Perfume Genius - Learning
Critic Score
Based on 12 reviews
2010 Ratings: #215 / 924
User Score
Based on 362 ratings
2010 Rank: #201
Liked by 30 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
Drowned in Sound

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.

90
NME

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.

90
Sputnikmusic
Hadreas' debut resonates profoundly and pulls at the heart strings.
70
The 405

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.

depechemode4lif
86

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.

Plats
87

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

Aydn
NR

Goddamn this is beautiful

Despite its lofi nature, less than stellar production, and not knowing what Perfume Genius is saying without looking at the lyrics, I loved this. It's raw and emotional, which make those "cons" I mentioned, turn into pros. Reminds me a lot of early Car Seat stuff, which is the highest praise I can give. He pulls out some fantastic vocal melodies that keep you in this trance like state , along with the hypnotic pianos. Gay Angles is a track in particular that ... read more

Kiwo
66

the work is like a pile of letters sung to people in the singer's life, it's sad, as if it hurts with each passing track. The production is somewhat repetitive, different from the lyrical

QDOERTY
77

Sounds like lofi Sufjan Stevens.

bioserg_ea
73

Finished my First Listen. This was a vulnerable album & the production manages to create a sad atmosphere. There are some issues I have maybe they're an artistic choice, but the vocals sounded so distant from the production throughout, otherwise a pretty decent debut.

Favs: Lookout Lookout, Mr Peterson
Least Fav: When

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Track List

1Learning
2:44
74
2Lookout, Lookout
2:57
81
3Mr. Peterson
2:52
80
4Gay Angels
4:05
78
5You Won't B Here
1:38
71
6Write To Your Brother
1:52
70
7No Problem
2:10
73
8When
3:32
71
9Perry
3:42
77
10Never Did
3:22
74
Total Length: 28 minutes
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