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8.0
81757
8.0 |
The 405
Throughout AQUARIA, BOOTS works through a tribal-industrial world-building exercise that recalls Beck's vocal styling, Thom Yorke's moodiness, and Prince's sex drive
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8.0
81771
8.0 |
DIY
In this bubbling cauldron that refuses to be contained, Asher finds the liberation he’s been searching for
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8.0
81794
8.0 |
Clash
It's a tantalising glimpse into where R&B might be heading in 2016
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8.0
81879
8.0 |
All Music
Whether he wants it or not, Boots' exposure will only grow after this debut
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8.0
82038
8.0 |
Q
He's at his least effective when he plays it straight. Print edition only
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7.5
81777
7.5 |
A.V. Club
It’s an album full of musical precision and technical achievements that ultimately reveals Boots to be exactly who he is: Jordan Asher, a prodigy producer eager to find his own voice
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7.0
82103
7.0 |
Uncut
It privileges technique and texture over hooks. Print edition only
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7.0
82129
7.0 |
Spectrum Culture
Asher now has the ability to construct his unique narrative
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6.0
82266
6.0 |
Rolling Stone
This guy is less interested in building his resume than pinning down his own dark artistic impulses on his own terms
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6.0
82435
6.0 |
The Irish Times
On this outing, he’s a producer very much in need of a producer’s touch
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6.0
81919
6.0 |
Loud And Quiet
A solid first outing without being brilliant, ‘AQU?RIA’ suggests that there’s much more to come
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6.0
81769
6.0 |
NME
With clever tricks rather than pop hooks, expressionistic (and often mumbled) lyrics and a lack of relatable themes, ‘Aquaria’ can feel cold and self-involved
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6.0
81861
6.0 |
Exclaim
With more context — the kind that can only be afforded retroactively, by future releases — Aquaria might prove a fascinating listen. For now, it's likeable despite feeling a little too aimless
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6.0
81780
6.0 |
The Guardian
Aquaria is the sound of frustration and doom – and a subtle tribute to 90s rap-rock
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6.0
81795
6.0 |
Mojo
It's over-reliance on Nine Inch Nails atmospherics and Boots's far from distinctive Bowie-lite croon could benefit from further tweaking. Print edition only
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6.0
81756
6.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Aquaria is an interesting, risky record, but too often it confirms the notion that Boots’ development in the booth lags behind his touch on the mixing console
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5.9
81796
5.9 |
Pitchfork
The album feels just pop enough in intention that its pleasures seem noticeably absent
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5.8
81758
5.8 |
Consequence Of Sound
Shares many characteristics with pop music while remaining oddly, disconcertingly joyless, and after it ends, that is the hardest part to shake
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5.0
81755
5.0 |
musicOMH
Asher is manifestly talented, so perhaps Aquaria is best described as a tentative testing of the water before his next big production job. But there’s not a lot of fun to be had by the listener here
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