A Moon Shaped Pool
by Radiohead
  • Record Label: XL
  • Release Date: May 8, 2016
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 1525 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,393 out of 1525
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 1525
  3. Negative: 91 out of 1525
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  1. Azad78
    Aug 19, 2023
    10
    This album is their best recent one yet, instant classic.


    I always put off listening to it because i didn't want to be disappointed like i was with their "The King Of Limbs" album, however as i cautiously listened to this one my expectations were absolutely annihilated it's such a soft emotional listen please give it a try you won't regret it
  2. Saihodonttop
    Jun 12, 2023
    9
    Thok killed emebbrrbrhrhhegeeed,rjylphgur64ugugut7yitr5tdguftffyfugyohiguihiguyifdye5srse



    Hoh7yygu
  3. fuor22
    May 31, 2023
    10
    This album has everything it takes to be one of the best albums! The songs are beautiful, the stories are riveting, and the musicians behind them are also incredible
  4. frightopia
    Mar 6, 2023
    8
    Really loved the whole vibe of this project. Definitely one of the better albums of Radiohead!
  5. Gliphy
    Nov 17, 2022
    10
    If Kid A is the most depressive Radiohead's album, A Moon Shaped Pool is the most melancholic album. True Love Waits is one of my favourite songs. In my opinion, it's the final Radiohead's album. They moving forward and leave Radiohead backward.
  6. titanoneday
    Nov 7, 2022
    10
    I can't believe that it still feels fresh whenever I play one of the songs of this album, even after a couple of years since my first listen.
  7. Cyzzyx
    May 18, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A Moon Shaped Pool is a return to what makes Radiohead special. The sonic uniqueness and ambiance makes this project so empty yet so interesting. It reminds me of the emotions I felt during Kid A, but less of a dystopian way and more of a depressing way. The problems I have with this album are pacing issues, but other than that this is a fantastic listen from front to back. Thom Yorke's vocal performance in this album is one of his best in my opinion, and you can really feel and hear the emotions that the band is trying to convey. His lyricism also shines poetically all throughout, probably because it was so emotionally charged. One of the saddest albums of all time.

    Favorite Tracks: Burn The Witch, Daydreaming, Decks Dark, Ful Stop, Glass Eyes, Identikit, The Numbers, Present Tense

    Least Favorite Tracks: Desert Island Disk, Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief    … Expand
  8. All_ButTrU4
    Dec 6, 2021
    8
    most melodically accessible collection, almost meditative in its ethereal mid-tempo loveliness, yet shot through with the kind of edgy details that never quite let a listener relax. It is chill-out music to put your nerves on edge.
  9. EvanKilter
    Jul 26, 2021
    10
    A moon shaped pool is the equivalent to perfectly spreading diamond encrusted melted gold bar butter on your eardrums.

    Favorites: ALL
    Least Favorites: NONE
  10. nekyo
    May 26, 2021
    8
    The King Of Limbs wasn't their best, but this one came out on a whole new level. This record reflects a solidly mature Radiohead. They bring all their experience and create this gorgeous list of tracks, taking on a more depressive and heartening road, but making each one of them worth to listen to.
  11. Chris182
    Apr 26, 2021
    8
    This is the perfect mix of In Rainbows and The Bends. Easily their best album since 2007.
    Best Songs: True Love Waits, Decks Dark, Burn the Witch
  12. AlecTwenty
    Apr 2, 2021
    10
    They put out lots of great stuff through the years but I personally like this project more than any other album of them.
  13. RPF
    Dec 17, 2020
    9
    This album, like nearly all Radiohead albums, is an incredible creation. It creates a very sonic/filmic landscape with the sounds and melodies. The songs have this calming and mesmerising quality. Personal favourites include ‘ Burn the Witch’, ‘Decks dark’ and ‘Present Tense’. I really enjoy how Radiohead have once again found a different sound to master. Great work.
  14. cwiz2
    Oct 22, 2020
    10
    Beautiful. They have proven themselves many times before and it is amazing how they continue to release albums of this quality
  15. Josuerl2808
    May 10, 2020
    9
    New classic of Radiohead. So sad, but extremely depth and beautiful.
    What a great album. This could be one of my favorites.
  16. Blackwoo4
    Nov 24, 2019
    10
    Radiohead's quietest, most subtle, album to date is also their most rich and beautiful. Trading in trappy beats and and breakneck riffs, AMSP is pristine and glistening. Thom Yorke's personal songwriting helps the band pull off their most affecting collection of songs whilst Jonny Greenwood's symphonic arrangements angelically ebb and flow throughout.
  17. arunscript
    Oct 21, 2019
    7
    I really wanted this album to be great. It isn't. It's about average with a couple of good songs. But Radiohead is still my favorite band of all time. I don't know any other band that has consistently churned out amazing songs (like the really good Decks Dark on this one) over more than a decade and I don't know any other band that has a top-twenty (because top-10 isn't good enough) listI really wanted this album to be great. It isn't. It's about average with a couple of good songs. But Radiohead is still my favorite band of all time. I don't know any other band that has consistently churned out amazing songs (like the really good Decks Dark on this one) over more than a decade and I don't know any other band that has a top-twenty (because top-10 isn't good enough) list that varies wildly. If OKC is 10/10 and In Rainbows is 9/10, then this has to be not more than 7/10.… Expand
  18. Gamesearcher1
    Aug 29, 2019
    8
    A chilling, beautiful and unforgettable album by Radiohead. The sombre mood of the album is executed just perfectly, and while I don't think this is the album I'd listen to on repeat for hours, I do really like it. The string sections are absolutely stunning, and I really wouldn't mind if every song had them. I do think that aside from some heavy stand-outs, the album can feel a bitA chilling, beautiful and unforgettable album by Radiohead. The sombre mood of the album is executed just perfectly, and while I don't think this is the album I'd listen to on repeat for hours, I do really like it. The string sections are absolutely stunning, and I really wouldn't mind if every song had them. I do think that aside from some heavy stand-outs, the album can feel a bit uninteresting at times, even though there are no bad tracks whatsoever (like most Radiohead albums). And those string sections are extraordinary.
    Favourites: Burn the Witch, Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief, Daydreaming
    Least Favourites: Glass Eyes (A really tough decision).    … Expand
  19. zJake
    Jul 13, 2019
    10
    Another incredible album by an incredible band. Hard to criticise this piece of art.
    Favourite songs: Daydreaming, Decks Dark, Glass Eyes, Identikit, Present Tense, True Love Waits
    To be honest I love them all but those are the top 6 in my opinion.
  20. Carburateur77
    Jul 2, 2019
    9
    All the songs seem infused with both hyper sensibility and grounded bass lines. Hope and distress. Even if it gets high in ethereal propositions, it never fails to stay connected emotionally. Can't get enough, it's addictive.
  21. Alinzpark
    Jun 7, 2019
    8
    A Moon Shaped Pool, despite being the band's most understated and acoustic releases of their career, is easily one of their most emotionally poignant as well. While peppered with acoustics, AMSP still contains plenty of the band's signature experimentation with unconventional rock instrumentations on songs like "Ful Stop" with it's pulsing base and the cacophonous orchestra on the openerA Moon Shaped Pool, despite being the band's most understated and acoustic releases of their career, is easily one of their most emotionally poignant as well. While peppered with acoustics, AMSP still contains plenty of the band's signature experimentation with unconventional rock instrumentations on songs like "Ful Stop" with it's pulsing base and the cacophonous orchestra on the opener "Burn the Witch". The album achieves a rare accomplishment by ending on it's highest note with the emotionally draining, yet decidedly understated rendition of "True Love Waits".
    While far from the band's greatest releases, AMSP demonstrates that Radiohead, despite being 30+ years into their career, are from washed up.    … Expand
  22. KELEO2000
    Dec 30, 2018
    10
    A different album to all, as each of them have a unique style, in this we can appreciate the background story of Yorke and his ex-wife Rachel that more than one will make us feel different emotions.
  23. Andremax
    Jul 12, 2018
    8
    Very weird album. Yes, it's a praise, considering that it is a Radiohead's characteristic. Electronic and at the same time orchestral sonority, with many textures of classical instruments, beats and electronic effects makes the album a bit dense but without put aside all the beauty that also marks band sound. Still worthwhile, as Radiohead fans as good music fans.
  24. vonhara
    Apr 16, 2018
    8
    This is good, but not so good, but really good tho. I love the orchestration, even tho I think there would have been places for better songs to fit the album. I mean, Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief is a solid 0/10
  25. EdenIsNotHere
    Feb 2, 2018
    10
    In 2018, this album crushes and destroys my soul every time I listen to it. Every song here it's naturally textured and detailed, unilaterally keeping this easy-listening and calm vibe to the record. Elegant, beautifully written and stripped-down but harmonius, Radiohead continues demostrating that are one of the most creative, mysterious and haunting bands of the history. All of the songIn 2018, this album crushes and destroys my soul every time I listen to it. Every song here it's naturally textured and detailed, unilaterally keeping this easy-listening and calm vibe to the record. Elegant, beautifully written and stripped-down but harmonius, Radiohead continues demostrating that are one of the most creative, mysterious and haunting bands of the history. All of the song here are simply just perfect, one of the best albums of this decade, period.

    FAV TRACKS: ALL OF THEM.

    WORST TRACKS: HAHA YOU THOUGHT    … Expand
  26. Clint_Eastwood1
    Nov 9, 2017
    9
    Непонятно как,но Radiohead с годами не теряют планку качества,даже не смотря на то,что альбомы часто получаются эксперементальными,но это не мешает группе выпускать отличные релизы с неплохой частотой.
  27. davidpirtle
    Oct 30, 2017
    8
    After their divisive last album, I guess a moon shaped pool is just what the fanbase ordered. While not, for my money anyway, a whole lot better than their previous effort, it is a whole lot more Radiohead. That isn't to say that it isn't trying anything new, and it's where the album pushes things that it really succeeds.
  28. kman5473
    Oct 12, 2017
    9
    Definitely the most omnipotent and spiritual of the Radiohead albums. As can always be expected from a Radiohead album, it's dark, it's experimental, and rich with flavor. Probably the easiest, yet the most depressing of their albums to get into.
  29. Anarch
    Sep 19, 2017
    10
    Every Radiohead album is good, but this is one of this is between the quality of Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows. Every song is good on the album, that's why I'm giving it a 10, though I know Radiohead still could do better.
  30. Ricko
    Aug 30, 2017
    9
    While 2011's "The King of Limbs" had plenty of really good moments, it now seems to be universally accepted as a general disappointment from Radiohead. Half a decade on Thom Yorke and co have released a work that brings together the loose ends from their career to make an album of specteral beauty. It's well known that many of the songs on "A Moon Shaped Pool" have popped up in live showsWhile 2011's "The King of Limbs" had plenty of really good moments, it now seems to be universally accepted as a general disappointment from Radiohead. Half a decade on Thom Yorke and co have released a work that brings together the loose ends from their career to make an album of specteral beauty. It's well known that many of the songs on "A Moon Shaped Pool" have popped up in live shows over the last 15 years. Here, the band finally focus on giving these problematic songs the appropriate recording arrangements. The new and older material fit seemlessly together, with both delivered in a present tense context, with Yorke channelling issues from his personal life to bring further emotional gravity to the atmosphere of the album. Of course anyone who listens to Radiohead will know their sound is very much more than the sum of their parts. This is not just the Thom Yorke or even the Thom and Johnny show. The various members have had solo projects but none of these hold a candle to the work done in the mothership. Ranging from the frantic opener "Burn the Witch" to the hopeless beauty of closer "True Love Waits" there is no point where "A Moon Shaped Pool" fails to deliver. An album that hits all the senses, is experimental yet organic and full of feeling. "Glass Eyes" is one of the all time great Radiohead songs. One of the albums of the year. Hopefully we don't have to wait another 5 years for the next record but the likelihood is that we will.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best Album of 2016
8
#8 Most Discussed Album of 2016
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 43
  3. Negative: 0 out of 43
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Aug 11, 2016
    89
    Gone are any remnants of yesteryear's "rock music" ideology, thrusting Radiohead into a mature state of potentially their best work still to come.
    Read full review
  2. Magnet
    Aug 9, 2016
    90
    This is Radiohead's deepest, darkest pool of devotion and doubt in a career marked by almost nothing but. [No. 133, p.51]
  3. Uncut
    Jun 21, 2016
    90
    There's a lighter, more hopeful bent to the musical settings, which perfectly balance the more dissonant leanings of The King Of Limbs with a sumptuousness and gentleness they've rarely sought since OK Computer. [Aug 2016, p.81]
See all critic reviews »