How to Be a Human Being

Glass Animals - How to Be a Human Being
Critic Score
Based on 19 reviews
2016 Ratings: #384 / 1004
User Score
Based on 957 ratings
2016 Rank: #156
Liked by 161 people
August 26, 2016 / Release Date
LP / Format
Wolf Tone / Label
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CRITIC REVIEWS

95
The Line of Best Fit
Each listen reveals more, scrapes back another layer. You'll get more and feel more each time you hit play.
80
NME
On ‘How To Be A Human Being’, the four Oxford dudes have found bigger and broader stomping grounds, stepping out of ‘Zaba’’s intoxicating murk and into the glare of a strange new reality.
80
Under the Radar

If ZABA was a weird and lovable new friend, How to Be a Human Being exploits that familiarity to test some new boundaries, and the result is delightfully entertaining.

80
The 405

Although elements remain, the core of humanity and character drive this collection to an equally intriguing effect and leaves a far more immediate impression.

80
DIY
Their new record showcases inner madness, characters you’d cross the street to avoid, and some of the band’s smartest pop songs to date.
80
The Skinny

How to Be a Human Being is arguably yet more effervescent than its predecessor.

80
musicOMH

It sufficiently moves their sound on from Zaba, while also successfully capturing the multifaceted nature of man.

80
The Guardian

Perhaps its contemporary qualities will seem as fleeting as its subjects’ visits in five year’s time, but Zaba’s follow up is still an inventively produced, impishly executed triumph.

75
Consequence of Sound
All the stories, sounds, and characters come together to form an album that plays like a colorful collage of life: It doesn’t flow perfectly, but maybe that was never the point.
70
AllMusic

How to Be a Human Being's sense of wonder and joie de vivre feels as instructive to Glass Animals as their listeners, and their willingness to try anything results in some truly great moments.

60
Clash

Glass Animals should definitely continue tinkering with their sound; they just haven’t yet earnt the right to full reinvention yet.

60
The Needle Drop
UK artpop outfit Glass Animals are back with a sophomore album! The band has come through with set of punchy, colorful instrumentals that could have used some more vibrant vocal performances.
60
NOW Magazine

HTBAHB's choose-your-own-character theme is filled with perpetual slackers living delinquent lives, sad lovers and drug-hazed memories, which is interesting at first but midway through begins to sound like the unreliable accounts of a single character.

elitimesfour
85

59 -> 85

big dumb elitimesfour goes from thinking an album is ok to loving it pt. 29194848

thegeecyproject
88

An underrated indie-pop masterpiece of the 2010’s. On How To Be A Human Being, Glass Animals attempt to put together a picture of the vast scope of humanity, through multiple vignettes of human life. Somewhere out there, a mother is missing her son (“Youth”), a couple is struggling with their relationship (“Pork Soda”) and someone is grieving an old friend who passed away (“Agnes”).

The band create a sound which pulls from trip-hop, hip-hop and world ... read more

DarkCat
75

(Analbumaday Day 127)

Glass Animals have had an above average indie discography. Certainly nothing incredible, but they’ve made a name for themself in the industry with some pretty fun tunes. How To Be A Human Being demonstrates how the band use catchy melodies and strong production, along with unique vocals to create some groovy results! Unfortunately I do find a few of these tracks to lack emotion or feel quite underwhelming, which is a lot of the reason behind the lower rating. When ... read more

rise165
45

[ALBUM SWAP w/ LogicBeDamned] Ima be real, from the beginning of this album I found it to be really unlikeable in a lot of ways. Before the start of the second track, I was already finding both the vocals and beats to be really annoying. Sure, it mixed things up throughout the album, but barely anything here caught me eye at all. Also the prelude is Fitter Happier but worse, I guess? The only part of this album I kinda liked was Take a Slice, which was actually pretty catchy and didn't fall ... read more

CabooseBeech
83

The second album from glass animals. I must say that I think this is my favorite of their albums so far and I got the most enjoyment and replayable songs out of this. I’m hoping it grows on me a decent amount but for starters I did really enjoy this album.

Track breakdown:

Life itself: 9.5/10

Youth: 8.7/10

Season 2 episode 3: 7.5/10

Pork soda: 8.5/10

Mama’s gun: 7.5/10

Came shuga: 7.5/10

Premade sandwiches: NR

The other side of paradise: 9/10

Take a slice: 7/10

Poplar ... read more

wyvey
88

every song on this album works so well together synchronised. for those who haven't listened to the album you will defiantly recognise songs from it. the highlights are life itself, the other side of paradise and take a slice. but all so amazing defiantly their best. however I understand its not for everyone and respect that but I love it so.

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Track List

1Life Itself
4:41
89
2Youth
3:50
87
3Season 2 Episode 3
4:03
78
4Pork Soda
4:13
84
5Mama's Gun
4:26
83
6Cane Shuga
3:16
74
7[Premade Sandwiches]
0:36
50
8The Other Side of Paradise
5:20
89
9Take a Slice
3:49
83
10Poplar St.
4:22
83
11Agnes
4:31
84
Total Length: 43 minutes
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Added on: June 7, 2016