Seeds
by TV on the Radio
  • Record Label: Harvest
  • Release Date: Nov 17, 2014
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 59 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 59
  3. Negative: 4 out of 59
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  1. pugowner
    Apr 29, 2018
    9
    I can understand why people don't like this album as much as their previous work. It's not Dear Science or Cookie Mountain, but if you listen to it with the intention of comparing it to previous work, that's not very fair. If this was the first TVOTR release I can guarantee the hype would have been immense once it came out. Great album.
  2. Brickfaced
    Nov 21, 2014
    6
    TVOTR, in the past going just slightly south of the mainstream indie scene, and landing somewhere between obscure and commercial, have made an album that confirms the commercial slant that its predecessor leaned toward.

    Not that it's something to get pretentious about. It's just that an album with these goals in mind should deliver some soaring anthems or should have some gravity, some    TVOTR, in the past going just slightly south of the mainstream indie scene, and landing somewhere between obscure and commercial, have made an album that confirms the commercial slant that its predecessor leaned toward.

    Not that it's something to get pretentious about. It's just that an album with these goals in mind should deliver some soaring anthems or should have some gravity, some bounce, or some itchiness scratchy catchy-ness, and these moments are often sparse. Should we even desire it a melancholic album, it doesn't manage to lull us enough to manage that either.

    The singles have been promising, Happy Idiot being the epitome of catchy pop indie rock, with a slightly darker edge than your average radio friendly tune. Careful You on the other hand, is a gorgeous synth-pop fueled piece of heaven. There are other promising moments too, from the touching Test Pilot, to the hard rock of Lazarray, to the deep and electronic backdrop of Seeds, the album closer.

    But a lot of the album feels blunt. Ride starts with promise, but never really lifts off. Could You is an attempt at achieving commercial appeal, but feels tired and doesn't offer anything unique (commercially driven music can still have flair, as Careful You shows). The album feels interesting in its varied use of styles, but all of the best styles seem to be sampled for one or two tracks, while the dead ones weigh down on the majority of the album's core.    … Expand
  3. falconer24
    Nov 21, 2014
    9
    Not a bad song on this album. Is it as good as Dear Science? No. But I think it is better than Nine Types of Light. There is a great feeling of optimism on this record. The high point for me is "Lazerray" and "Trouble", but I enjoyed all the tracks. This will be one of the top albums of 2014 for me.
  4. Mdelamaza
    Nov 20, 2014
    9
    A beautiful journey into heartache and loss, that ends up in a triumphant note. Cynical people would probably say that the fact that this is probably the most commercial record of TVOTR is a bad thing, but this is just a band trying to deal with their inner demons in the most direct and honest way they can. Even with all the sadness of some songs, It's impossible not to smile after hearingA beautiful journey into heartache and loss, that ends up in a triumphant note. Cynical people would probably say that the fact that this is probably the most commercial record of TVOTR is a bad thing, but this is just a band trying to deal with their inner demons in the most direct and honest way they can. Even with all the sadness of some songs, It's impossible not to smile after hearing Seeds. Another great record from one of the most consistent bands of the past ten years.… Expand
  5. fuzzynavol
    Nov 19, 2014
    8
    I like this album better than Nine Types of Light. For lack of a better word, it's more accessible - less experimental with a little more of a pop sound with more hooks, and it works as a coherent album.
  6. CiphirSol
    Nov 19, 2014
    10
    Seeds will most certainly grow on you, no doubt. There's the undeniable groove of TVotR combined with a refreshed feeling. Like when you give something a lot of thought and decide with absolute certainty this is where you want to be and exactly what you want to do.
  7. mooradj0
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    An album that shows maturity and growth into some kind of new understanding of what they're able to do. Every song is worthy multiple listens, and all are capable of inducing a good scream along with the chorus/
  8. brettrosey
    Nov 18, 2014
    4
    Let me preface by saying TVOTR is one of my favorite bands. They've never put out an album I haven't thought was absolutely top notch....until this week that is. It pains me to admit it, but this album just lacks the substance of their previous works. It just feels like there's something missing from almost every track. And the thing is, they didn't veer off from their normal sound. ThisLet me preface by saying TVOTR is one of my favorite bands. They've never put out an album I haven't thought was absolutely top notch....until this week that is. It pains me to admit it, but this album just lacks the substance of their previous works. It just feels like there's something missing from almost every track. And the thing is, they didn't veer off from their normal sound. This is definitely a TVOTR record, but at the same time it's just not that good. "Test Pilot" is the closest they came to creating one of their emotional tracks in which you'll always find a couple on each record -- but even that track falls short. Maybe Gerard Smith was the creative spirit of the bunch, or maybe they are just in a rut, either way I am disappointed.… Expand
  9. jyo_tirmaya
    Nov 18, 2014
    3
    This album is not as good as their previous ones. With the exception of "Careful You" and "Happy Idiot" this album is a long boring effort. Reminds me of that feeling when I was a kid in the car to some far destination "Are we there yet?" I get the same feeling from this album "Is it Over yet?" Maybe they should have done some editing and deleted a couple of the songs. Seriously though,This album is not as good as their previous ones. With the exception of "Careful You" and "Happy Idiot" this album is a long boring effort. Reminds me of that feeling when I was a kid in the car to some far destination "Are we there yet?" I get the same feeling from this album "Is it Over yet?" Maybe they should have done some editing and deleted a couple of the songs. Seriously though, not recommended.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Magnet
    Dec 10, 2014
    80
    Seeds finds an adventurous art-rock band embracing accessibility. [No. 116, p.60]
  2. No Ripcord
    Dec 1, 2014
    90
    Not only is Seeds the most direct and optimistic album, but in some ways, it's their poppiest.
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  3. Under The Radar
    Nov 26, 2014
    75
    The band have shed the Most-Important-Band-In-the-World-For-Try-Hard-Twenty-Something-Hipsters image of their earlier career and are now just making effortlessly good, effortlessly cool music.
    Read full review
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