Mind Over Matter
by Young the Giant
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 35
  3. Negative: 1 out of 35
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  1. JTatarsky1
    Jan 27, 2014
    9
    Young The Giant's second album is really impressive. So often sophomore albums are extremely disappointing but in no way did YTG disappoint. They could have easily produced an album that is similar to their first but instead they chose to develop their sound while maintaining their original voice. It is a thoroughly enjoyable album from start to finish.
  2. tallonrk1
    Jan 25, 2014
    10
    I wasnt a huge fan of YTG's first album. I loved Cough Syrup, My Body, and Apartment but that was about it. However this album is a great change. The band has refined their sound and every song on this album us wonderful. Anagram is my favorite. Not sure why the reviewers harp on them so much. This is one of my favorite albums ever made in my opinion and will be for a very long time.
  3. SED9243
    Feb 3, 2014
    9
    I was a big fan of young the Giant's first album, with its laid back sound meshing well with the energized powerful hits that were all over the radio and beer ads, and I am similarly enthralled with this addition to their catalogue. People seem to assume that the key to success and progress is a sound that changes album by album, but in this case I think that expanding on their originalI was a big fan of young the Giant's first album, with its laid back sound meshing well with the energized powerful hits that were all over the radio and beer ads, and I am similarly enthralled with this addition to their catalogue. People seem to assume that the key to success and progress is a sound that changes album by album, but in this case I think that expanding on their original work was the right move. This album ebbs and flows well in terms of tempo and general feeling. From the fast and upbeat anagram onward into It's about time, the opening salvos of the album are confident and triumphant.
    Though Mind over matter has a cool sound and a few cool vocal moments, by this point the album borders on the repetitive, however they quickly remedy that by jumping into the slower, tranquil Firelight, which is a surprising and welcome development. The album is rounded out well by the ending tracks including one of my personal favorites, teachers. This song starts of sounding like a typical YtG offering, but becomes a seriously good, bombastic vocal rollercoaster with excellent backup instrumentals to keep it rolling. Generally an excellent 2nd album all things considered.    … Expand
  4. Underoath427
    May 15, 2015
    10
    Amazing Give it 2 listens. By the end of the second go around, you'll agree. Not exactly like the first album, just as amazing, better even, but in it's own way! Over a year later and I'm still listening to this album. A PHENOMENAL album! One of my top 10 favorites.
  5. lkngro
    Jan 26, 2014
    3
    Young The Giant's first album was good. Very good, at that. Their sound wasn't anything new, but it was still good rock n roll. Mind Over Matter is a different story. I got super excited when the singles for this album started coming out, but was quickly disappointed. I finally listened to the whole album when it came out and it was a huge let down. There was no musical or artisticYoung The Giant's first album was good. Very good, at that. Their sound wasn't anything new, but it was still good rock n roll. Mind Over Matter is a different story. I got super excited when the singles for this album started coming out, but was quickly disappointed. I finally listened to the whole album when it came out and it was a huge let down. There was no musical or artistic development. They stripped away all the depth and texture that made their first album interesting and made it a sterile, lackluster project. They do have chops though, I'll give them that. The vocal range on the album is impressive and there are some complex guitar hooks here and there that make it interesting a points, but the overall artistry and songwriting is sub-par. I expected a lot more from a band that had massive potential to make a great sophomore album, but I guess the slump is real.… Expand
  6. Mab_987
    Feb 12, 2014
    7
    This is a pretty impressive indie pop/rock album, and "It's About Time" will probably be one of my favorites songs of 2014. The lyrics have a decently interesting running theme & YTG feels a lot more full of attitude & energy than they did before. Unfortunately I do feel Mind Over Matter is held back by a track sequencing that puts the weaker tracks back to back & kills the momentumThis is a pretty impressive indie pop/rock album, and "It's About Time" will probably be one of my favorites songs of 2014. The lyrics have a decently interesting running theme & YTG feels a lot more full of attitude & energy than they did before. Unfortunately I do feel Mind Over Matter is held back by a track sequencing that puts the weaker tracks back to back & kills the momentum right in the middle. 77/100

    (To see my full review, look up "Spin It! Reviews" on YouTube.)    … Expand
  7. Scooter4849
    Apr 23, 2014
    4
    Bland, uppity, feel good indie rock/pop record with bland and unmemorable vocals. Commercial and unadventurous. Basically a really terrible version of a Portugal the Man record. Overall, not horrible, but nowhere near good.
  8. samwalie
    Feb 18, 2014
    8
    I loved Young the Giants first album, it admittedly had its fair share of problems but it was solid rock,n roll; This album is the same case. I think they could have gone for a more raw live sound with less production and synth/polished guitars but nonetheless it was a Great album
  9. joshdavery
    Oct 31, 2015
    9
    9/10
    I cant get enough out of this album. It has to be the greatest sophmore album I have herd in a while. Constructed by the minds of Sameer Gadhia, Jacob Tilley, Eric Cannata, François Comtois, and Payam Doostzadeh, this much anticipated album has a place in my heart. The success af this album proves Young The Giant's determination to record and perform incredible tracks. And they have    9/10
    I cant get enough out of this album. It has to be the greatest sophmore album I have herd in a while. Constructed by the minds of Sameer Gadhia, Jacob Tilley, Eric Cannata, François Comtois, and Payam Doostzadeh, this much anticipated album has a place in my heart. The success af this album proves Young The Giant's determination to record and perform incredible tracks. And they have combined both a unique sound with a resonating message to deliver an unforgettable experience. I do feel though that synth driven melodies in many tracks lay a little to heavy for their style, but still, that makes it an entirely unique sound.    … Expand
  10. cmanthomas007
    Nov 24, 2014
    9
    I thoroughly enjoyed this album. It has a lot of should-be radio hits. It's hard to figure out why some songs/bands make it so big on the radio while others, who seemingly follow the same formula, don't. I guess it could be the business side of the industry at play. If the songs from this album ever get to radio or in movies/tv shows they should be very successful. In my home, firelight,I thoroughly enjoyed this album. It has a lot of should-be radio hits. It's hard to figure out why some songs/bands make it so big on the radio while others, who seemingly follow the same formula, don't. I guess it could be the business side of the industry at play. If the songs from this album ever get to radio or in movies/tv shows they should be very successful. In my home, firelight, anagram, and it's about time are the highlights on this one. check it out!… Expand
  11. NiNEnjoyer
    May 11, 2023
    8
    Definitely not completely sold on this one, still, incredibly catchy tunes and Sameer's voice are enough to enjoy it as a week crafted pop album.

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Most Discussed Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. The New York Times
    Mar 20, 2014
    80
    Mind Over Matter has a fuller, brassier sound than this group’s debut, and especially emphasizes the guitars of Jacob Tilley and Eric Cannata.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    Mar 11, 2014
    60
    When they nail the postmodern smash-up thing, it's explosive, inventive rock.... The flip side is tracks like the limp Tears for Fears rewrite "Camera."
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Jan 24, 2014
    83
    Singer Sameer Gadhia's bro sincerity and movie-villianish vocals make for liberating melodrama, even without the primal scream. [31 Jan/7 Feb 2014, p.104]
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