Supermodel
by Foster the People
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Mar 18, 2014
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 183 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 135 out of 183
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 183
  3. Negative: 13 out of 183
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  1. jimmyjimone
    Mar 21, 2014
    4
    I really like the singles from their previous effort, but I think this new release is a failure... Its does sounds like their TRIED to be original but Supermodel ends up displaying only a lack of inspiration and talent.
  2. abellwillring
    Mar 19, 2014
    6
    Unfortunately I'm going to have to give this a somewhat tepid review. The album starts strong and peters out towards the end. The only stand out track in the 2nd half is Best Friend and I'm not a particularly big fan of Pseudologia Fantastica either. Torches was hit after hit -- extremely listenable throughout. Even the two bonus tracks were absolutely fantastic. This one cannot even comeUnfortunately I'm going to have to give this a somewhat tepid review. The album starts strong and peters out towards the end. The only stand out track in the 2nd half is Best Friend and I'm not a particularly big fan of Pseudologia Fantastica either. Torches was hit after hit -- extremely listenable throughout. Even the two bonus tracks were absolutely fantastic. This one cannot even come close to claiming that. Very unfortunate.… Expand
  3. aladinkicks
    Mar 18, 2014
    5
    While not being nearly on par with it predecessor, Supermodel is still a great album. The sound the have now is more glossy and slick than Torches, and the album pays tribute to artists such as David Bowie and The Kinks
    My personal favorite on the album is Pseudologica Fantastica.
  4. DownByTheRiver
    Mar 28, 2014
    6
    I was very excited when I heard this was going to be released. Hearing coming of age and puedologia fantastica were excellent. However hearing best friend made me think it was just a misfire. Unfortunately the album has more misfires like best friend than excellent songs like coming of age. Though I do like the great songs on supermodel enough to warrant a positive rating I can't recommendI was very excited when I heard this was going to be released. Hearing coming of age and puedologia fantastica were excellent. However hearing best friend made me think it was just a misfire. Unfortunately the album has more misfires like best friend than excellent songs like coming of age. Though I do like the great songs on supermodel enough to warrant a positive rating I can't recommend it per say to people who aren't fans of the band or who don't like indie very much.… Expand
  5. dante_finn
    Jul 8, 2014
    5
    While I did enjoy most of the album I had to ask myself ,"What ever happened to them from 'Torches'?". Wb
    hile I can understand that they want to try something new the rythms in some songs are just hard to get. But I will say that their lyrics are trasgressive as they try something new with this album
  6. Scooter4849
    Apr 23, 2014
    5
    After not really getting into their previous album, the same happens here, but worse. By far worse than Torches, which did have some good tracks like Helena Beat, Pumped Up Kicks and Don't Stop. This overall does not. This album features unmemorable bland pop rock and little personality for the most part. Middle of the road.
  7. DJKCD
    Mar 19, 2014
    6
    Here’s a perfect example of a band that has hit the Sophomore Jinx hard! This album feels very rushed and musically it is all over the place when compared to their first. That being said, there are some fantastic tracks on here. Some that sound like they could have been part of “Torches Part 2” and others that could have been made by a completely different band or bands. I get it that theyHere’s a perfect example of a band that has hit the Sophomore Jinx hard! This album feels very rushed and musically it is all over the place when compared to their first. That being said, there are some fantastic tracks on here. Some that sound like they could have been part of “Torches Part 2” and others that could have been made by a completely different band or bands. I get it that they want to branch out and show their diversity… however, some of their experiments just don’t work. I really hope that they bounce back from this and offer up something more sustainable for their 3rd recording.… Expand
  8. Velocijoey
    Mar 19, 2014
    6
    Supermodel hits different notes than Torches. Innovating and building seem to be the aim for this album as a whole. FTP didn't fail at such a thing, just didn't do it to the fullest degree. Torches was a little more fresh at it's time and Supermodel feels like a freshman release. Not bad, just not up with the times.
  9. mike4444
    Apr 25, 2014
    6
    I'm not thrilled at all with their anti-capitalist message but there are some good songs on this album. Fire Escape is by far the best; however, it can be easily found boring if you don't like this kind of music. Goats in Trees and the three singles (Coming of Age, Psuedologica Fantastica, Best Friend) are also very nice. However, the message of the album still leaves me uneasy
  10. jaxmcgraw
    Apr 16, 2014
    4
    If I were to describe Foster the people in one word it would be "fluffy." There are some neat lyrics an catchy moments, but nothing really happens and all I get is all of this is a vapid listen.
  11. feliperodx
    Mar 18, 2014
    4
    so u listen to foster the people torches for beign cool and young as it single pumped up kicks... they new album has the name supermodel becouse the album is stupid weak a cocky to moon and back
  12. Matielli
    Mar 20, 2014
    6
    Supermodel não foi tão bom como se esperava que fosse, porém o novo album contém algumas músicas que mostram uma mudança no estilo da banda, diferenciando do primeiro album, que ainda continua sendo melhor.
  13. zdw
    Jun 24, 2016
    5
    Honestly it's just kind of meh. Most of these songs fail to hook into you like the previous album did. "Coming of Age", "A Beginner's Guide to Destroying the Moon" and "Pseudologia Fantastica" are the only songs that were somewhat enjoyable. "Best Friend" sounds like a more boring version of "Call It What You Want". Pseudologia has a wonderful sound to it, eerie and shoegazey, even if itHonestly it's just kind of meh. Most of these songs fail to hook into you like the previous album did. "Coming of Age", "A Beginner's Guide to Destroying the Moon" and "Pseudologia Fantastica" are the only songs that were somewhat enjoyable. "Best Friend" sounds like a more boring version of "Call It What You Want". Pseudologia has a wonderful sound to it, eerie and shoegazey, even if it doesn't remind me of their previous sound. But the interesting sound this track has doesn't show up anywhere else. It's no wonder it's the longest song - they most likely realized they really had something here, and wanted to make it last as long as possible. Nothing even close to Houdini or Helena Beat on here in terms of songwriting.… Expand
  14. NolanLundgaard
    Feb 26, 2021
    6
    Supermodel by Foster The People: 5.63

    Are You What You Want to Be?: 1 :) Ask Yourself: 1 :) Coming of Age: 0.75 Nevermind: 1 Pseudologia Fantastica: 0.25 The Angelic Welcome of Mr. Jones: 0.75 Best Friend: 1 :) A Beginner’s Guide to Destroying the Moon: 0.25 Goats in Trees: 0.5 The Truth: 0.75 Fire Escape: 1 8.25/11 = .75 -> 5.63 Supermodel, Foster The People’s    Supermodel by Foster The People: 5.63

    Are You What You Want to Be?: 1 :)
    Ask Yourself: 1 :)
    Coming of Age: 0.75
    Nevermind: 1
    Pseudologia Fantastica: 0.25
    The Angelic Welcome of Mr. Jones: 0.75
    Best Friend: 1 :)
    A Beginner’s Guide to Destroying the Moon: 0.25
    Goats in Trees: 0.5
    The Truth: 0.75
    Fire Escape: 1

    8.25/11 = .75 -> 5.63

    Supermodel, Foster The People’s sophomore album, is a little bit of a letdown. Following Torches, which I liked a lot of, Supermodel embraces lots of synthesizers and adopts a more electronic-sounding feel. This works in some songs, but in others these bits either impede on the music quality at large or with how well I can hear the vocalist. I was honestly kind of excited to listen to this album (though I haven’t gotten to it until now) because the only exposure to Foster The People was their first and I wanted to listen to more, as songs like Pumped Up Kicks were enjoyable. However, while there were a few winners in Supermodel, I found the work rather unfocused and over-reliant on synths, especially when they were unnecessary. There were some familiar aspects though, which was nice, such as the effect the singer’s voice uses. I wish I could give my song by song commentary, but that would go over the 5,000 character limit. Overall, I felt very mixed about Supermodel. Yes, there are a few definite winners, but at the same time there were as many complete duds. The album as a whole was a little bit on the electronic side for me, and as a result, I couldn’t quite give it a “green” score. The lyrics were pretty good throughout, though sometimes I had a hard time hearing the vocalist. Fans of electronic music should like this album, but fans of pop may find this polarizing, as I did. While Supermodel was a slight disappointment, I am still planning on listening to Sacred Hearts Club, which hopefully will be better than Supermodel. Highlights: Are You What You Want to Be?, Ask Yourself, Nevermind, Best Friend, and Fire Escape.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Most Discussed Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 4 out of 27
  1. Consequence
    May 1, 2014
    33
    Equally appropriately, with increased attention comes increased expectations and increased scrutiny, neither of which are met by this sophomore release.
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  2. Mojo
    Apr 23, 2014
    40
    Much of Supermodel feels alienatingly dense. [May 2014, p.86]
  3. Pretty Much Amazing
    Apr 4, 2014
    33
    A couple of pseudo-anthems will likely nurse them through a handful of unearned headline gigs--but in all honesty, the world has no need for pop music this faceless, listless or sterile.
    Read full review
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