Punisher
by Phoebe Bridgers
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 435 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 395 out of 435
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 435
  3. Negative: 25 out of 435
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  1. autumnkingdom
    Jun 18, 2020
    10
    i feel so strongly about this album that i decided to make an account just to review it. that alone should be enough to explain how absolutely stunningly phenomenal this record is. it’s incredibly timely and although it feels very sad (much like its predecessor, stranger in the alps), it’s a different kind of sad. these aren’t originally my words, but i think it would be apt to articulatei feel so strongly about this album that i decided to make an account just to review it. that alone should be enough to explain how absolutely stunningly phenomenal this record is. it’s incredibly timely and although it feels very sad (much like its predecessor, stranger in the alps), it’s a different kind of sad. these aren’t originally my words, but i think it would be apt to articulate stranger in the alps as a “winter sadness” record, whereas punisher feels to me more like a “summer sadness” record. where stranger in the alps feels cold, this record feels hot.

    i also think every second of punisher feels just as rewarding as the highest highs of phoebe’s debut; she seems to have grown tremendously as a songwriter and it shows.

    my expectations for this record was very very high, and it still managed to blow me out of the water. probable album of the year, in my opinion.    … Expand
  2. Dryleaf
    Jun 18, 2020
    10
    this album has officially turned me into a sobbing mess and i live for it like i never thought i could
  3. ztuxilef
    Jun 18, 2020
    10
    This is without any doubt one of the best albums of the year the crushing and emotional lyrics, the pretty quiet but powerful instrumentals and the incredible vocals make this album a masterpiece in my opinion.
    Favorite tracks: i know the end, chinese satellite, graceland too, i see you
  4. tickleyou22
    Jun 19, 2020
    10
    Bizarrely good songwriting and production. It's an instant classic. Can't wait to keep listening to this forever.
  5. KirangopalS
    Nov 16, 2021
    10
    ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
  6. TheusFurler
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    an instant classic. amazing songwriting, and i just wanna keep listening to it. one of the best albums of 2020.
  7. Willduffy
    Nov 22, 2020
    10
    A genius album. Kyoto, Chinese Satellite, I know the end are some of my favourites, but this entire album is excellent and deserves all the praise it's getting and more!
  8. coopburton
    Jun 25, 2020
    10
    Easily album of the year. This album makes my head explode and my whole body tingle. Indescribably perfect.
  9. i94
    Jun 19, 2020
    10
    Listening to this album brings to mind the title of Dave Eggers' memoir: 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.' Phoebe Bridgers' second solo album is the culmination of everything she's done since 2017's 'Stranger in the Alps'—it's simultaneously heart wrenching and liberating, haunting and electrifying, highly personal yet a universally lovable. The greatest skill she possesses isListening to this album brings to mind the title of Dave Eggers' memoir: 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.' Phoebe Bridgers' second solo album is the culmination of everything she's done since 2017's 'Stranger in the Alps'—it's simultaneously heart wrenching and liberating, haunting and electrifying, highly personal yet a universally lovable. The greatest skill she possesses is making you laugh before punching you in the gut, forcing the air out of your lungs and tears out of your ducts. 'Punisher' is supernatural: alien spaceships dart across the sky, a lonely ghost floats around a haunted house, birds are mauled by innocent dogs who can't comprehend what they've done. I was born in 1998—"Gen Z", if you will. People in my age cohort have grown up in a world shaped by 9/11, endless wars, economic ruin, government corruption, and now a life-altering pandemic. We're not used to things going right; we're used to the cruel twists of fate that life has unsparingly thrown our direction. No one captures the normalization of this despair quite like the artist currently known as Phoebe F*cking Bridgers.… Expand
  10. lautiabregu
    Jun 18, 2020
    10
    easily the album of the year. phoebe bridgers manages to reinvent her sound without abandoning her past completely. it's an album that sounds extremely recent and aware of our current political climate. "punisher" is phoebe bridgers' most cohesive work yet.
  11. caoluz
    Jun 24, 2020
    9
    I wish I had heard this album when I was 24, because now at 26 I found out that I ran in vain. Listening to Punisher worked as an outburst, then as a advice, which I cannot put into practice in isolation.
  12. Kamoyayo
    Dec 11, 2020
    10
    I never have I cried,I swear her own game is excellent,she's giving me the Billie Eilish that went to Harvard
  13. reddomingo
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    This record is one of the best albums of the year 2020. It deserves all of the accliam it received.
  14. scwwts
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    one of the best 2-3 albums of the 21st century, probably top 10 all time. phoebe has actually created a new genre of music and its fascinating and bewildering to witness the power she and her music actually have.
  15. matthewmirliani
    Jun 18, 2020
    8
    It’s a fitting soundtrack to our times - building on the beautiful, haunting, alt-folk hymns of her stunning debut. Nothing compares to “Smoke Signals,” but it’s a comfortable record. The highlight is the infectious “Kyoto,” that sounds like it exists in a different world than the rest of the album - a lighter, New Wave-esque tribute to freedom and youth. It’s bleak but calming, andIt’s a fitting soundtrack to our times - building on the beautiful, haunting, alt-folk hymns of her stunning debut. Nothing compares to “Smoke Signals,” but it’s a comfortable record. The highlight is the infectious “Kyoto,” that sounds like it exists in a different world than the rest of the album - a lighter, New Wave-esque tribute to freedom and youth. It’s bleak but calming, and solidifies the artist’s unique, signature sound.… Expand
  16. starsaroundscar
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Underwhelming. I don’t know but it just feel flat to me & the way she sings makes me want to go to sleep. But I guess once this persona gets taken away, you get a basic chick that no one would pay attention to... so good for you for keeping up with this shtick.
  17. bushyforest
    Oct 23, 2020
    0
    I gave it a try, i did not like it so i would not recommend but maybe next time.
  18. dreamyjose
    Dec 4, 2020
    0
    major. phoebe made me connect with my emotions in such a powerful way, this album is a masterpiece, if you havent gave it a good listen, you're missing out. best album of the year. i feel like im still gonna listen to this one when im 60
  19. vitortfv
    Dec 5, 2020
    7
    DVD Menu / Garden Song - 8/10
    Kyoto - 7,5/10
    Punisher - 7/10
    Halloween - 7,5/10
    Chinese Satellite - 7,5/10
    Moon Song - 7,5/10
    Savior Complex - 7/10
    ICU - 7,7/10
    Graceland Too - 7/10
    I Know the End - 7/10
  20. Panchogul
    Aug 16, 2021
    10
    Que discazo, tan hipnótico, tan ecléctico y tan sofisticado que es nada excepto placer para mis oídos.
  21. Lajaleaa
    Oct 20, 2020
    6
    ( 69/100 )

    Phoebe Bridgers es una cantante de Los Angeles, California que presenta su segundo álbum después de tres años. Yo la escuché el año pasado con Better Oblivion Community Center en donde no pude rescatar nada precisamente emocionante y con "Punisher" por alguna razón tampoco logro hacerlo. El Indie Folk que se explora en este álbum se arrastra demasiado y la producción, a cargo    ( 69/100 )

    Phoebe Bridgers es una cantante de Los Angeles, California que presenta su segundo álbum después de tres años. Yo la escuché el año pasado con Better Oblivion Community Center en donde no pude rescatar nada precisamente emocionante y con "Punisher" por alguna razón tampoco logro hacerlo. El Indie Folk que se explora en este álbum se arrastra demasiado y la producción, a cargo de Tony Berg, Ethan Gruska y ella misma, anula cualquier sensibilidad musical potencial con una ecualización que hace de cada canción algo demasiado Pop. Sí, las letras tienen su propia poética, pero el romance en ellas no muestra una madurez superior o diferente a muchas otras artistas cantando sobre crecer y el dolor de la incertidumbre. La música es aburrida, lenta y muy dispersa. "Punisher" simplemente no conceptualiza bien su trayectoria y comparte un Pop Folk demasiado pasajero e invisible que, para cuando escribo esto, ya fue sustituido.
    -
    Phoebe Bridgers is a singer from Los Angeles, California, that presents her second album after three years. I listened to her last year with Better Oblivion Community Center where I could not rescue nothing precisely exciting, and with "Punisher", for some reason, I still don't. The Indie-Folk explored in this album drags too much, and the production, by Tony Berg, Ethan Gruska, and herself, cancel any potential musical sensibility with an equalization that makes of each song something too Pop. Yes, the lyrics have their own poetic, but the romance in them doesn't show a superior or different maturity than many other artists singing about growing up and the pain of uncertainty. The music is boring, slow, and very dispersed. "Punisher" simply doesn't conceptualize well its own trajectory and shares a Pop-Folk too passenger and invisible that, for the moment I write this, it's already replaced.    … Expand
  22. clem666
    Dec 29, 2020
    7
    Cover artwork intrigued me. I found it was mysterious and powerful. I wanted to discover an artist I didn't know and the fact that she appeared on Kid Cudi's last album made me take the plunge.

    I was not disappointed. Bridgers instantly captured me into her deep and questioning lyrics. These are original, both funny and nostalgic. The artist explores different issues she is experiencing    Cover artwork intrigued me. I found it was mysterious and powerful. I wanted to discover an artist I didn't know and the fact that she appeared on Kid Cudi's last album made me take the plunge.

    I was not disappointed. Bridgers instantly captured me into her deep and questioning lyrics. These are original, both funny and nostalgic. The artist explores different issues she is experiencing with an incredible ability of introversion. No featured artists, just Bridgers herself speaking about living in her own skin. Lyrics take almost all the place in 'Punisher' and this is awesome. But it also makes instrumentals and production sound a bit unoriginal and seem effortless excepted for ('Garden Song' that I found amazing). 'ICU' and 'I Know The End' are two more songs having some musical potential but that were kind of aborted. If it was only about lyrics this could easily have been a 9/10 but I can't omit the fact that 'Punisher' didn't make me dance or even wiggle. Still really interesting though.    … Expand
  23. NormanAlee
    Dec 10, 2020
    0
    So sorry for album "Calligulla" from Lingua Ignota that evenmore tragic and delivers much more expressive and diverse vocal performances. This album full of very predictable melodies, she sings the same in all songs, and the decent late 00s style arrangemets doesnt save the situation.
  24. jaysimjunk
    Aug 23, 2020
    4
    I know I am the only one, but this album just seems so underwhelming to me. Everyone talks about the emotional, incredible lyrics but they feels so contrived and even cringey to me in some places. I want to like this album! I just can't find the mindblowing talent everyone is hyping.
  25. flavz
    Nov 29, 2020
    6
    It was good but very boring. The lyrics didn’t entertained. The only song I can rescue is Kyoto and maybe two more. I’m excited to hear her next work, she definitely has what it takes but is not quite there yet. Add some spice in it!
  26. Introverted97
    Nov 29, 2020
    6
    Remarkable songwriting — lovely imagery, ear-grabbing diction, evocative. However, the songs quickly start to resemble each other sonically and vocally. After “Kyoto”, I found myself getting lost in the sameness of Phoebe’s underwhelming vocal performances. I can understand the album’s appeal, but it simply lacks presence. Once again, excellent songwriting though.
  27. Small-Talker
    Jun 26, 2021
    0
    The monotony of this album is its downfall. According to the credits, 7 of these 11 songs have live drums on them. Not that anyone could tell from listening to the record. All of the drums have a processed sound to them, and almost exclusively consist of those sub-bass beats you hear in trip hop. As a result, every song seems to have the same tempo, with little variation in sound and styleThe monotony of this album is its downfall. According to the credits, 7 of these 11 songs have live drums on them. Not that anyone could tell from listening to the record. All of the drums have a processed sound to them, and almost exclusively consist of those sub-bass beats you hear in trip hop. As a result, every song seems to have the same tempo, with little variation in sound and style throughout. It becomes obvious after a certain point that this was a creative decision made by the producers in response to Bridgers's vocal abilities. She clearly can't sing in major keys. This in itself wouldn't be a problem, as there are plenty of singers who perform wonderfully in minor key territory. Nick Cave and Hope Sandoval are prime examples. Bridgers is not among them. In fact, the vocals here are downright perplexing. She sings in the most affected way; the similarity in her vocal phrasing to Norwegian singer-songwriter Lene Marlin is obvious at points. Norwegian accent and all. Strange, considering Bridgers was born and raised in California. A bizarre little record.… Expand
  28. Ricko
    Sep 29, 2020
    8
    After her solid debut, "Punisher" ticks all the progression boxes on Phoebe Bridger's 2nd album. There is a more interesting record, a relatively bigger range of styles, more tempo, wider themes and a good deal more pushing around the edges of her singer songwriter style. It's also more fun to listen to. Like "Stranger in the Alps", I couldn't call "Punisher" a game changer but it is aAfter her solid debut, "Punisher" ticks all the progression boxes on Phoebe Bridger's 2nd album. There is a more interesting record, a relatively bigger range of styles, more tempo, wider themes and a good deal more pushing around the edges of her singer songwriter style. It's also more fun to listen to. Like "Stranger in the Alps", I couldn't call "Punisher" a game changer but it is a very strong album and gets better with each listen. "Kyoto" and "Punisher" are the standouts of the early part of the album but "ICU" is the star of the album for me, coming towards the end of the album it is short and sweet but unlike anything else she has done up to now. "It's amazing how much you can say when you don't know what you're talking about".… Expand
  29. lrssa
    Jun 21, 2020
    10
    ZERO defeitos esse álbum achei que não podia topar stranger mas ela se superou obrigada por tudo phoebe
  30. sslevanderbilt
    Jun 18, 2020
    10
    Equal parts grand, intimate, dark, & humorous, Punisher is an emo-indie-folk masterpiece that feels like an extended exhale after a good cry.
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best Album of 2020
37
#37 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Sputnikmusic
    Sep 21, 2020
    100
    Punisher is a product of the times, but it’s also one that could have only been made by Phoebe Bridgers. She’s the only artist I can think of who has the ambition and elegance to tackle two crumbling worlds at the same time: the one in her mind, and the one outside her doorstep. It's an album characterized by its finality; a series of lasts in a time where preparing for the end is starting to feel less and less absurd.
    Read full review
  2. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Jun 24, 2020
    90
    What I think makes this album stand out just a bit more, edgier and whatnot, from her debut three years ago in Stranger in the Alps is there's a fearlessness to embrace the mainstream aesthetic just a bit more. Not something like Lana del Rey's style or that kind of thing, but a more contemporary, alternative and dare I say poppy sound.
    Read full review
  3. Glide Magazine
    Jun 22, 2020
    80
    Punisher is a worthy follow-up to Bridgers’ impressive debut, building upon her distinctive style of storytelling while adding a bit more flavor. Though mostly soft and measured, the poetic imagery and occasional bursts of dynamism keep the album from ever getting dull.
    Read full review
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