Total Strife Forever
by East India Youth
  • Record Label: Stolen
  • Release Date: Jan 13, 2014
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
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  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 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 beTotal 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    … Expand
  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 of those albums you have to listen to a couple times.
  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 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.
  4. davidwave4
    Apr 16, 2014
    7
    William Doyle, aka East India Youth, shows a lot of promise on this record, but the tracks themselves seem to meander without purpose. Many people, when talking about East India Youth, evoke names like James Blake or Zomby. But these two artists serve more as representations of what "Total Strife Forever" lacks moreso than any kind of logical musical predecessor. Both of the aforementionedWilliam Doyle, aka East India Youth, shows a lot of promise on this record, but the tracks themselves seem to meander without purpose. Many people, when talking about East India Youth, evoke names like James Blake or Zomby. But these two artists serve more as representations of what "Total Strife Forever" lacks moreso than any kind of logical musical predecessor. Both of the aforementioned artists have an eye for brevity, either in song structure or in lyricism. Both know when a loop's looped too much or when a nice synth riff can evolve to something greater. Unfortunately for Doyle, this sense doesn't appear to be present on this album. The best parts of the album, the parts where Doyle opens his mouth, are the shortest, while unevolving synths and drum patterns are allowed to sit for minutes on end unfettered. Songs like "Hinterland" give their best shots at meaningful trance/synth pop, but ultimately collapse in on their own repetition. If Doyle were to let his tracks breath, or at least comfortably inhabit this grief-stricken world he's evoking, his music would be quite extraordinary. Doyle has the production chops to make something great, but he just hasn't mastered the sequencing/compositional element.… Expand
  5. Vandole
    Feb 23, 2014
    7
    i guess is has a good half-life period because of it´s deep structure in some parts it´s not easy-listening. the sound is quite organic which is a plus too.
  6. WolfLambert
    Jun 16, 2015
    10
    Best album of 2014. Quite needless to say anything more. From experimental pop over ambient to acid techno, this album has everything, and does it right, too.

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Best Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. No Ripcord
    Feb 5, 2014
    70
    While William Doyle’s career is undoubtedly on an upward trajectory and I am looking forward to his evolution as an artist, Total Strife Forever is hardly a landmark in electronic music.
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  2. Under The Radar
    Jan 30, 2014
    85
    It's a rare album in this genre that blends relaxation with excitement so perfectly, that stays cool without ever being aloof or dragging.
    Read full review
  3. Q Magazine
    Jan 28, 2014
    80
    When it swells and soars, it doesn't just work. It werks. [Feb 2014, p.115]
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