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Critic Reviews
95
There is not a sour sound to be found on Sun Structures. Fans of classic bands like T Rex will fall in love on first listen, as will fans of more recent releases by Foxygen and Tame Impala.
9y
90
Perhaps unusually for an album these days, Sun Structures is a compelling listen throughout its 55 minutes, holding together perfectly as a whole with strong tracks dotted throughout.
12y
90
It’s the sound of ‘60s experimentation smashed stunningly into the present day.
11y
90
By embedding an ear-catching sense of melody into their music and wiring the past to the present in an imaginative yet accessible way, Temples have raised the bar. The new wave of 21st century psychedelica produces a modern classic.
9y
90
While they can definitely be grouped with the other psychedelic bands of the moment — think a janglier version of Tame Impala with a touch of mysticism thrown in for good measure — they write catchy songs too.
12y
80
Sun Structures is an impressive debut that would be legendary now if it had been released in 1967; in 2014 it's merely the best psych pop around.
12y
80
The model lovechild of Jim Morrison, Marc Bolan, John Hassall and Timothy Leary, singer James Edward Bagshaw is a true cosmic dancer, but he’s no fool either, with one keen eye on dragging the psych revival chartward.
12y
80
Temples may not be about to win any awards for Most Groundbreaking Sound, but they channel their influences so skillfully, and have such a good ear for a melody, that it's almost impossible not to fall for them. A supremely confident and delightful debut.
12y
80
If all 2014 psych releases are like this one, it's going to be one hell of a year.
12y
80
Whilst 'Sun Structures' blends together their debt to British folk and rock, Temples do it with a consistent and wonted stride.
12y
80
Even though as one congealed blob it’s a rollicking rollercoaster to soundtrack your less legal vices, it can be hacked into meaty chunks and doled out with just as much success.
12y
80
Sun Structures sways and breathes with all the warmth and colour the name depicts, its dozen tracks proving a savvy synthesis of the influences they so transparently parade.
12y
79
Temples emerged as an exciting, acid-tinged breath of fresh air, evidenced by the fact that over a decade later, fans are still flocking to hear Sun Structures in all its strange, mind-melting glory. Fingers crossed they head back to Kentish Town sometime soon.
1y
75
Rather than trying to capture and update the 60s, Sun Structures just tries to be the 60s, which is great but by now you’d think we’d have made a little progress. It’s Tame Impala, without the weirdness or the forward movement.
12y
75
Countless drab attempts have been made attempting to recreate a psychedelic sound, but with Temples somehow the hooks never come close to running out. There’s not a just a palette of color here, it’s a swirling kaleidoscope.
8y
70
The only danger of Temples’ existence is the potential hipster uprising, although, in terms of silver linings, it’s good music, it’s nothing new, but it’s good music, and good music is what we need more of.
2y
70
That widescreen ambition can be truly found in their carefully stitched together patchwork of sublime vibes; it’s unfortunate that those hypnotic swirls meld together with a vanilla finish.
12y
60
Strangely for a psychedelic band, Temples could do with expanding their minds a little.
10y
60
What’s missing in all of this is Temples themselves. Amidst the vibrant pastiche of ‘60s psych, there’s little to no modern twist, and even less expansive vision that’s usually associated with psychedelia.
9y
60
There's a precise, borderline pedantic love of mid-60s period detail here: echo-laden drums, drone-and-handclap intros and sun-bleached vocals riddling cosmic truths. But if it's a familiar trip, it's also a highly entertaining one - not least Sand Dance's sprightly, shamanic caper.
8y
60
The songs here also have a tendency to become indistinguishable on repeat listens. But these faults can be ignored if the listener is in desperate need of classic psychedelia.
12y
60
Temples’ stubborn refusal to move with the decades may be quixotic but it’s also admirable — and Sun Structures is curiously addictive.
5y
55
There is nothing here to absorb about psychedelic music that Temples haven't already absorbed for you, and without imparting their own ideas.
12y
50
While Temples' shows a sincere appreciation for psychedelic pop on their debut album, the band does very little to deliver novel ideas or exciting performances.
8y
50
Sun Structures is a record made with flair and skill by a band who know exactly what they’re doing - and that’s the problem. Temples are trying so hard to be something else that we lose track of who they actually are.
12y
45
With elements of The Shins, Flaming Lips, Tame Impala and equally hat tips to The Kinks and The Beatles fighting for your ear, it's more of a documented identity crisis than a smorgasbord played out over 12 songs.
6y
I want a sun structure
Pretty good psych album. I really don’t have too much to say about it though lol. Some solid songs like Move with the Season and Colours to Life. Feels like Tame Impala and The Beatles. It’s just yea. It’s solid
Shelter Song - 7.5
Sun Structures - 8
The Golden Throne - 7
Keep in the Dark - 6.5
Mesmerize - 7.5
Move with the Season - 8.5
Colours to Life - 8.5
A Question Isn’t Answered - 7.5
The Guesser - 7.5
Test of Time - 6.5
Sand Dance - ... read more
A great debut that is nice and psychedelic. Temples have done well to take a classic psychedelic rock sound and put their own spin on it, which creates a relaxing and sort of dreamy atmosphere. The songs do get a bit weaker towards the back half, but the quality doesn't drop by that much.
Favourite - Shelter song, sun structures, mesmerise
Worst - Fragment's light
I had to think about this review for a while, and really let my thoughts stew, but I did thoroughly enjoy this album.
The vocals are something to marvel at, and the production is properly psychedelic.
The lyrics are very well written, and easy to relate to, while still feeling creative.
There are some absolutely fantastic choruses here, and the verses maintain that quality for the most part.
The only real issue I have with this record is that sometimes the tracks over stay their welcome, ... read more
This feels like a big tribute to all the 13th Floor Elevators, Mothers of Invention, "Sgt. Pepper's" and all the other psychedelic rock acts from the late 60s. Out of all the modern records that try to encapsulate the same feeling the hippies had way back when, this one does it the best. This is literally everything Tame Impala has been trying to do for over a decade.
Every little thing about this album gives the same Summer of Love energy those groups were emanating. From the ... read more
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Track List
| 1 | Shelter Song 3:10 | 87 |
| 2 | Sun Structures 5:12 | 86 |
| 3 | The Golden Throne 4:10 | 85 |
| 4 | Keep in the Dark 4:36 | 80 |
| 5 | Mesmerise 3:42 | 82 |
| 6 | Move with the Season 5:10 | 85 |
| 7 | Colours to Life 5:11 | 83 |
| 8 | A Question Isn't Answered 5:11 | 80 |
| 9 | The Guesser 4:06 | 82 |
| 10 | Test of Time 3:53 | 80 |
| 11 | Sand Dance 6:31 | 83 |
| 12 | Fragment's Light 1:56 | 74 |
Total Length: 52 minutes
Year End Lists
| #1 | / | Rough Trade |
| #14 | / | Amazon |
| #32 | / | Clash |
| #32 | / | MOJO |
| #36 | / | Q Magazine |
| #44 | / | Paste |
| #48 | / | NME |
| #70 | / | Under the Radar |
| #74 | / | Uncut |
| / | AllMusic |
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