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Sleep Cycle Image
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 33 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut solo release for Animal Collective's Josh Dibb was originally planned as part of a Kickstarter project to travel to Mali in 2009 before he decided to donate a majority of the Kickstarter funds to charity.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. 91
    What he’s presented us with, essentially, is the skeleton of Animal Collective’s fleeting creativity, stripped down to its roots, revealing that even at its rawest, purest form the music still has an instinctive grasp of sincere emotion and beauty.
  2. Apr 18, 2016
    85
    One of the things that works so well on this six-song album is that it shaves away some of the psych rock of the parent band and lets the fragmentations remain.
  3. Apr 18, 2016
    83
    Unassuming and minimal in its execution with a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts, Sleep Cycle establishes itself as a captivating journey inwards towards a destination that’s as comforting as it is reaffirming--and likely what a lot of us need for a good night’s sleep.
  4. May 10, 2016
    80
    Sleep Cycle represents, and unintentionally so, a creative rebirth that goes against Animal Collective’s increasingly evanescent creativity. It took long enough, but the investment was worth it.
  5. Apr 18, 2016
    76
    It’s a short album—six songs, 33 minutes--but a substantial one, a deeply personal work that takes us inside the mind of Animal Collective’s most mysterious member, while restoring some of the patience and mystique that’s been sucked out of that band’s recent, more spasmodic work.
  6. Jul 13, 2016
    75
    With less fanfare than his companions Panda Bear and Avey Tare, Deakin has put out a solo record of understated eloquence.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. May 17, 2016
    10
    Just incredible all the way through. Only wish there was more. The last track especially is transcendent, really dignifies the entire genre inJust incredible all the way through. Only wish there was more. The last track especially is transcendent, really dignifies the entire genre in a way that the main band hasn't exactly managed to do in some time. Perhaps since Sung Tongs.

    I understand a lot of people have some beef with Deakin for that little kickstarter debacle, but geez, look what he came up with.
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  2. Apr 19, 2016
    10
    6 tracks is just not enouhgh, Its such a beutiful piece of psycodellia6 tracks is just not enouhgh, Its such a beutiful piece of psycodellia .................................................................................and Ohhh so frightening Expand
  3. Jul 27, 2016
    10
    This is a fantastic solo debut album for Deakin. He may not be as popular as Avey or Panda, but his music shows great class. The songs on thisThis is a fantastic solo debut album for Deakin. He may not be as popular as Avey or Panda, but his music shows great class. The songs on this thing are touching and have meaning. This is one of the best Animal Collective related things for a long time. There was tons of thought put into this thing clearly. Expand
  4. Apr 28, 2016
    9
    Beautiful, psychedelic, and deeply personal. While Animal Collective's recent works have been panned (despite me personally enjoying them),Beautiful, psychedelic, and deeply personal. While Animal Collective's recent works have been panned (despite me personally enjoying them), this returns somewhat to the past while embracing Deakin's voice and melodic soundscapes. Wish we had more. Expand
  5. Apr 28, 2016
    9
    This is what I have been missing from Animal Collective since Strawberry Jam. "Golden Chords" is becoming one of my favorite Animal CollectiveThis is what I have been missing from Animal Collective since Strawberry Jam. "Golden Chords" is becoming one of my favorite Animal Collective related tracks to date. I hope to hear more from Deakin in the years to come. Expand
  6. Apr 19, 2016
    8
    Deakin must be one of the most unappreciated members of Animal Collective. For me after hearing this album, he is the most appreciated.
    The
    Deakin must be one of the most unappreciated members of Animal Collective. For me after hearing this album, he is the most appreciated.
    The long awaited EP, Sleep Cycle, is one of the best solo projects from any of the Animal Collective members (exception Person Pitch). Every song has something new to offer. The opener Golden Chords is a soothing acoustic feel with some sounds of outdoor stuff (EX. wind blowing, grass hoppers), similar to Camp Fire Songs by Animal Collective. Every track leads into the next for a continuous experience. Just Am is a more upbeat track. Deakin's voice goes very well with the tracks on this EP. Shadow mine is basically just a filler with a sort of chant to it. My favorite track, Footy, is something I've never really experienced before. Harsh but not. Continual beat but not. Violent yet some how smooth. Some parts in this song Deakin screams and yells to make this a very psychotic track. Yet other times is singing calmly. Footy leads into seed song which is a calm song with nothing real special to it. Then seed song leads into Good House which is a track that really brings out Deakin's qualities as a solo artist. A soothing song with a very nice melody.
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