Angel Dust

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.

I've tried writing about this album so many times and words always fall short.

Not quite their best work but honestly that's a high bar. This is still a fantastic album by any reasonable standard. The songwriting is sharp, the sound is distinctive, and it's got great replay value.

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.

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.

I've given this the benefit of the doubt across multiple listens over multiple years and my opinion hasn't budged. Overrated, overlong, and overwrought. The good moments are too few and far between to justify the runtime.

The first half is near-perfect. Second half is still great but slightly less focused.

A few tracks could have been cut without losing anything, but what's here is largely excellent. The production is gorgeous and the performances are top-notch. One of the better albums I've heard recently.

Pushes the boundaries of the genre in interesting ways.

Incredibly well-crafted. A few moments don't work but the highs are very high.