A Love Surreal - Bilal
  • Band Name: Bilal
  • Record Label: eOne
  • Release Date: Feb 26, 2013
A Love Surreal Image
Metascore
82 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 11 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: Pianist Robert Glasper guests on the Philadelphia singer's jazz, soul, and funk-infused third full-length studio album.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. HipHopDX
    Mar 1, 2013
    90
    By co-opting the title of John Coltrane’s 1965 classic, A Love Supreme, Bilal is at least hinting at lofty expectations. For the most part he exceeds them.
  2. Boston Globe
    Feb 26, 2013
    90
    This sensual song suite about the ephemeral nature of love and what it takes to sustain happiness should end up among this year’s finest efforts.
  3. PopMatters
    Mar 20, 2013
    80
    A Love Surreal probably doesn’t have what 1st Born Second fanatics want out of the guy, but it’s plenty beautiful on its own terms.
  4. Q Magazine
    Apr 10, 2013
    60
    This is cosmic R&B. [May 2013, p.95]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Roundnoon
    10
    I gave it a perfect score not to say that it's flawless musically but because it feels like a perfect trip in the country, the one that give you a fresh breath of air before you go back to the city jungle. I've ben a fan of Bilal's universe since I discovered First Born second. It was in the beginning of the 2000's and he hasn't released anything that sounds like that album since. I guess I've been able to follow him on his musical journey and I must say that he really opened my mind. For this album Bilal wanted to make something that would sound like Dali's surrealistic paintings and photos and I guess he succeed because I always picture myself in some crazy landscape when I listen to it. Like I said before, this album is like taking a trip on a train, looking out of the windows and seeing some Dali's or Vladimir Kush's type of scenery. It's a musical gallery. It sounds like a perfect mix between his never released masterpiece "Love For Sale" and his ballsy and critically acclaimed "Airtight's revenge". It's sensual and yet powerful and experimental at times. Nothing new for Bilal except this time, this project really feels more coherent than his last albums ...

    I can't really give you my highlights since it changes every time but I can only encourage you to give it a chance and another if the first one doesn't work. If you open your mind, you'll see the beauty of this piece of music.    … Expand
  2. Thegodfatherson
    10
    A Love Surreal is tasteless romance with a pinch of cuteness. Bilal has compelled with the emotion very well, that's what makes this album special. A Love Surreal is a timeless classic.… Expand
  3. Bigbry
    9
    A Love Surreal is exactly that; a surreal set devoted to the subject of love. This is my first time exposed to Bilal and I am impressed. Great songwriting, spacey jams, so many influences, futuristic r b. I love Channel Orange but this is the album Frank Ocean should have made. Too bad not as many people will hear this...… Collapse

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. Rumours [35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] - Fleetwood Mac
    Metascore: 99
  2. Sunbather - Deafheaven
    Metascore: 97
  3. Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 2 - Miles Davis Quintet
    Metascore: 92
  4. Jama Ko - Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
    Metascore: 90
  5. Like a Rose - Ashley Monroe
    Metascore: 89
  6. Southeastern - Jason Isbell
    Metascore: 89
  7. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
    Metascore: 88
  8. Your Turn - Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog
    Metascore: 88
  9. The Graceless Age - John Murry
    Metascore: 88
  10. Minute by Minute - The James Hunter Six
    Metascore: 88
  11. M B V - My Bloody Valentine
    Metascore: 87
  12. Acid Rap - Chance the Rapper
    Metascore: 87
  13. Beautiful Africa - Rokia Traoré
    Metascore: 87
  14. Random Access Memories - Daft Punk
    Metascore: 87
  15. LSXX [Last Splash: 20th Anniversary Edition] - The Breeders
    Metascore: 87
  16. Yeezus - Kanye West
    Metascore: 87
  17. Annie Up - Pistol Annies
    Metascore: 87
  18. Without a Net - Wayne Shorter
    Metascore: 86
  19. Once I Was an Eagle - Laura Marling
    Metascore: 86
All Current Music »