Album of The Year
Wild Beasts - Smother

Wild Beasts

Smother

82
Based on 13 reviews
2011 Ranking: #39 / 498
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REVIEWS


90
DROWNED IN SOUND

It’d be reductive to try and describe a timeless album like Smother as a step up from its two predecessors.

90
MUSICOMH

Smother is touching and majestic, a surprise of juxtaposition that is at once both plaintive and emotional, strident and libidinous.

90
POPMATTERS

A not-entirely-minimalist record, but one that scales back every element of its songwriting enough that each note seems precious.

82
PITCHFORK

What makes this all work so well is the remarkable amount of restraint and rhythmic know-how these four employ.

80
NO RIPCORD

Smother is an exercise in moderation, trying to find the precise balance between audacious beauty and emotional intelligence.

80
CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND

Every track is a case study in masterful composition, as each disparate musical element is seamlessly integrated into its respective song.

72
BEATS PER MINUTE

Smother may lack the proper drive of Two Dancers, but it succeeds in whittling down what has become Wild Beasts’ motif.

50
TINY MIX TAPES

But overall, Smother seems to be missing purpose.


#38
Lykke Li
Wounded Rhymes
#40
A Winged Victory for the Sullen
A Winged Victory for the Sullen

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COMMENTS
CURRENTLY TRENDING ON AOTY

DETAILS

Released: May 10, 2011
Format: LP
Label: Domino
Genre: Indie Rock

RATINGS

90AllMusic
90Drowned in Sound
90musicOMH
90NME
90PopMatters
84Coke Machine Glow [srcarrow]
83A.V. Club
82Pitchfork
80Consequence of Sound
80No Ripcord
72Beats Per Minute
70Spin
50Tiny Mix Tapes

END OF YEAR LISTS
# 2 - BBC
# 15 - Clash
# 46 - Coke Machine Glow
# 17 - Drowned in Sound
# 43 - FACT Magazine
# 10 - MOJO
# 3 - musicOMH
# 4 - NME
# 22 - No Ripcord
# 16 - Obscure Sound
# 38 - One Thirty BPM
# 40 - Pretty Much Amazing
# 25 - Q
# 9 - Slant
# 7 - The Fly
# 12 - The Guardian
# 8 - The Quietus
# 8 - Uncut
# 27 - Under the Radar

TRACK LIST
  1. Lion's Share 
  2. Bed of Nails 
  3. Deeper 
  4. Loop the Loop 
  5. Plaything 
  6. Invisible 
  7. Albatross 
  8. Reach a Bit Further 
  9. Burning 
  10. End Come Too Soon

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