Before the Dawn Heals Us

M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us
Critic Score
Based on 20 reviews
2005 Ratings: #162 / 487
User Score
Based on 224 ratings
2005 Ratings: #107
Liked by 18 people
Sign In to rate and review

CRITIC REVIEWS

100
DIY
It's a juxtaposition that runs throughout the album; slices of true invention interspersed with near cinematic interludes. While on a track by track basis some of it might get skipped if encountered when your iPod's set to shuffle, as a whole, 'Before The Dawn Heals Us' is verging on a masterpiece.
91
Entertainment Weekly

... sublime soundtrack to dancing in the moonlight.

90
Under The Radar
The inclusion of organic instruments really takes M83's keyboard-based material to the next level.
90
Tiny Mix Tapes

This album is full of so many moments of exhilarating joy and equally exhilarating sorrow.

86
Pitchfork
This is a mammoth collusion of synth gasps and distorted swirls, darker and more urban than its meadow-bound predecessor.
83
Coke Machine Glow
M83’s latest, given careful attention, is a rather impressive and blissful experience.
80
NME
[M83] create some of the freakiest European-horror-movie soundtracks ever to see the light, all covered in Warp Records futuristic electro-plasm.
80
No Ripcord

Like 2003’s Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, Before the Dawn is commendable for its almost obsessive attention to detail that has produced a collection of gorgeously layered and dense songs without ever sounding laboured.

80
Drowned in Sound
For all its reference points, it's a remarkable and original record.
70
AllMusic

Before the Dawn Heals Us is ambitious for sure, an emphatic step forward from the linger of Dead Cities.

70
PopMatters
Admittedly, there are some notable missteps, but nothing as to suggest irrevocable damage to the album's sheen.
60
The Guardian
For every breathtaking melodic rush like Don't Save Us From the Flames, with its guitars whizzing and whooshing like fireworks, there is a piece of portentous tosh like Moonchild, which calls to mind Spinal Tap and a scale model of Stonehenge.
60
Slant Magazine

Before The Dawn is far-out trip music for those who don’t mind letting the music recede into the background of their reverie.

60
Rolling Stone

Before the Dawn Heals Us doesn't have enough finesse to hold your interest all the way.

40
Alternative Press

Although M83's ambitions are often great, there is a problem here: Before The Dawn often drags its feet.

TehSniper_143
100

"Before the Dawn Heals Us" came out after DeadCities a mere 2 years afterwards, and shows the band continuing this new hotstreak they find themselves in. I used to think this album was slightly worse than DeadCities back in the day, however, throughout the years, this album has genuinely done nothing but grow on me more and more to the point where it now stands up there with DeadCities as one of the best albums I've ever heard. The dream-like aesthetic of multiple of these tracks is ... read more

LeftTwix
95

In this new modern world, many feel like they're overwhelmed by the constant pressures of society, and with these times being the hardest they've ever been for millions, M83's third record, shines a light on this horrible future, and just for a fleeting moment, helps me forget about our reality and sink into my own perfect dream.

Most of my personal listening consists of listening to something while doing school work, exercise, taking out the dog, and playing video games, but the one instance ... read more

joemo
80

Tão bom e viajado quanto o 'Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts', mas menos barulhento que ele.

Josvelto
78

dunno why but it sounds like if all of those ryan goslings edits were made into an album, i don't know where the fuck i got this idea from but i couldn't stop thinking about it while listening to the album, which is pretty good btw

Velocirabbit43
58

Snoozer territory for the majority of this but some of the songs kind of go hard. Never returning to this ever again tho. You can’t even pay me🥱

musicrabbithole
83

Not as strong as the previous record, but still a great listen all the way through
Favorite Tracks:
Moonchild
I Guess I'm Floating

Purchasing Before the Dawn Heals Us from Amazon helps support Album of the Year. Or consider a donation?
Become a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Advertisement

Year End Lists

#5/No Ripcord
#45/Pitchfork
Sign in to comment
1y
1y
1y
Advertisement