Before Today

Ariel Pink - Before Today
Critic Score
Based on 25 reviews
2010 Ratings: #90 / 924
Year End Rank: #13
User Score
Based on 452 ratings
2010 Rank: #68
Liked by 39 people
June 8, 2010 / Release Date
LP / Format
4AD / Label
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
Pitchfork

Ariel Pink's best songs are surprising, and there's a real sense of musical delight on Before Today; the sections sound logical but never predictable, and there are wild bridges and short bits that emerge seemingly randomly but wind up taking the song somewhere unexpected.

YessYessYessYes
70

Before Today is Ariel Pink’s attempt to create a Lo-Fi 80’s psychedelic new-wave record with elements of Beach Rock and post-punk as it spins a multitude of genres on their head. Although it’s absurd crossovers are quite impressive and result in some amazing cuts, the whole lo-fi aesthetic can sometimes kills the momentum of this really cool and interesting project.

Before Today has amazing cuts on it such as “L’estat (acc. to the widow’s maid)” of ... read more

LZGray
80

What an odd record. For sure, I don’t think this is as creative or as diverse as Pom Pom, but Ariel’s album with the Haunted Graffiti backing band is a zany, offbeat approach to psychedelic pop, with muddy lo-fi textures, kooky performances, and ambitious song structures in the case of songs like “Round and Round” and “Little Wig”. It’s as odd as it is catchy, and while not as immediately replayable as his 2014 album, it’s a wonderful show of ... read more

MusicSucks
84

solid and cohesive, both sonically and quality wise. going for an older sound but with a modern touch.

FAV TRACKS - Menopause Man, Beverly Kills, Round and Round, L'estat (Acc. to the Widow's Maid).

QDOERTY
84

Although this album has round and round, they missed out on the opportunity of adding Mistaken Wedding here. (before looking at the track list of this album I thought round and round was a non-album single)
FAV: Round and Round, Can't Hear My Eyes, Menopause Man.

SEIS
60

Not bad.

JulianGevarra
65

fun to hear but for some reason I find it hard to take this album seriously.

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