Automatic for the People

Pushes the boundaries of the genre in interesting ways.

There's a really great EP buried inside this album. The problem is the surrounding material dilutes the impact. When this hits, it HITS — a couple of these tracks are among the best things they've ever done. But then you get a run of three mediocre songs in a row and the momentum completely dies. I appreciate the attempt at a longer, more ambitious project, but I think this artist works better in shorter formats. The ideas here are strong but they're stretched too thin. Still worth hearing for the highlights though.

There are flashes of brilliance but also some tracks that feel underdeveloped.

There's a reason this is universally acclaimed. It really is that good.

A mature, confident album that knows exactly what it wants to be. No wasted tracks, no unnecessary detours. It doesn't reinvent the wheel but it polishes it to a brilliant shine. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Just when you think you've heard it all, an album like this comes along.

An essential listen for anyone who cares about music. Period.

Just when you think you've heard it all, an album like this comes along.

Dense and complex but never pretentious. Excellent stuff.

Returned to this after a few years away and it hit even harder than I remembered. Some albums age poorly but this one has only gotten better with time. The themes feel more relevant now than ever and the sonics still sound fresh.