| | Full Review | Ratings (707) |
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| 4.8 classic | A.R.O. STAFF | June 16th 20 |
oh my god this is the greatest album i have ever heardrEDIT: "MiLqUeToAsT"
20 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | Hugh G. Puddles STAFF | June 16th 20 |
a decent contender for the most milquetoast album of 2020, but not without its strengths. rpunisher doesn't hit the same highs as stranger in the alps, but PhoeB still has decent songwriting chops, memorable lyrics and occasionally (once every 4-5 songs or so) a good ear for melody. savior complex is very good. cool
10 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | BlondeGuardian | December 18th 20 |
What is this, a depression simulator? I've never heard anything so devoid of passion or intense feelings of any kind. It might take me an entire hour to recover from listening to this.
5 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | CodyTeubert | June 16th 20 |
Instant classic. Loved every minute. Listening to it on repeat for the next few weeks most likely. AOTY for me so far.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | notkanyewest | June 30th 20 |
ah, So u treat Phoebe Bridgers like indie royalty even though she's completely mediocre? Do tell. (girls get mad at me) Sorry. Im sorry. Im trying to remove it
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | ajcollins15 | June 24th 20 |
Phoebe Bridgers, the indie-folk artist who took the American heart by storm when she dropped her 2017 debut record ?Stranger in the Alps?, a poet, yet heart-wrenching indie-folk piece with as much heart put into it as a progressive pop album but the staleness of a Chinese fortune cookie. On her sophomore record ?Punisher?, the California singer comes out with an even more patience-testing indie-folk piece with even more haunting poetic lyrics in which Phoebe portrays her sadness and bittersweet look at life in the current day and age. However, she definitely increases her instrumentals on this record more than the last. With brighter guitars, more interesting atmospheric synths, and bonier drum fills, she gives the listener a better taste of what she can do. However, for me, the small steps forward in songwriting and production don?t make up for the pure lack of sparseness and uninteresting instrumentals this is filled with. Track after track you are given a drier version of the last song with some more depressing lyrics that really aren?t as interesting as you would want them to be. In a lot of ways, this tries to be a premium slowcore album without the soul. I don?t know; it?s good, but not great. I know a lot of people love her and will back her up on this, but for me, I would much rather listen to who she is influenced by rather than her.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | impeachnixon | December 24th 22 |
this album has sunk its claws into me in the last year and has not let go. it makes me feel like i'm submerged in a beautiful world, and then i'm sent screaming out of it on 'i know the end'.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | SinNanna | December 7th 20 |
This record got an incredible amount of hype from many music publications and people in general, but unfortunately it seems like I'm really not along for the ride on this one despite me persistently trying to do so. My problem with this album is not that any of the songs are particularly bad, it's just that to me the tracklist feels very homogenized and blends together in a way that makes a lot of it go in one ear and go out the other for me. It feels more like somber and moody window-dressing for the most part rather than actual, compelling songs that I feel like returning to. I do think there are key moments that do peak my ears, like the horn lines on Kyoto or the really beautiful, anthemic horns and group vocals at the end of I Know The End which makes for a pretty great closer. Savior Complex and ICU melodically stick out a little more to me than other tracks as well, but for the most part I can't help but feel like the performances are just a bit too samey for me to really get into it, even though I can respect the witty lyricism and charisma that fuels a lot of these tracks.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.2 good | Erwann S. STAFF | June 19th 20 |
Pretty songs enhanced by the pristine production. It's a nice record, no song's bad, but not all melodies make their way into my head - save for "Kyoto", "Chinese Satellite" and "I Know the End". Another pretty good 2020 indie folk record.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | dustandnations | June 16th 20 |
But you had to go .......... I know, I know, I know
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | J | June 28th 23 |
boring af - not exactly sure how this became so glowingly and passionately loved
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| 4.5 superb | TheGreatEscaper | December 21st 21 |
I'm on the Punisher > Stranger in the Alps team, mainly because there's a greater variety to the sounds on display here, and the ebb and swell of the album is so much more engaging. There isn't a single dud on this tracklist, and the highs of Kyoto, Chinese Satellite, and I Know The End are so involving and beautiful.
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| 3.5 great | Bedex | November 25th 21 |
The problem with this isn't the song themselves, it is the fact that they are all here together in a row. Bridgers' mellow, slightly whiny, slightly naive delivery works okay on a track basis, but it tends to bore on the longer run - by 5 it was already getting a bit zzz. This becomes particularly painful in the second half as most songs are ballads and lose indie pop leanings for the most part until 11's midtrack evolution into a slightly crazy, eventually a bit annoying but commendable conclusion. But taken one by one most of the songs are good. After the slightly pointless 1, 2 has a great glitchy and bassy intro, the songs only suffering from weird low ended vox in the back. 3 is nice upbeat indie pop, 4 is softer and aquatic with weird back vox again but remains quite pretty, 5 is nice subdued autumn folk, 6 is a well crafted mellow ballad that goes into a bit of naive christmassy vibes later on, 7 is a pretty mountain cabin track that shows an example of some of the cool sound processing stuff that goes on in the back in a couple places on this album. 8's yet another nice mellow ballad with some strings, and by 9 with all these ballads the alb was losing me - but I also feel 9 is one of the weaker tracks. 10 is a lot nicer but does get a little whiney for too long. It's just too many mellow ballads in a row man, but individually they're mostly fine. 3.4
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| 4.5 superb | PrincyAli | July 17th 21 |
A melancholic, pretty, and emotionally potent album. 4.4/5 Favs: Garden Song, Punisher, Halloween, Chinese Satelite, Moon Song, Savior Complex, ICU, Graceland Too, I Know The End
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Stephen Prager | February 11th 21 |
Phoebe's underwhelming, yet self-indulgent attempt to smash her guitar on SNL is weirdly emblematic of the experience of listening to this.
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| 4.0 excellent | Malcontent | December 27th 20 |
If 'I Know The End' doesn't move you I, frankly, don't know what will. It's not the best song of the year but it is THE song of 2020
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| 4.0 excellent | lz41 | July 19th 20 |
Bridgers is a blossoming and innovative storyteller. Best songs: 'Garden Song', 'Chinese Satellite', 'Graceland Too'. 'I Know The End'
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| 2.5 average | Gene Gol-Jonsson CONTRIBUTOR | July 7th 20 |
(this is an edit of my early soundoff) Time passes, people change, opinions shift ever so glacially. Three years after the release of 'Punisher' I am finding myself in a severe confusion over what I initially found appealing about the record. Its highlights are often such, where the subdued instrumentation lushes on in the background, underlying the emotional density of the lyrics and Phoebe's own vulnerability. The strongest moments are also the loudest, especially the closer. But for the most part I found myself revisiting an empty house, crevaces in each wall, amateur poetics, bland instrumentals too timid to strike or using Phoebe's non-presence too much as a crutch. Rather boring for the most part.
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| 4.5 superb | charlopiano | June 30th 20 |
I didn't really like this the first time I listened, but last night, I relistened to it, calmly in my bed and this hit me like a truck.rBridgers truly has a beautiful coupled with beautiful instrumentations with bittersweet lyrics to make this one hell of a ride.
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| 3.5 great | Crakaveli | June 20th 20 |
I really like this album, but not one song has grabbed me like her first record. A sophomore slump? Nah. I just don?t think it?s as good as her first or BOCM.
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| 4.0 excellent | Benjamin Kuettel EMERITUS | June 19th 20 |
Simultaneously more subdued and adventurous than Stranger in the Alps, Phoebe Bridgers expands her songwriting talents and continued excellent lyrics for a sublime sophomore effort brimming with nocturnal atmosphere. Just look at that gorgeous album cover.
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| 4.0 excellent | yad00d | June 18th 20 |
Great album. Going to need more listens but it seems like a great sequel: I do think the lyrics aren?t very strong, and at times it seems sort of predictable. It?s a Safe but great phoebe bridgers record
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| 4.5 superb | Purpose | May 28th 20 |
This will be at least a 4. Go to youtube and listen to I Know The End
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| 4.0 excellent | Lacking | February 17th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | btrfs | November 8th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | October 5th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | FunJan | June 19th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | vult | May 21st 23 |
| 3.5 great | maxer | May 7th 23 |
| 3.5 great | Jom3 | April 19th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | MvdW | April 6th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Zac124 | April 3rd 23 |
| 3.5 great | emmny | March 25th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Simerix | January 19th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Timmy | January 13th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jake E. | December 13th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | osey | October 19th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | rchyuan | September 24th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | KotoFtw | July 27th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | gijsr | June 27th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oobaloo | April 6th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zalr | April 1st 22 |
| 3.5 great | Ben STAFF | February 8th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | toxin. | January 16th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Nrap | January 2nd 22 |
| 3.0 good | Tim64T | December 23rd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Riziger | December 12th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Peddy29 | September 13th 21 |
| 2.5 average | Votex | September 13th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Zeuzo | September 1st 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | vebsort | August 29th 21 |
| 2.5 average | Zakusz | August 25th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Halez | July 24th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tunnel | July 17th 21 |
| 3.5 great | YRI | June 28th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | zackseb | June 16th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | woxdy | April 23rd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | April 20th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Luna | April 2nd 21 |
| 3.5 great | john | March 25th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | LucasM | March 24th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fuff24 | March 15th 21 |
| 2.5 average | Rexxx | March 11th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | stanz | February 20th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Macck | February 17th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Jerbzz | February 14th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Grandpa | February 13th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | chwe | February 12th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Fugue | February 10th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | livduval | February 10th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Host78 | February 6th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | P0laris | February 5th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | spur55 | January 30th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | chayka | January 17th 21 |
| 1.0 awful | Audi | January 10th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | stardew | January 9th 21 |
| 2.5 average | Runeii | January 8th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | TwigTW | January 7th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | rob0t | January 6th 21 |
| 3.0 good | OSEL | January 6th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | furpa | January 5th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | eureka | January 5th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Surette | December 29th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | ARDCWE | December 29th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | heck | December 23rd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Winndex | December 21st 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | lamont01 | December 20th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Stufy2 | December 18th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | December 17th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vaka | December 16th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Nastril | December 8th 20 |
| 3.5 great | NoSons | December 7th 20 |
| 3.0 good | Garden | December 6th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | iGuter | December 5th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | sicrvat | December 4th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flomink | November 19th 20 |
| 1.5 very poor | youlort | November 16th 20 |
| 2.5 average | remi | November 12th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | po0ty | November 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | gilly | November 5th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Brabiz | November 1st 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | rig74 | October 27th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Joe92 | October 23rd 20 |
| 3.5 great | dunnope | September 29th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | RedBol | September 28th 20 |
| 3.5 great | jlsg | September 27th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Illume | September 21st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Tom | September 21st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Amry | September 19th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dettlaff | September 18th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Alex C. | September 13th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Diabetes | September 11th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Toms | September 8th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | bnest | September 8th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | T5Cx | September 3rd 20 |
| 2.5 average | fog CONTRIBUTOR | September 1st 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Handers | August 20th 20 |
| 3.5 great | gnoma | August 17th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yoni91 | August 17th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Yotimi | August 13th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Maximo | August 2nd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Equium | August 2nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Djang0 | July 29th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Doobuc | July 27th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Scryxer | July 20th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Murat | July 16th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | PumasB | July 9th 20 |
| 3.0 good | LOE | July 7th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | mvdu | July 2nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | ariich | July 2nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | RedSky | July 2nd 20 |
| 3.0 good | Rudy K. EMERITUS | June 29th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Sam C. | June 27th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | ArtBox | June 27th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Hawks | June 25th 20 |
| 3.0 good | Kiran EMERITUS | June 25th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | progsun | June 25th 20 |
| 2.5 average | Jots EMERITUS | June 25th 20 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | June 24th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pangea | June 23rd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | wwf | June 23rd 20 |
| 5.0 classic | 1312 | June 23rd 20 |
| 2.5 average | Corney | June 22nd 20 |
| 2.5 average | Ryus | June 22nd 20 |
| 2.5 average | alamo | June 22nd 20 |
| 3.0 good | Viot | June 22nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | SadLad | June 22nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Guzzo10 | June 21st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | chris. | June 21st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Mathias STAFF | June 21st 20 |
| 3.5 great | neikos | June 21st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | dnem | June 21st 20 |
| 3.5 great | bharry | June 21st 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Teo | June 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brad | June 20th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | nikooop | June 20th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Skoop | June 20th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | June 19th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Respawn | June 19th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Lassie | June 19th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | JS19 | June 19th 20 |
| 2.5 average | doofy | June 19th 20 |
| 3.2 good | Trey STAFF | June 19th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Sowing STAFF | June 19th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | vivaria | June 19th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Atari STAFF | June 19th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | flvnkie | June 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Risodo | June 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | ian b | June 18th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Breen | June 18th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | JNeu | June 18th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | TBH717 | June 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | jesper STAFF | June 18th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Khattak | June 18th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Lucman | June 17th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jekub | June 17th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Trebor. EMERITUS | June 16th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Rowdy | June 16th 20 |
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