Last year's Kate Bush effort, 50 Words for Snow, was built like this one. Then, I was thinking that Kate is a species on extinct. Not really.Last year's Kate Bush effort, 50 Words for Snow, was built like this one. Then, I was thinking that Kate is a species on extinct. Not really. Mike Hadreas is also able to provide a wonderful set of songs using mostly a piano and the voice. Using this paradigm would be deathly dangerous for the most of so called show-business stars, simply because they have NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT ANYTHING. Both in case of Kate and now Mike, there is a message to listen to. Perfume Genius metaphorically has put his back into lyrics and what could have been a message for gay men became the one which is universal.…Expand
My 2012 album of the year and it's not even close. The emotions this young man can evoke through these simple songs is unlike anything I'veMy 2012 album of the year and it's not even close. The emotions this young man can evoke through these simple songs is unlike anything I've ever experienced. Powerful is not even the right word for it. Otherworldly. I burned this lp and have given it out to more people then I can remember. Everyone should to listen to this album. They have to, they need to.…Expand
Fantastically simple or simply fantastic? I think the latter.
Some songs I definitely like more than others, but I can still let this playFantastically simple or simply fantastic? I think the latter.
Some songs I definitely like more than others, but I can still let this play through and at the end I still think it's too short and replay it. Besides the obvious improvement in recording quality and extra instruments. The guitars create intense flurries of feedback at the exact right moment, and the drums decorate Hadreas' frail piano.
Perfume Genius has matured but has kept their immediacy and honesty.…Expand
I thought that the demo-type music on Perfume Genius first album "Learning" had more of a personal touch & worked better with the content ofI thought that the demo-type music on Perfume Genius first album "Learning" had more of a personal touch & worked better with the content of his lyrics. I listen to that album, and the song "Look Out Look Out" has me looking out the window in a dismal way. With Put Your Back, I get less of that "emotionally touched" feeling, so, for me - maybe because now the music is more professional & less "personal." I have both albums and think Put Your Back is another gem because in the end PG are working with some intense subject matter & great music. The work of PG reminds me of the first two albums by Antony & the Johnsons and I think that says it all, especially if your an Antony Hegarty fan.…Expand
haunting, and makes good use of more age production techniques (such as voice distortion featured on no tear) to differentiate itself fromhaunting, and makes good use of more age production techniques (such as voice distortion featured on no tear) to differentiate itself from more band and predictable singer/songwriter albums. Honestly it truly does something special and unique against a genre of self-important decadence.…Expand
If pain had a sound track songs from this album would surely find their place on it. It's beautiful in it's relative simplicity each songIf pain had a sound track songs from this album would surely find their place on it. It's beautiful in it's relative simplicity each song details another person's story. Sonically it's beautiful and ambient, piano heavy songs with accents from strings. While, not my favorite album ever I can't deny the emotional landscape (haha Björk reference) Perfume Genius forms. I found the album to have a few fluff songs that didn't disrupt the narrative, more so, they were just generally uninteresting. However, the highs of this album were devastating: AWOL Marine, All Waters, Take Me Home, Hood, and Floating Spit. It was emotional and evocative and a solid album.…Expand
This album is stylistically similar to Learning, but the production has changed and so has the songwriting. These tracks just don't have theThis album is stylistically similar to Learning, but the production has changed and so has the songwriting. These tracks just don't have the same emotional power that the ones on Learning had. I think putting PG's voice at the front of the mix like it mostly is on this album reveals the weaknesses of it. The album has the same ideas and motives as Learning did, but it feels emptier and a little lost.…Expand
