If he was feeling any pressure to validate himself and his peers, Underneath the Pine doesn't show it.
It makes your brain work, and its whole approach to the band’s new sound is, dare I say it, progressive.
While Underneath The Pine is another killer late-night make-out album, it doesn’t do much to help Toro Y Moi stake out its own identity.
That Toro Y Moi's new record Underneath the Pine is distinctly a product of his songwriting, without sounding exactly like his 2010 debut, suggests that chillwave may still have some legs to it after all.
As a record its tunes are as transient and illusive as its aforementioned heritage dictates – unlike pop they aren’t wired to become cattle-branded in your memory for days on end.
Toro Y Moi's latest LP is a noticeable improvement compared to the sketchbook of ideas that made up his last album, Causers of This. Underneath the Pine is loaded with light, pretty arrangements and dancey disco beats. The songwriting and vocals aren't always standout, though.
Toro emerges from the Chillwave smoke filled basement shows as a distinguished gentlemen with a fine taste in 70's golden era recording. Making that type of music to pop a bottle of wine to and lay down by the fire while doing tiny dance movements with your hands. Underneath The Pine would lay the groundwork for the rest of Toro's career showing a strong sense in sonic appreciation.
Another great release from him. Going back into his earlier work has been great so far. This may be my favorite record of his.
Favorite tracks: New Beat, Go With You, Divina, Got Blinded, How I Know, Elise, Light Black, Good Hold
Least favorite: -
This album is awesome and, in my opinion, doesn't get the credit it deserves. I've never heard an album with a similar sound palette as this one, with its warm keyboards and groovy electric basslines. The whole album either jams hardcore (New Beat, How I Know) or has this sort of calm yet pure and strong emotion (Go With You, Got Blinded). It has the perfect balance between hypnagogia and clarity while having the perfect amount of instrumental detail to be rich and deep without being ... read more
1 | Intro/Chi Chi 2:25 | 78 |
2 | New Beat 4:04 | 82 |
3 | Go With You 3:57 | 83 |
4 | Divina 2:18 | 78 |
5 | Before I'm Done 2:42 | 83 |
6 | Got Blinded 3:09 | 82 |
7 | How I Know 4:05 | 87 |
8 | Light Black 3:23 | 78 |
9 | Still Sound 4:29 | 82 |
10 | Good Hold 2:27 | 87 |
11 | Elise 6:01 | 83 |
#5 | / | Complex |
#11 | / | Obscure Sound |
#11 | / | Urban Outfitters |
#19 | / | Under the Radar |
#21 | / | Treble |
#29 | / | Spinner |
#42 | / | Amazon |
#48 | / | Pitchfork |
#49 | / | Stereogum |