If You Leave - Daughter
If You Leave Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the London-based trio of Remi Aguilella, Igor Haefeli, and Elena Tonra was produced with Rodhaidh McDonald and Jolyon Vaughan Thomas.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 18
  2. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Mar 14, 2013
    100
    Heavy it most certainly is, but Daughter succeed simply by creating phenomenally beautiful music and heart-rending songs.
  2. Mar 22, 2013
    80
    The group's debut full-length album picks up where its EP left off. [Mar-Apr 2013, p.91]
  3. 80
    These cavernous guitar effects, corrosive beats, and inspiring melodic twists magnify If You Leave, an album with true grandeur and occasion.
  4. Mar 18, 2013
    60
    While all the elements are there it seems far too eager to drift into not only the background but also into itself, with it turning into musical wallpaper and into one, long indistinguishable track with worrying ease.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. If You Leave may never be a hit, but is in the shadows where this amazing album must be listened to, or at least that's what I think Tonra wants us to do. The marvelous sounds and poetry of Tonra's lyrics turn Daughter's first album in the best think I have listened to in years. This one comes from the heart, a damaged heart, and a brilliant mind. The ethereal instrumentation makes the perfect match to such a melodic voice. But it is obvious that the most remarkable thing here is the songwriting which, in the words of this mortal, makes everything a sweet mess: It's weird how we love to be so sad. To finish, I just want to say this: Elena, take my soul, I'm on my knees. Expand
  2. Gorgeous instrumentation and arrangements carry this album. The ethereal vocals are haunting and visceral, which seems contradictory considering how sweet her voice appears. While the tempo of the songs rarely picks up too significantly, the emotive power of the instrumentation and contrasting vocals carry most of the songs to a strong cathartic crescendo (Most apparent in 'Youth'). While some reviewers have criticized the lyrics, the songwriting is a strongsuit to me. Absolutely weird and disturbing in some of these songs, the unsettling effect the lyrics have is what makes this such a poignant record. Expand