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Tangerine Reef
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Tangerine Reef Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

  • Summary: The 11th full-length studio release for the experimental pop band is an audiovisual album developed in collaboration with Coral Morphologic and is its first without Panda Bear.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 18
  3. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. NOW Magazine
    Aug 21, 2018
    80
    Fans of AnCo’s more upbeat and animated works probably won’t love this album, but it is successful in its experimentation and as an affirmation that they have and always will have something unique to bring to the table.
  2. Sputnikmusic
    Aug 20, 2018
    78
    It's not necessarily a masterpiece nor was it ever meant to be a grand statement that'd capture everyone's attention; a low-key unveiling is more fitting, for it's the Collective's return to form, except in a way that nobody expected.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    Aug 16, 2018
    70
    In truth, Animal Collective didn’t really need to depend on the visual accompaniment to Tangerine Reef as the record does extremely well to capture the essence of the life aquatic on its own.
  4. Exclaim
    Aug 16, 2018
    60
    For fans of Animal Collective's trippier inclinations, Tangerine Reef is a pleasant bit of oceanic escapism. For new listeners or anyone looking for the next "My Girls," this is decidedly inessential.
  5. Clash Music
    Aug 27, 2018
    60
    This might not be as immediate and catchy as previous Animal Collective releases, possibly due to Panda Bear’s absence, but its one of their most transfixing and beguiling.
  6. The A.V. Club
    Aug 17, 2018
    50
    The record captures all the noodling self-indulgence that makes the psych-poppers such a maddeningly inconsistent live act. But Tangerine Reef is an incomplete object in this form: It’s accompaniment, not feature presentation, the drowsy soundtrack to the iridescent undersea visuals of Australian filmmakers Coral Morphologic.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    Aug 16, 2018
    20
    This one was originally an art piece performed live at the Borscht Film Festival in Miami, with attendees absorbing the sound and images simultaneously. Divorced of that context, it belongs only in the sea.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. wowee
    Aug 24, 2018
    10
    The album has a great atmosphere but it's not an album that everybody canThe album has a great atmosphere but it's not an album that everybody can listen...........................................................................................................................................................… Expand
  2. PaleEyedFever
    Mar 19, 2021
    9
    Heavily underappreciated album. Don't expect another Merriweather Post Pavilion, but do expect to be challenged and forced through anHeavily underappreciated album. Don't expect another Merriweather Post Pavilion, but do expect to be challenged and forced through an introspective analysis of your own psyche.… Expand
  4. deadbank
    Mar 6, 2019
    8
    Even without the visuals to accompany this album, this album is great. It is absolutely jam packed with some of the most soothing sounds inEven without the visuals to accompany this album, this album is great. It is absolutely jam packed with some of the most soothing sounds in AC's discography. At times, especially in the second half I feel, Avey Tare's voice can get a bit annoying and tends to draw away from what's going on in the rest of the album. Despite this, AC once again managed to put me in a magical trance for about an hour.… Expand
  5. BrushedRed
    Aug 17, 2018
    4
    It’s not completely terrible, but it is quite a slog and a drag. I feel maybe I might like this more if I could see the video along with it,It’s not completely terrible, but it is quite a slog and a drag. I feel maybe I might like this more if I could see the video along with it, but as an album it is quite boring. I thought Jake and Me was definitely a standout. It actually had a bit of personality and reminded me of their Feels days. It’s kinda hard to expect them to make any sort of pop music anymore, and I’m not necessarily suggesting they do, but it would be nice to have something not so sparse. Taking this on in one sitting is quite a challenge because it is just that sparse. Is it as bad as NME is saying? No, but that doesn’t make it good either.… Expand

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