The Understanding
by Röyksopp
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 46
  3. Negative: 3 out of 46

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  1. AngieM
    Aug 3, 2005
    6
    I have heard better... You get this GarageBand finish idea on a few songs, it seems as though they did not go too deep into things. They shouldn't be that scared to go further. Otherwise one or two good things. I miss the freshness of Melody A.M.
  2. JoeS
    Jul 15, 2005
    10
    This album is fantastic. I loved Melody A.M., but this album really takes it to the next level. Royksopp is awesome.
  3. JonC
    Jul 27, 2005
    9
    An excellent, mature follow-up to Melody AM. More lyrical, with growth into more structured melodies. A different direction to excellent Air-esque AM, but for the good.
  4. Mobius
    Jul 29, 2005
    3
    This album just sounds like some real poor euro trash. this reson for this comment is that after listening to Melody A.M. which is a fantastic album full of unique tunes and every single track on it is just awsome, you would expect more of the same on there next album, Well NO this album is full of euro lyrics every track is one long bore. gone are those chill out tunes and gone are those This album just sounds like some real poor euro trash. this reson for this comment is that after listening to Melody A.M. which is a fantastic album full of unique tunes and every single track on it is just awsome, you would expect more of the same on there next album, Well NO this album is full of euro lyrics every track is one long bore. gone are those chill out tunes and gone are those happy rifts no more poor leno this album was a complete waist of money. I mean when you like a group u like them because of the style of music they do and after there melody a.m. album i thought this would be almost as good how wrong i was. on the plus side the CD does make a great coffie coaster… Expand
  5. NikolaiNikolai
    Feb 26, 2006
    10
    A change from Melody A.M and a step forward to "the electro cult icon" that Ryoskopp becames with "The Understanding!!!"
  6. Manjero
    Apr 8, 2008
    9
    This under appreciated gemstone of an album by Royksopp is another great addition to your electronic collection. Unlike Melody A.M., The Understanding takes on a more dreamy, majestic aura, which can easily rival to A.M.'s greatness. This new, welcoming light doused onto The Understanding magnifies the mystical nature that is Royksopp.
  7. FredR
    Nov 3, 2005
    8
    Although uneven at times, this disc is powerful and ambitious. Only This Moment is worth the price of admission. The singing on The Understanding is amazing, the lyrics are touching, the production sizzles and sparkles, it bristles with life and blows through the speakers like a celestial wind. Wow, what am I writing? If you like electronic music you need to purchase this CD. Royksopp and Although uneven at times, this disc is powerful and ambitious. Only This Moment is worth the price of admission. The singing on The Understanding is amazing, the lyrics are touching, the production sizzles and sparkles, it bristles with life and blows through the speakers like a celestial wind. Wow, what am I writing? If you like electronic music you need to purchase this CD. Royksopp and Bent are the best imports, check them out, you won't be disappointed.… Expand
  8. LeightonP
    Jul 12, 2005
    9
    A largely different but excellent follow up to Melody A.M.
  9. JonS
    Jul 14, 2005
    9
    Not an all out classic, but what a fantastically beautiful record. The track Alpha Male is just awe-inspiring. The record left me a bit disappointed on first listens, but has kept on growing. There are no Eples or Poor Lenos here, but the record is all the better for it. In stark contrast to Dot Music's reviewer, I am extremely grateful that not every band "is reacting to our Not an all out classic, but what a fantastically beautiful record. The track Alpha Male is just awe-inspiring. The record left me a bit disappointed on first listens, but has kept on growing. There are no Eples or Poor Lenos here, but the record is all the better for it. In stark contrast to Dot Music's reviewer, I am extremely grateful that not every band "is reacting to our circumstances". There is more need than ever for music that is intensely human, escapist and non-political. Still, maybe that too is a reaction.… Expand
  10. VladA
    Jul 28, 2005
    9
    Losin faith in metascores because of this record. Obviously some reviewers didn't give this one enough listens because it is impeccable. Dense instrumentation with magnetic hooks. Real good stuff. Better than Melody AM.
  11. djs
    Aug 20, 2005
    8
    more to it than melody am - varied, lush, really damn good actually. its abundance of really good tunes and lots of singing might take it out of the "cool downbeat" cliche? but thats no bad thing.
  12. zega
    Aug 9, 2005
    4
    Amazingly bland. Didn't know Vangelis had so much influence on Royksopp. loved "A.M.", but this CD just doesn't cut it. lotsa sheen but few memorable hooks, and some exceedingly cliched lyrics. (The music reviewers who rated it 80+, like those ice-skating judges, must be judging this CD more on past performance than current, out of laziness or deadline commitments.)
  13. salomey
    Sep 2, 2005
    8
    it's an interesting affair this one like most albums i think it's a bit too long and it doesn't grab my interest the entire duration of the disk then again i couldn't really mention a weak spot i will refrain comments on whether it's innovative or not if only because i don't care about innovation i won't be able to hear the aspects of innovation of this it's an interesting affair this one like most albums i think it's a bit too long and it doesn't grab my interest the entire duration of the disk then again i couldn't really mention a weak spot i will refrain comments on whether it's innovative or not if only because i don't care about innovation i won't be able to hear the aspects of innovation of this album in 2009 anymore anyway and i will still play this album then because of the strong melodies and far above standard production… Expand
  14. Mike
    Jan 25, 2006
    5
    Not as good as Melody AM and has some horribly cheesy songs on here. Great production and is more experimental than their last effort but hasn't paid off.
  15. Christian
    Jul 13, 2005
    9
    A really good album - different, but really good!
  16. Yrk
    Jul 19, 2005
    6
    Good when the mood hits me. Slightly above average, but not by much. A handful of really great tunes, but a handful of really bad ones as well. It's a grower. Some tracks have attached themselves to me after repeat listens, but most are forgettable. Okay.
  17. JonathanG
    Aug 11, 2005
    9
    Very emotionally charged, this album integrates the progressive nature of their previous album, Melody AM, with true musical intellect. As a very discriminating listener, I am highly impressed by this album, when one considers what Royksopp has created together with Melody AM. They are taking music to new heights. I can only imagine what they have in store for their third album. I have Very emotionally charged, this album integrates the progressive nature of their previous album, Melody AM, with true musical intellect. As a very discriminating listener, I am highly impressed by this album, when one considers what Royksopp has created together with Melody AM. They are taking music to new heights. I can only imagine what they have in store for their third album. I have recommended this group to friends and co-workers and everyone who hears them is SHOCKED and AWED by their originality and wants a CD, no matter what type of music they lsiten to. They are a refreshing group when you consider how bland music is these days.… Expand
  18. NivB
    Aug 16, 2005
    3
    If you liked the amazing "Melody AM" - this album is not for you. Royksopp have clearly gone through a change between the debut album, and "The Understanding" fails to be as amazingly original as the first one. You won't get mind-numbingly gorgeous instrumental tracks here, and no original Yodel vocals in here. This is a bland electronic album, that fails to keep up with the "Melody If you liked the amazing "Melody AM" - this album is not for you. Royksopp have clearly gone through a change between the debut album, and "The Understanding" fails to be as amazingly original as the first one. You won't get mind-numbingly gorgeous instrumental tracks here, and no original Yodel vocals in here. This is a bland electronic album, that fails to keep up with the "Melody AM" greatness. Only few tracks, like "Someone Like You" and "Only This Moment", try and line-up with the first album, while the rest fall into weird boy-band rock. In "The Understanding", Royksopp cleary misunderstood what "Melody AM" lovers want...… Collapse
  19. FeatherBlade
    Jun 18, 2012
    8
    Honorable Mention for obscure sounds such as Sombre Detune and What Else Is There? (which has beautiful vocals of Karin Dreijer Andersson), and for the most chill-out-oriented songs, such as 49 Percent and Beautiful Day Without You. A really interesting work.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Dot Music
    50
    For the most part, "The Understanding" saunters along without a trace of urgency, which is unfortunate as Royksopp were always at their best when electronic ingenuity rather than pastel-shaded synth washes were holding things up.
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  2. Pitchfork
    81
    This is the one that puts them firmly and officially up there in the top tier of the dance-music crossover-album crowd, up with the Daft Punks and, umm, Basement Jaxxes.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    60
    Röyksopp have little left to say aside from what others have said more clearly in the past.
    Read full review
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