Oracular Spectacular

The emotional depth here is staggering. I was completely floored the first time.

Took me three listens to fully appreciate what was happening here but once it clicked, it really clicked. The layering is incredible — you hear new things every time. A rich, rewarding album that demands your attention.

Fine album from a good band. Nothing offensive, nothing transcendent. It sits comfortably in the middle of their discography and that's okay. Not everything needs to be a masterpiece to be worth your time.

Not for me at all. I can see the craft but it does absolutely nothing for me.

Revisiting this for what must be my 200th listen and it still gives me chills at the same moments. The mark of a truly great album is that it never loses its power no matter how familiar it becomes. If anything, knowing what's coming makes the anticipation even better. I played this for a friend recently who had somehow never heard it, and watching their face during certain moments was like experiencing it for the first time all over again. The sharp intake of breath during that one transition. The slow smile spreading during the climax. This album connects on a primal level that transcends taste or genre preference.

The production is interesting but the songs themselves are lacking.

I don't think music gets better than this.

I can see why people love this but it didn't grab me the way I expected.

Decent album with a handful of really excellent tracks. The problem is the material between those peaks isn't compelling enough to hold your attention. Worth cherry-picking the highlights for a playlist.

A few incredible songs surrounded by more forgettable material.