Causers of This
by Toro y Moi
  • Record Label: Carpark
  • Release Date: Feb 9, 2010
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    For some, this could be unlistenable; for others, it will simply come off like the natural product of glitch, shoegaze (to which Bundick certainly owes his chord palette), lo-fi, and psych.
  2. musicOMH.com
    70
    Toro Y Moi puts intelligence and inventiveness into a youthful music genre dumbing itself down at an unduly early stage.
  3. XLR8r
    70
    Bundick's Causers of This is also peaceful, but the album's tranquil tones sound a lot more like happy accidents than well-executed plans.
  5. Pitchfork
    76
    Bundick embraces a cleaner and mellower sound that's more indebted to hip-hop. He wears his inspirations proudly, and throughout there's a clear nod to producers like J Dilla and Flying Lotus.
  6. AllMusic
    70
    Causers of This sounds like a dance-pop mixtape plunged underwater -- it's all smeary synthesizers, chopped-up dance beats, and washes of reverb.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Causers Of This’ infects your mind with pure psychedelia, splicing such conflicting sounds as soul, freak folk, hip-hop and electronica, and the result hits you like Animal Collective on a comedown, or Ariel Pink with Seasonal Affective Disorder.
  8. Tiny Mix Tapes
    70
    It squirms and shimmers for an all-too-brief 33 minutes, sounding like somebody melted a cassette with a mix of early-90s R&B jams on one side and Person Pitchon the other.
  9. Drowned In Sound
    70
    While Causers Of This appears lo-fi on a superficial level with its rough, oversaturated sound quality, it's evident that Bundick has achieved a level of familiarity with his tools which goes way beyond awkward, sophomoric fumbling.
  10. Prefix Magazine
    75
    Despite its basis in a genre with an expiration date, Causers of This is nonetheless an album worthy of consideration. While lacking in straight-ahead pop sensibility, it redeems itself by simply being interesting.
  11. PopMatters
    70
    Pronounced experimentalism is one of the more appealing properties of Bundick’s record, while those most tolerant of tepid, early ‘80s tones will find certain segments easier to swallow than the rest of us.
  12. No Ripcord
    70
    It’s easy to commend this album on the sole basis that despite coating his tracks with an incomprehensible amount of tripped-out trickery, Toro Y Moi still branches out into less protected songwriting.
  13. Filter
    76
    Closing with a bit of gaudy, high ’80s bubblegum, Causers of This is a bold introduction to a promising newcomer.
  14. Lost At Sea
    70
    As casual pop, Causes of This pleases effortlessly, though the listener doesn't get the sense that that's what Bundwick is all about here.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. clem666
    Jan 11, 2023
    4
    I salute the effort, the mix of genres and energies deserve it. But in my opinion Toro Y Moi failed to bring the tones he showcases on aI salute the effort, the mix of genres and energies deserve it. But in my opinion Toro Y Moi failed to bring the tones he showcases on a higher level.
    Some tracks shine through the record as the penultimate 'Low Shoulder', without being excellent though. The rest only manages to create a repetitive, distant and soulless soundscape. Beats are unengaging, messy, and lyrics only underlines the major lack of content in this LP. Structure of tracks are often one-dimensional and don't evolve enough. It officially lasts thirty minutes but surprisingly feels like an hour and a half.
    A feature or two would have been highly interesting to allow Toro Y Moi's work to be diversified. The tone of his voice is particularly disturbing. It tends to sound like edulcorated early Daft Punk songs. And it fails to do so.    … Full Review »
  2. diecer
    Mar 31, 2018
    10
    You might as well waste your time with me if you're gonna be here. That's it and that's all.
  3. driejust
    Aug 3, 2015
    10
    If you own only one piece of music from the small and quick musical movement known as chillwave - make it this album. Chaz Bundick is a musicIf you own only one piece of music from the small and quick musical movement known as chillwave - make it this album. Chaz Bundick is a music genius and continues to make gold no matter the genre he experiments in.… Full Review »
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