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Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 223 Ratings

  • Summary: Anthony Gonzalez's two-disc album produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen features contributions from Medicine's Brad Laner, Morgan Kibby, and Zola Jesus.
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  • Record Label: Mute
  • Genre(s): Electronic, Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Electronic, Ambient Pop
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Top Track

Midnight City
Waiting in a car Waiting for a ride in the dark The night city grows Look and see her eyes, they glow Waiting in a car Waiting for a ride in the... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 38
  2. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Oct 13, 2011
    95
    It's a fantastical story of aliens, spirits, and children told by one breathtakingly gifted artist, and it's utterly remarkable.
  2. Oct 17, 2011
    90
    With less of the anxiety that marked his earlier albums, that world is a joy to get lost in over and over.
  3. Oct 17, 2011
    86
    At this point, it's hard to know what to let go and what to hold onto as a listener of M83, but regardless, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is a pretty fantastic record.
  4. Oct 14, 2011
    80
    The end result is an incredibly ambitious and personal effort that shines, sparkles, and thrills.
  5. Oct 18, 2011
    70
    The album is ambitious and brimming with all sorts of stray ideas, but it's also suited to Gonzalez's expansive gifts.
  6. Oct 11, 2011
    70
    Gonzalez sings mostly about memories (occasionally unintelligibly), but refuses to accept that some dramatic gifts don't necessarily have to be exhausting. Still, the album is full of goose-bump moments
  7. Nov 3, 2011
    40
    A single CD's worth on two discs, Hurry Up indulges many watery washes ("Wait") but restrains sound collage use ("Echoes of Mine") in waiting for another 21st century merry-go-round ("New Map").

See all 38 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 43
  2. Negative: 0 out of 43
  1. Oct 19, 2011
    10
    This album completely blew me away, every song is beautifully crafted, and it's 2 CD's! This will always be in my car's glove compartment. Fantastic!
  2. Mar 26, 2013
    10
    In today's high tech world where everything and everyone moves so fast and sudden, it becomes harder for me to stay put. Although InternetIn today's high tech world where everything and everyone moves so fast and sudden, it becomes harder for me to stay put. Although Internet giants such as YouTube, Pandora Radio, and Spotify have made music more available, I also feel that they have made most songs we listen to equally forgettable; "well that was a cool, song. Okay, what's next?" The point I'm getting at is in today's world it takes a special kind of artist with a special kind of album to keep me seated from the opening track to the closing track. An album with music so colorful and sharp, with tales of dream scape and adventures, I literally say to myself "where have you been all my life!?" Case in point--M83's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. Not since Radiohead's 2007 In Rainbows (or even Daft Punk's 2001 Discovery album) has an album captured me with overwhelming enthusiasm such as Hurry Up, We're Dreaming has. M83 effectively tell stories of childhood innocence ("Raconte-Moi Une Histoire"), space travel (Year One, One UFO), and a life beyond imagination ("New Map") with their dreamy instrumentation. The 2-disc album is reminiscent of Pink Floyd's 1973 classic Dark Side of the Moon, in that the each song in the album picks up where the other leaves off; as if developing stories in a novel, with each track unravelling something new and astonishing where the former track leaves off and the latter picks up. Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is sure to be a beloved classic as time goes by. For now, it should be regarded as a modem classic in an age where music seems to bombard audiences with flavor of the month songs by artist who try too hard to be the next big hit; or already famous artist clutching onto relevancy with "today's sound." Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is ultimately fantastic because M83 doesn't seem to force the album upon it's audience (with perhaps "Midnight City" being an exception seeing how it's a radio-friendly tune). The entire album sings with a passion of patience, grace, love, and truth that expresses how much time and effort M83 has put into their songs. And that similar patience, grace, and love is emitted by me, the listener, through how relaxed and optimistic I am as I listen to the album. I'd go as far to say Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is more of a story being told through music than just "songs." A musical novel, if you will. And just as I reach the last pages of the final chapter of a fascinating book with that "wow! What a marvelous tale! I can't wait to tell someone about it!" feeling, M83's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming gives me that equal satisfaction. Simply put, M83 has given audiences a modern day classic. A musical treasure that's aesthetically pleasing to the ears, heart, mind, and soul. Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is an artistic inspiration. Expand
  3. Apr 26, 2012
    10
    This is the first album I bought completely since probably the 90s. I usually nitpick an album based on 15 second previews... this one, I justThis is the first album I bought completely since probably the 90s. I usually nitpick an album based on 15 second previews... this one, I just bought it all.

    Some songs I didn't care for, but after listening again and again, they became my favorites. Great album, probably one of the best albums I've heard in years.
    Expand
  4. Mar 1, 2019
    10
    It's like a journey to the world that fulfills with dreams and imaginations. But through music way.
  5. Oct 18, 2011
    10
    Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is stellar and spectacular. M83 succeeds at reaching for the stars, using evocative imagery and bright syntheticHurry Up, We're Dreaming is stellar and spectacular. M83 succeeds at reaching for the stars, using evocative imagery and bright synthetic colors to create immense sounds at every turn. Each track finds itself exploring different dynamics and different expressive qualities. The sum of the two CDs feels more vast than its 74-minute run time would initially suggest. All in all, this album must be heard by everyone to be believed. Expand
  6. Nov 4, 2013
    9
    It's seriously really hard to find a bad track on this. Definitely M83's best work, and possibly even one of the best dream-pop/shoegazeIt's seriously really hard to find a bad track on this. Definitely M83's best work, and possibly even one of the best dream-pop/shoegaze records in it's own right, "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming" is an astonishing, near-perfect masterpiece that celebrates youthful imagination and spirit. It's also RIDICULOUSLY catchy at times. Expand
  7. Mar 20, 2023
    4
    I actually detest a large chunk of this album but I'm giving it a 4 because it does have some great songs, mainly at the start and end of the album.

See all 43 User Reviews

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