User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Soft Sounds From Another Planet
by
Soft Sounds From Another Planet Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 56 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length release for Michelle Zauner solo project was produced with Craig Hendrix.
Buy Now
Buy on

Top Track

Road Head
You gave road head On a turnpike exit Going home Going home Last ditch desperate Like a makeshift cell phone Pump and run Pump and run Pump and... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. The A.V. Club
    Jul 14, 2017
    91
    While everything on Japanese Breakfast’s proper sophomore effort isn’t entirely fresh, and its structure is somewhat loose, there’s a confidence and crispness to Soft Sounds that shows just how fully realized Zauner’s formerly homemade experiments have become.
  2. Pretty Much Amazing
    Jul 19, 2017
    83
    Soft vocals percolate through the record, lending it a remarkable emotional profundity. Though at times the record feels a little repetitive, Zauner’s lyrical skill keeps it from being boring.
  3. Paste Magazine
    Jul 18, 2017
    81
    Soft Sounds is full of pretty interludes of ambient noise, mixed with shoegaze and electropop touches.
  4. Under The Radar
    Jul 13, 2017
    80
    Soft Sounds is ambitious not only because it throws so much in, but because it aims to push a coherent whole out the other end. It's experimental pop that wants to experiment while still sounding like pop, and it really works.
  5. Uncut
    Jul 13, 2017
    80
    Zauner adds peppier number like "Machinist" and "Road Head" without ever sounding like she's spread too thin. [Aug 2017, p.32]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. The Quietus
    Jul 13, 2017
    80
    Japanese Breakfast is turning into an artist with much to adore, unabashedly authentic but creating music that we can still all see a little bit of ourselves in.
  7. Sputnikmusic
    Jul 20, 2017
    60
    There are plenty of loveable moments, sure, but they tend to congeal like sand passing through your fingers.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. l00000l077
    Apr 17, 2023
    10
    michelle has an amazing voice. jb is one of the few artists i've listened to all their work, but i always come back to ssfap.
  2. hayden1o0
    Oct 8, 2019
    9
    The sound mixing and various instruments on Soft Sounds blend together masterfully with Michelle Zauner's heartbreakingly lovely vocals;The sound mixing and various instruments on Soft Sounds blend together masterfully with Michelle Zauner's heartbreakingly lovely vocals; complimenting each other on every song. Each track transitions smoothly into the other, and despite a few sounding a little to similar- what you're left with is a melancholic and beautiful Indie album that you'll come back to again and again. The standouts here are Road Head, Boyish, Till Death, and Diving Woman; which has become my favorite track of 2017. Seriously.… Expand
  4. HugOfThunder
    Aug 2, 2017
    9
    I had never heard of this artist, so I went in with an open mind and was very pleasantly surprised. This is by far one of my favourite albumsI had never heard of this artist, so I went in with an open mind and was very pleasantly surprised. This is by far one of my favourite albums of 2017 and I can't stop listening to it. The pure, raw emotion is amazing.… Expand
  5. TrentRey
    Jul 18, 2017
    9
    A very well-written album. This is one of the years best album, and the years best indie album. This project is incredible and should get theA very well-written album. This is one of the years best album, and the years best indie album. This project is incredible and should get the attention that it deserves. The album strongest tracks are Road Head, Machinist, Soft Sounds From Another Planet, Boyish and Till Death.… Expand
  6. Music_Observer
    Aug 15, 2017
    7
    Although it may not reach a height of true amazement, the timbre was indeed wonderfully soft and carried enough energy, and giving way to aAlthough it may not reach a height of true amazement, the timbre was indeed wonderfully soft and carried enough energy, and giving way to a bit to typical song conventions worked well with well-formed and melodically interesting layers, but sadly leaving behind slow and shallow harmonic progressions. My Score: 126/180 (Good) = 7/10… Expand

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best Album of 2017

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
All Current Music »