is to Burn (section)

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name= "Allmusic review">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/what-it-is-to-burn-mw0000700799|title=What It Is to Burn - Finch {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=AllMusic|author=Taylor, Jason D.|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423181328/https://www.allmusic.com/album/what-it-is-to-burn-mw0000700799|archive-date=April 23, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Drowned in Sound]]''
| rev2Score = 4/5<ref name=DISreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.drownedinsound.com:80/article.php?id=4961|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030320143035/http://www.drownedinsound.com/article.php?id=4961|title=Review: What It Is To Burn - Finch|work=Drowned in Sound|author=White, Peter|date=2002|archive-date=March 20, 2003|access-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[In Music We Trust]]''
| rev3score = B<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steininger |first=Alex |date=May 2002 |title=Finch: What It Is To Burn |url=https://inmusicwetrust.com/articles/48p03.html |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=[[In Music We Trust]]}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Melodic (magazine)|Melodic]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=Melodicreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.melodic.net/?page=review&id=519|title=Finch - What It Is to Burn|work=Melodic|author=Wippsson, Johan|date=May 6, 2002|access-date=July 17, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023033146/http://melodic.net/?page=review&id=519|archive-date=October 23, 2013}}</ref>
| rev5 = [[Ultimate Guitar]]
| rev5Score = 10/10<ref name=UGAreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/finch/what_it_is_to_burn/3364/|title=What It Is To Burn review by Finch|publisher=[[Ultimate Guitar]]|date=July 25, 2003|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517082334/https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/finch/what_it_is_to_burn/3364/|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
''What It Is to Burn'' was met with generally positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]]. [[AllMusic]] reviewer Jason D. Taylor opened his piece by calling the album "phenomenal," noting that Finch rode the "thin line" between hardcore punk and pop punk, preserving a "trademark sound that stands out from the crowd."<ref name= "Allmusic review"/> He also wrote that the album "exemplifies everything that is right in the punk scene", citing its emotional vulnerability, the "agonizing fury of hardcore" and the positive "tones of pop-punk."<ref name= "Allmusic review"/> Amy Sciarretto of ''[[CMJ|CMJ New Music Report]]'' was impressed with the band's ability to not be pigeon-holed into one specific sound, observing that the album showcases their "delicious blend of infection and perky rock," incorporating Glassjaw, [[Thursday (band)|Thursday]] and [[Jimmy Eat World]] "into a potent [[Molotov cocktail]]."<ref name=CMJreview>Sciarretto 2003, p. 13</ref>

''[[Drowned in Sound]]'' writer Peter White referred to ''What It Is to Burn'' as an "absolutely gut smokingly fantastic record."<ref name=DISreview/> ''[[Junkee Media|FasterLouder]]''{{'s}} Roby Anson described it as an "album of sadness, gladness, big chunky guitar riffs, smart [[chord progression]]s and a rhythm section that chugs along nicely in each song."<ref name=FLreview>{{cite web|url=http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/finch-what-it-is-to-burn/770443|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517192052/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/finch-what-it-is-to-burn/770443|title=Finch – What it is to Burn|work=[[Junkee Media|FasterLouder]]|author=Anson, Robyn|date=February 9, 2004|archive-date=May 17, 2018|access-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''LAS Magazine'' writer Andy Vaughn noted the Glassjaw influence added "a great deal of intensity" to the album, which he felt "would be missing otherwise."<ref name=LASreview/> He commended Finch for making an "extremely strong debut."<ref name=LASreview>{{cite web|url=http://lostatsea.net/review.phtml?id=139534923541851d0fa55f3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213000950/http://lostatsea.net/review.phtml?id=139534923541851d0fa55f3|title=Finch What It Is To Burn|work=LAS Magazine|author=Vaughn, Andy|date=October 1, 2004|archive-date=February 13, 2017|access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Melodic (magazine)|Melodic]]'' webmaster Johan Wippsson said the album has "the perfect mix of good melodies with the extra edge," and complimented Trominbo's "great" production style.<ref name=Melodicreview/> He lauded the "very consistent" nature of the tracks, "which are on a very high level all the time."<ref name=Melodicreview/> The team from [[Ultimate Guitar]] hailed the album, saying it "kicks so much ass" and lacks any skippable tracks.<ref name=UGAreview/>

[[Sputnikmusic]] emeritus Ryan Flatley praised "Grey Matter" and "Project Mayhem" for their energy, but said that the album turned out to be a bit of a disappointment due to the large amount of hype surrounding its release.<ref name= "Sputnik review">{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/12579/Finch-What-It-is-to-Burn/|title=Finch - What It Is to Burn (album review 2)|publisher=Sputnikmusic|author=Flatley, Ryan|date=June 27, 2007|access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Exclaim!]]''{{'s}} Amber Authier commented that Finch "doesn't do a bad job" of merging [[punk rock]] and [[Heavy metal music|metal]] together. However, she felt that the lyrical content on ''What It Is to Burn'' came across as a "little too deep, separating the two styles instead of blending them into something a little different."<ref name=Exclaimreview>{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/finch-what_it_is_to_burn|title=Finch What It Is to Burn|work=[[Exclaim!]]|author=Authier, Amber|date=February 1, 2003|access-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517132907/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/finch-what_it_is_to_burn|archive-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref> Lina Lecaro of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' said the band bounced "between soothing croons and throat-burning wails, metallic riffs and bubbly beats," a fusion that "kept things interesting&nbsp;... even if the shifts weren't always seamless."<ref name=LATreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-04-et-lecaro4-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517192130/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/mar/04/entertainment/et-lecaro4|title=Finch's primal 'screamo' is heavy on the melodrama|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|author=Lecaro, Lina|date=March 4, 2003|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref> While Barcalow "proved himself to be a versatile vocalist on tunes&nbsp;... his range didn't quite make up for his lack of charisma," Lecaro added.<ref name=LATreview/> ''[[Kerrang!]]'' reviewer Paul Travers criticized the titles of the songs on the album, saying that Finch were "in need of a good slap&nbsp;... you can almost taste the salty tang of tears spilling out of the speakers."<ref name=Kreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com:80/newreleases/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020607145935/http://www.kerrang.com/newreleases/|title=New Releases & Reviews|work=[[Kerrang!]]|author=Travers, Paul|date=April 2002|archive-date=June 7, 2002|access-date=July 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>