Learning
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Critic Reviews
90
Learning is a ... bruised and suggestive affair; of catharsis and rare, redemptive beauty, which ranks as one of the most uniquely endearing and quietly forceful debut albums of recent years.
15y
90
Within all the emotional turmoil, there’s a lot for the listener to love: Hadreas’ compelling, tremulous vocals for one, and the haunting nature of his plinky plonky piano skills. A fragile, fucked-up little wonder.
15y
90
Hadreas' debut resonates profoundly and pulls at the heart strings.
13y
82
A strikingly intimate and affecting debut full-length from Seattle singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas.
15y
70
The name of the album itself represents someone coming to terms with things, with the world, with themselves. But more often than not Learning feels like a musical learning for Hadreas.
10y
ᴛʜᴇꜱᴇ ꜱᴏɴɢꜱ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴋɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ.
Rolling off sharply wielded piano keys,13 haunting ephialtes unfurl but never dissolve, sticking as smoke does to everything:memory,the present ,his voice and the tear of those who hear it. At 26, Mike Hadreas could finally turn his head back, hold the glare of that foreboding presence which pushed him ,with fear ,towards meth laced whirlpools leading to death; and see it for what it is: what he refuses to remember. ... read more
I'll just start this off by saying that "Learning" is a very sad album. The rough presentation is a limitation, but I also think it works effectively in making the already sad atmosphere feel fragile. Mike's vocals are even more vulnerable here, with a cracking falsetto being the selling point. But the biggest plus to this short but sweet package is his already great songwriting. He writes with such pinpoint emotional potency and shares some heartbreaking stories about the way society ... read more
What a great and vulnerable debut. I love Perfume Genius and this is an amazing place to start. It doesn’t feel as well rounded as other albums but it doesn’t really matter because it feels like one of his most transparent albums.
Raw with a hint of what he’ll do in his future projects.
Recommend Tracks
- Learning
- Gay Angels
For me it's not his best, but for a debut, it’s pretty good. The songwriting was very heart-grabbing the album definitely sings to the soul, and you can really feel it. It’s a very sad and intimate record that manages to be deeply moving despite its simple, lo-fi production that actually adds to that raw, vulnerable feeling, making it seem like you’re eavesdropping on someone’s private thoughts. It’s heavy, but it’s a beautiful start to his ... read more
A brilliant debut
Stripped down, yet abrasive. Fragile, yet overwhelming. Emotional, yet restrained. 'Learning' is the debut album of avantgard pop mastermind Perfume Genius, full of hard-hitting tracks about sexuality, human connection, body image issues, dreamscapes, overcoming the ugliness of this world with hope... All of the themes slot in perfectly like a puzzle. And especially when considering Perfume Genius grander catalogue, this feels like a thesis statement, that instantly ... read more
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Track List
| 1 | Learning 2:44 | 77 |
| 2 | Lookout, Lookout 2:57 | 79 |
| 3 | Mr. Peterson 2:52 | 80 |
| 4 | Gay Angels 4:05 | 80 |
| 5 | You Won't B Here 1:38 | 72 |
| 6 | Write To Your Brother 1:52 | 73 |
| 7 | No Problem 2:10 | 74 |
| 8 | When 3:32 | 74 |
| 9 | Perry 3:42 | 78 |
| 10 | Never Did 3:22 | 77 |
Total Length: 28 minutes
By Quet
Comments (5)
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1y
this kinda just goes to show how far he's come. from some well-written but boring piano ballads to some of the most expansive, abstract, and interesting music of the early 2020s and late 2010s