Strange Mercy

Good album that suffers a bit from inconsistency. The highs are worth it though.

A monumental achievement in every sense.

Not sure what happened here. Their previous work was so strong and this feels like a significant step backward. The songwriting is lazy, the production is overwrought, and the whole thing feels phoned in. A couple of decent tracks don't save it.

Really strong record that just misses the mark of perfection in a few spots. The highs here are genuinely incredible though, and even the weaker tracks are better than most artists' best work. Highly recommended.

Not sure what happened here. Their previous work was so strong and this feels like a significant step backward. The songwriting is lazy, the production is overwrought, and the whole thing feels phoned in. A couple of decent tracks don't save it.

Solid if unspectacular album that does exactly what you'd expect from this artist. The songwriting is competent, the production is clean, and there are enough standout moments to keep you engaged. But it never really surprises you or takes any genuine risks. I've listened to it maybe half a dozen times and I enjoy it each time, but I never find myself reaching for it over their better work. It's the kind of album that's perfectly pleasant background music but doesn't demand your full attention the way their best records do.

I wanted to like this more than I did. Some good ideas buried under uneven execution.

Actively unpleasant listening experience for me. I can appreciate craft without enjoying the result, and that's exactly what happened here. Well-made music that I never want to hear again. Different strokes, I suppose.