For all the praise that could be heaped on the bulk of SOPHIE's output, the best that comes to mind is that it sounds like no one else could have made Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides. This is the kind of music that, in 20 years, we may look back on as a pivotal point in changing the trajectory of the pop music sound.
OIL is a triumphant celebration of identity that’ll mean so much to so many on an incredibly intimate level, but it’s also, objectively, a triumphant artistic achievement.
Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides reminds us why pop music became popular music in the first place. Its catchy melodies, sing-along capabilities, and relatability provide a far-reaching cultural tool.
While SOPHIE's music has never been simple, Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides' complexities and transformations make it a remarkable debut album that reveals more with each listen.
Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides does not remove all mystery, but is a powerful statement of identity, a shattering of traditional genre boundaries and nuanced, moving expressions of emotion where there once was an inscrutable deadpan. The fact that it all sounds so irresistibly good is the icing on the cake.
Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides, SOPHIE's first proper album, presents her artistic vision in a purer form than anything she's done before.
Having spent the past few years blessing many artists with some of their best tracks, she now clears them out of the way for Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Sides, a personal triumph that continues her revamping of what pop means today.
Whatever she make you feel, it's a ferociously sensual work.
OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES is every bit the full-length statement of purpose SOPHIE’s fans have waited years for; a maturation and refinement of her brand of meta plasticine electro that reflects the sharpened sense of focus that accompanies its creator strutting purposefully into the spotlight.
We wind up with an album much like its title; Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides is difficult to comprehend, and even knowing the meaning doesn’t make “I love every person’s insides” any less weird. But there always is a meaning, and that’s what makes SOPHIE vital as an artist.
One of the strangest pop albums you will hear this year.
By embellishing all that made her so brilliant in the first place, she has forfeited those same qualities. I once loved the kinetic and animated quality of her music; after seeing her pull the strings with trained precision, the magic is ruined, the illusion revealed, the carnival over.
R.I.P. Sophie Xeon.
Usually I don’t speak on things like this once I find out they happen. Writing reviews like this always feel extremely hard to write, but if i’m going to be honest, after hearing the news that Sophie, acclaimed trans-musician, had sadly passed away, I felt like I really needed to talk about my feelings about this record as a testament to what this album meant to me growing up. I don’t know what came over me to write this, and hopefully the meaning of why ... read more
It’s time for my Three Year Anniversary/Twenty-Five Hundred Follower Special!
Actually, it’s been a little longer than three years. And I’m late enough that I’m actually at twenty-seven hundred followers. Okay, y’all know I’m bad at schedules and consistency, these things are out when they’re out.
But yes, I’m finally putting out my review celebrating three years on this site and *insert number here* amount of followers. I want to begin by ... read more
In this day of imense sadness, I reflect in one of my favorite artists of all time. I cannot set my heart to believe what just happened. I cannot cope with the fact that I'll not be having this incredible woman and artist in this world anymore. I will take my months to actually accept what it is, Sophie died and left a legacy that will be remembered for fucking CENTURIES, if the world still even exist after this decade.
The first time I've heard her music my life truly changed, not in a ... read more
What SOPHIE accomplished on this album is truly remarkable. A musically gifted individual who was taken from us too soon. RIP SOPHIE ❤️
Wow the sound of this is splendid. I had listened to this once on a roadtrip and thought the sound sounded interesting to say the least. As such I decided to revisit the album to review it and I must say this is a gorgeous album with it's incredible sound and spread of genres of the tracks from the sad ballads to powerful industrial rock. Knowing that she passed on due to a freak accident is truly tragic, rip Sophie
Favorite tracks: It's ok to cry, Faceshopping, Immaterial, Infatuation
This Album Has A Lot Of Beauty, And Kick To It!
So, SOPHIE is an artist I have known about for awhile now, but have put off listening to her since I did know she died at a really young age from a freak accident, and while I knew I’d probably would have enjoyed this album regardless. I just wasn’t ready to tackle another artist who had so much potential and talent, but unfortunately couldn’t because they passed away out of nowhere. Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley are examples ... read more
1 | It's Okay to Cry 3:50 | 90 |
2 | Ponyboy 3:14 | 91 |
3 | Faceshopping 3:56 | 94 |
4 | Is It Cold in the Water? 3:32 | 91 |
5 | Infatuation 4:40 | 88 |
6 | Not Okay 1:48 | 84 |
7 | Pretending 5:53 | 85 |
8 | Immaterial 3:52 | 94 |
9 | Whole New World / Pretend World 9:06 | 90 |
#1 | / | Crack Magazine |
#1 | / | DJ Mag |
#1 | / | Tiny Mix Tapes |
#2 | / | Highsnobiety |
#2 | / | The 405 |
#2 | / | The Vinyl Factory |
#3 | / | Bleep |
#3 | / | Dazed |
#3 | / | Earbuddy |
#3 | / | The Line of Best Fit |