The Bends

I keep trying to find something wrong with this album and I genuinely can't. The melodies are gorgeous, the arrangements are inventive, the lyrics are thoughtful without being pretentious. It just fires on every cylinder from start to finish.

The first half of this album is some of the best music I've ever heard. The second half is merely great. That slight drop-off is the only thing keeping this from a perfect score. Still an essential listen.

Tried really hard to get into this and gave it way more chances than most albums. Some sections are legitimately interesting but they're sandwiched between long stretches of tedium. Not worth the effort for most listeners.

Some truly transcendent moments here. A few tracks feel like filler but overall stellar.

Probably the most perfectly sequenced album I've ever heard. Each track sets up the next one beautifully and the climax hits like a freight train. The fact that they pulled this off is honestly kind of miraculous.

The instrumentation is gorgeous throughout. Really well produced.

This hits a sweet spot between accessibility and experimentation that very few albums manage. It's catchy enough to enjoy casually but deep enough to reward close listening. Smart, well-crafted music.

A disappointing effort from an otherwise talented artist.

This is fine but I expected more given the critical consensus.

This grew on me a lot. First listen I thought it was good, not great. By the fifth listen I was completely hooked. The subtlety of the arrangements really rewards patience and close attention.