Total Strife Forever
by East India Youth
  • Record Label: Stolen
  • Release Date: Jan 13, 2014
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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  1. The Observer (UK)
    Jan 13, 2014
    60
    The jumps between genres barely jar once you realise how good Doyle is at all of them.
  2. The Independent (UK)
    Jan 21, 2014
    40
    While Doyle struggles to balance his various musical elements--the opening 10 minutes is sheer drudgery--he has a nice way with layered vocal harmonies, which deserve more regular exposure.

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Best Album of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Custom_Concerns
    Jan 17, 2014
    8
    Total Strife Forever is an eclectic electronic amalgamation of music spanning many genres. Electronica, techno, dance, pop, even post rockTotal Strife Forever is an eclectic electronic amalgamation of music spanning many genres. Electronica, techno, dance, pop, even post rock influences are scattered through this very atmospheric album. Doyle's vocals, though used sparingly, are incredibly effective at delivering emotion. The album begins and ends with completely instrumental, shoegaze influenced electronica, which may be off-putting to some, but these tracks don't lack the emotional authenticity the more accessible tracks are full of. As a whole, Total Strife Forever flows remarkably well, and succeeds in providing interesting, complex electronic music without losing accessibility.

    Track Picks: Dripping Down, Hinterland, Heaven How Long, Looking for Someone    … Full Review »
  2. dylanbates4
    Jan 22, 2014
    5
    Its nice, interesting, mostly instrumental music. Nothing that really catches my attention though. Not bad, but not good. It might be one ofIts nice, interesting, mostly instrumental music. Nothing that really catches my attention though. Not bad, but not good. It might be one of those albums you have to listen to a couple times.… Full Review »
  3. nicholasbert
    Jan 20, 2014
    4
    A mere exercise in electronic producing, this album does not stand up to its critics' score. Neither the instrumental nor the vocal tracksA mere exercise in electronic producing, this album does not stand up to its critics' score. Neither the instrumental nor the vocal tracks have anything to add to an already immense repertoire of this very same kind of music. Total Strife Forever just feels like it's riding the wave failing to deliver something not only not original, but also not beautiful.… Full Review »
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