Albums to watch

Beautiful Thing

Alexis Taylor

Beautiful Thing

Fourth solo album from the Hot Chip front man produced by DFA Records co-founder Tim Goldsworthy

ADM rating[?]

6.7

Label
Domino
UK Release date
20/04/2018
US Release date
20/04/2018
  1. 10.0 |   The Skinny

    Drawing from a number of influences, Beautiful Thing is a wondrous optimistic float through space
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  2. 9.0 |   musicOMH

    A collection of songs that muse on music, love and creativity, and which harness the spirit of rave’s collective energy within a more muted, introspective shell
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  3. 8.0 |   Uncut

    A satisfying whole that demonstrates Taylor's mastery of his peculiar strain of zonked late-night soul. Print edition only

  4. 8.0 |   Q

    In a career already dotted with peaks, this is definitely another. Print edition only

  5. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    These are simple songs, but Goldsworthy does enough to keep them from being simplistic
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  6. 8.0 |   Record Collector

    Beautiful Thing’s blend of ambition and emotion shows that Taylor could genuinely make whatever he wants – sometimes that’s the trouble and sometimes that’s the difference. Our loss, our gain
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  7. 7.0 |   PopMatters

    Taylor's most rounded and intriguing solo work to date
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  8. 7.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    Shows the other end of Alexis Taylor's talents as both a songwriter and a musician, and it’s time that more discovered them
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  9. 7.0 |   Loud And Quiet

    It’s the country-esque ‘Oh Baby’ that’s the real highlight of this album. Opening with skewed electronics and pounding piano chords, it’s jubilant and driving, a slice of Americana spiced up by Taylor’s natural songwriting skill and timeless falsetto
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  10. 7.0 |   Clash

    An impressive, if uneven addition to his already stellar discography
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  11. 6.8 |   Pitchfork

    The layers of sound Taylor presents are sumptuous, full of tossed-off licks of piano and guitar that gather into motifs more deluxe than his recent solo work but far scruffier than Hot Chip
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  12. 6.0 |   NME

    The Hot Chip singer's fourth solo album shows glimpses of his most pulsating and intriguing work to date
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  13. 6.0 |   The Independent

    In amongst this record’s rasps and clangs, he’s starting to shake off old English embarrassments, and pine for a state of grace
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  14. 6.0 |   DIY

    It doesn’t always quite hit those high notes, but the pair have set out to create a sometimes elusive feeling of connection
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  15. 6.0 |   Under The Radar

    Beautiful Thing isn't the flashiest, and it sags along the way, but it comes with enough soul to carry the quiet moments
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  16. 6.0 |   Spectrum Culture

    Hot Chip’s music couldn’t work without that quivering tenor. Nevertheless, on his solo work he’s more likely to indulge in what his voice would traditionally weave in and out of: soft-pop, downtempo numbers perfect for a rainy-day cry
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  17. 6.0 |   The Quietus

    Taylor is waving a tiny white flag from the empty, mid-2000s dancefloor of his mind and it brings a curious air of non-commitment from the outset
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  18. 6.0 |   Mojo

    Until Hot Chip's mothership heaves back into view, Taylor's emotive, immersive solo output will tide things over nicely. Print edition only

  19. 6.0 |   Evening Standard

    The title track finds a better balance, and there’s one outrageously fun pop tune here: Oh Baby, produced by Hot Chip bandmate Joe Goddard
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  20. 6.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Can be marked down as an interesting experiment but not a great record
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  21. 5.0 |   A.V. Club

    Taylor sounds pretty emotional, a sadness underscoring his signature vocals throughout
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  22. 5.0 |   Slant Magazine

    Throughout, Alexis Taylor is prone to polar extremes of either mopey self-doubt or contrived affirmation
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  23. 5.0 |   Earbuddy

    A cautionary tale for solo artists working without the safety net of a band
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