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10.0
12854
10.0 |
The List
Inspiration abounds, from slap bass romps, epic power-pop and warped glam-metal. An experimental pop triumph
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10.0
13062
10.0 |
State
This is pop so visceral it smacks you in the face repeatedly like a giant melodic foam mallet made of tunes until you finally relent
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9.0
13109
9.0 |
Pitchfork
The brilliant thing about Before Today is that no prior knowledge of his catalog is required. Newcomers can dig into this record and absorb all of these weird and wonderful songs now, and save the backstory for another day
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9.0
13140
9.0 |
Tiny Mix Tapes
Before Today is the best collection of pure pop songs released this year, and the experimental odds and bits only add to its considerable charm
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9.0
13188
9.0 |
PopMatters
Before Today has shown that a little effort and a little elbow grease are not the end of the world. In fact, it’s a wonderful fit for an artist who specializes in making banalized standards of pop music eccentric again
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9.0
13323
9.0 |
BBC
Every track on this superb album is a winner – and, draped in the quiet glamour, fun and stateliness of bygone radio pop-rock, evidence that Ariel has emerged from his bedroom to exact his revenge on Hollywood's Hills
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9.0
15052
9.0 |
No Ripcord
Before Today is not groundbreaking or unprecedented, and yes, it relies on many aspects of past genres – but it does this in an entirely new way
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8.2
15078
8.2 |
Beats Per Minute
Ariel Pink is firmly committed to his retro sound, but on Before Today he proves that he can do more than just evoke the past; he can make it work for him now, today, over and over, “round and round.”
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8.0
13305
8.0 |
The Irish Times
What’s interesting about Before Today is how the LA musician has pulled together an album that maintains an edge while benefiting from some structural spit and polish
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8.0
13400
8.0 |
The Quietus
Confirms all of his considerable talents while revealing him to be human, after all
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8.0
14066
8.0 |
Under The Radar
It veers haphazardly, hopping from genre to genre, and with a little assistance from a producer to laser-focus, he seemingly has the potential to craft a truly classic LP
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8.0
13174
8.0 |
Bowlegs
Ariel Pink has finally cut loose in a rather satisfying way
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8.0
13071
8.0 |
The Fly
Ariel Pink’s world is mystical and bizarre but engrossing at all times – let this most magical explorer lead the way
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8.0
12866
8.0 |
Mojo
Pink has said, rather archly, that what he plays now is basically arena rock. Hardly, but then you never know. Print edition only
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8.0
12869
8.0 |
Q
Bristles with ambition, merging influences ranging from hair metal to Merseybeat. Print edition only
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8.0
12873
8.0 |
Uncut
Probably the best weirdo pop savant to emerge from US underground since Beck
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8.0
12894
8.0 |
Drowned In Sound
It's music that resonates far beyond a simple aping of well established precedents, often managing to be funny, sad and thought provoking in the space of a single track
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8.0
12986
8.0 |
NME
Rosenberg’s always been in a league of his own. Now, though, it seems that, despite his inclinations otherwise, for once Ariel Pink might actually be cool
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8.0
13039
8.0 |
The Guardian
Its mix of psych-pop, glam rock and white funk creeps out of the speakers as if heard through the fuzz of half-sleep. Nuggets of pop perfection shine through
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7.0
12841
7.0 |
The Observer
Before Today transplants Pink from his shed full of reel-to-reel tapes to a proper studio. It doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference, at least at first
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7.0
13234
7.0 |
Spin
Before Today still sounds like it was dubbed to cassette and left on the dash of a 1983 Datsun for an entire summer
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6.5
14753
6.5 |
Eye Weekly
Ariel Pink’s songs are winningly poppy and arranged with care, which after years of indie suspicion of complex songwriting is more than welcome
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6.0
12851
6.0 |
The Skinny
With a sprawl of genres on offer – comprising glam rock, disco, soul and heavy metal – it can be an energising time warp
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5.0
13094
5.0 |
The Digital Fix
Mr. Pink's vocals are either endearingly sweet, or punch-the-wall pixie irritating but, occasionally, they have the gall to burst into life with some unearned chorus of total beauty. Which is doubly annoying
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5.0
13052
5.0 |
musicOMH
No longer the challenging, lo-fi music of yore, what has arrived in its place doesn't have the individuality or character to sustain longer lasting interest
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