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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
With the new Twin Fantasy, Toledo has done the unimaginable: created a reboot that matches its original in tone, passion, and excitement.
95
It’s an album of dizzying highs and crushing lows, full of triumphant moments that seem built for a grand, Phil Spector wall of sound that Toledo previously had no access to.
91
Rock music has a bad habit of looking backwards, and the same can be said of Car Seat Headrest’s Twin Fantasy. But this album flips that rearview gaze on its head, suggesting that the past may well contain new and exciting paths forward. It’s a neat inversion that yields some of the most thrillingly ambitious indie rock compositions of this decade, though one that occasionally exhausts the listener into submission.
91
Companion piece or full-on replacement, it matters not. Do yourself a favor and listen to the album you should have listened to seven years ago.
90
Thanks to the fact that Car Seat Headrest is now a band rather than a solo recording project, there’s more spit and polish to the songs, a level of gloss that Twin Fantasy really benefits from.
90
The age-old saying goes if something isn't broken, don't fix it, but the re-release of Twin Fantasy shows that, seven years later, Car Seat Headrest are capable of re-contextualizing their work in ways that cement the faith that we have in them as revolutionary musicians.
90
The new release of Twin Fantasy never panders to the original. Nor does it feel like Toledo is forced to adhere to the limitations of his previous work. It’s a development, not a remake; the full realisation of what was always supposed to be - and it sounds all the more incredible for it.
86
Will Toledo’s re-recorded version of an album originally released in 2011 speaks to his greatest gifts as a songwriter: wit, cynicism, and an eye for detail that captures teenaged desire and heartache.
80
As well-realized as the original Twin Fantasy was, and as much as it's defined by a specific period in its creator's life, it's obvious that Toledo sees the project as a fluid work.
80
Indulgent? Possibly, but it works, because this record – even the longest tracks – is punchy, witty and razor sharp.
80
The conventional wisdom would be that a comparatively hi-fi re-run of ‘Twin Fantasy’ would rob it of much of its charm, but this redux is hardly an exercise in polish; Toledo’s vocals remain unvarnished, and the instrumentation remains cluttered and imperfect to the point of feeling chaotic. The result, really, is somewhere close to how a ‘Twin Fantasy’ live album might have turned out sounding.
80
But to new(er) fans, Face to Face will satisfy the itch engendered by the gestation period between those two records and remind that Denial wasn’t Car Seat Headrest’s first sprawling opus.
80
The arrangements are tighter and better executed, the audio is strong enough to suit the music and its dynamics, and Toledo's performances are more measured but also more nuanced, as if he has a better understanding of this story from a distance of a few yeqars. Either way, Twin Fantasy leaves no doubt that Toledo is a strikingly gifted and thoughtful songwriter who also has a firm grasp of how to make his material work in the studio, and isn't afraid to think on a grand scale.
80
There are times when the less charitable might be inclined to shout at Toledo to pull himself together, but Car Seat Headrest increasingly feel like a significant band, and Toledo like an unusual and compelling voice.
80
Car Seat Headrest’s newest release, ‘Twin Fantasy’ exudes angst, melancholy and carefully twists the mundane into thoughtfully beautiful lyrics. This visionary collection is a true labour of love by the American band, after being re-recorded and re-imagined.
80
Car Seat Headrest's remake of its Bandcamp classic Twin Fantasy is an improvement on all fronts.
80
Now that Toledo has given it the sound that he always wanted, he has created an album that will deserve even more exposure than it is currently getting.
80
In theory, a Twin Fantasy redo seemed unnecessary and pompous, a misguided detour in service of soothing an artist’s ego over past shortcomings. In execution, it’s as vital as anything released yet this year.
80
Car Seat Headrest is without a doubt a fantastically talented and emotive band that revolves around the no-shits-given honesty of Will Toledo’s lyrics and his ability to craft songs that explore the full range of human emotion and musical possibility.
76
The results of Toledo’s re-imagination add up to enough to make this feel like more than just a perfectionist’s pursuit.
70
Though some longtime fans may feel as though some of the imperfections that adorned Toledo’s original DIY bedroom release are lost in translation in this gorgeously polished release, in its new iteration Twin Fantasy is a deeply moving statement from one of indie rock’s freshest young voices.
70
Though it often overstays its welcome, with a handful of tracks pushing beyond the 15-minute mark, ‘Twin Fantasy’ is an ideal starting point for any latent Will Toledo fan.
40
Instead of building off the buzz and promise of Teens of Style and Teens of Denial, that show a marked development in songwriting, Car Seat Headrest decided to release a bit of revisionist history showing off the band's potential but also its shortcomings.
Want to start off by saying thank you all so much for 1000 followers! I really appreciate everyone, I've had such a great time interacting with so many friendly and supportive people. AOTY is truly a wonderful community in my eyes! <3
This Twin Fantasy review...was really hard to put together. I've kept this story/event in my life away from everyone outside my family for a while now, but I've finally gained the courage and strength to talk about it and let go of my feelings of grief. ... read more
This Twin Fantasy review...was really hard to put together. I've kept this story/event in my life away from everyone outside my family for a while now, but I've finally gained the courage and strength to talk about it and let go of my feelings of grief. ... read more
EDIT: I have a theory about those who love music to the degree most of us on this site do. This applies to all mediums of art, but for the sake of clarity, I’ll be using music terms. Anyways, I believe that a person will find maybe three to five albums in their lifetime that can truly be considered, for lack of a better word, life-changing. This kind of record isn’t just something you listen to and enjoy to death track for track, isn’t just a masterpiece, isn’t just a ... read more
Thanks for 100 followers <3
With what this album already means to me, I might as well face this inevitable moment
For every listen of this album after the first one, I failed at keeping myself together every. single. time.
This album really marks the friendship I've had and a very important journey in my life. I'm honestly overwhelmed by emotions whenever the words of Will Toledo strikes a chord with me.
"I am a good person. I am a powerful person. I don't believe in evil. I think ... read more
With what this album already means to me, I might as well face this inevitable moment
For every listen of this album after the first one, I failed at keeping myself together every. single. time.
This album really marks the friendship I've had and a very important journey in my life. I'm honestly overwhelmed by emotions whenever the words of Will Toledo strikes a chord with me.
"I am a good person. I am a powerful person. I don't believe in evil. I think ... read more
Looks like im finally coming around ;)
Edit: Yep, its official, Im in love
Edit2: I can no longer see any faults with this record
Edit: Yep, its official, Im in love
Edit2: I can no longer see any faults with this record
Full review on my YouTube channel @brad taste in music
I didn’t know this had a previous version. Without seeing the other version though, I find this one to be remarkably well recorded and ambitious to the core. Lyrically it is ambiguous and reflective.
I loved it, great record. I only have given it a few listens so I may need more. Definitely front runner for AOTY
(Edit) original score is 87, then 91. This album keeps growing. I have heard the original and I think it is also ... read more
I didn’t know this had a previous version. Without seeing the other version though, I find this one to be remarkably well recorded and ambitious to the core. Lyrically it is ambiguous and reflective.
I loved it, great record. I only have given it a few listens so I may need more. Definitely front runner for AOTY
(Edit) original score is 87, then 91. This album keeps growing. I have heard the original and I think it is also ... read more
pitchfork.com
Car Seat Headrest Share New Song “Hollywood” 
stereogum.com
New Track: Car Seat Headrest – “Martin” 
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Year End Lists
| #7 | / | MondoSonoro |
| #9 | / | Pretty Much Amazing |
| #9 | / | The Skinny |
| #10 | / | No Ripcord |
| #13 | / | Far Out Magazine |
| #14 | / | Drowned in Sound |
| #17 | / | OOR |
| #20 | / | FLOOD |
| #24 | / | Slant Magazine |
| #26 | / | Bandcamp Daily |
More Lists
Track List
- My Boy (Twin Fantasy)
- Beach Life-In-Death
- Stop Smoking (We Love You)
- Sober to Death
- Nervous Young Inhumans
- Bodys
- Cute Thing
- High to Death
- Famous Prophets (Stars)
- Twin Fantasy (Those Boys)
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1mo
The amount of people on and off this site I've seen call this their favorite album is insane. What an amazing piece of art.
2mo
do you have something against DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGS
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Added on: January 9, 2018