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Underneath the Pine
by
Underneath the Pine Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 37 Ratings

  • Summary: With upbeat, experimental pop songs and psychedelic synthesizer sounds, this duo defines their music under the genre of chillwave.
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Divina
INSTRUMENTAL... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Okayplayer
    Mar 18, 2011
    89
    This record a solid improvement over the excellent Causers Of This, and I am excited for his continued growth as an artist.
  2. CMJ
    Mar 8, 2011
    80
    The rest of the album holds up to the single's brilliance, as Bundick traverses quite a few genres-from his trademark chillwave, to acoustic dream-pop ("Before I'm Done") and severe piano-led ballads ("Good Hold").
  3. Clash Music
    Feb 22, 2011
    80
    A shift away from the sampling of his debut, Underneath The Pine keeps things sweet and traditional, leaving you lazily grinning from ear to ear.
  4. Under The Radar
    Mar 23, 2011
    80
    This album seemingly floats on a pool of nostalgia, pop culture references momentarily bursting to the surface before slowly sinking back into its blue depths. [Feb. 2011, p. 69]
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  5. cokemachineglow
    Jun 6, 2011
    77
    You can get long way into Underneath the Pine without gaining any clear impression of exactly what kind of record it is that you're listening to. But amorphous isn't the worst thing in the world to be.
  6. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Feb 28, 2011
    70
    That Toro Y Moi's new record Underneath the Pine is distinctly a product of his songwriting, without sounding exactly like his 2010 debut, suggests that chillwave may still have some legs to it after all.
  7. Slant Magazine
    Feb 18, 2011
    50
    Despite the oversaturated warmth of Beneath the Pine's production, this is a cold record, an archetype of technical mastery and genre-worship prevailing over the artistry of an individual voice. As a result, Bundick often sounds not like one artist, but the amalgamation of a whole movement's worth of ideas and styles, borrowed and rearranged into a faceless, forgettable whole.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. coltron0
    Apr 22, 2011
    10
    This is my favorite album of the year so far. Ridiculously unique and amazing. I've got no idea why it hasn't scored higher. I could listen toThis is my favorite album of the year so far. Ridiculously unique and amazing. I've got no idea why it hasn't scored higher. I could listen to it endlessly.… Collapse
  2. Deadsarow
    Mar 23, 2012
    10
    I've heard Causers of This and enjoyed it thoroughly. Catchy vocals, beautiful music and thought provoking atmospheres. But there's somethingI've heard Causers of This and enjoyed it thoroughly. Catchy vocals, beautiful music and thought provoking atmospheres. But there's something about Underneath the Pine that feels... Classic. Never has an album had me repeating it over and over again. Whenever New Beat come on, I can't help but get into it; bobbing my head in the car, really feeling the music. Chaz Bundick has become one of my favorite musicians of all time. This album is funky, melodic, beautiful, calm, sad.... AMAZING.… Expand
  4. altInterstate
    Feb 28, 2011
    9
    "Bundick strove to improve (in my opinion) on his first release by replacing much of the synth-pop and drum machines with a much wider array"Bundick strove to improve (in my opinion) on his first release by replacing much of the synth-pop and drum machines with a much wider array of instruments and an actual drum kit. The result is a richer, more musically diverse album that elevates Bundick out of the 'chillwave' genre to another level as a songwriter and arranger." For my full review see: http://www.altinterstate.com/2011/02/album-review-toro-y-moi-underneath-pine.html… Expand
  5. hydrawithears
    Oct 3, 2011
    8
    Toro Y Moi surpasses expectations as he comes back with even better no. 2. Itâ
  6. djmadi
    Nov 4, 2011
    8
    Another great work confirmed by his Live performance..Dreamy and groovy, Bundick has realised an album that raises in beauty each time youAnother great work confirmed by his Live performance..Dreamy and groovy, Bundick has realised an album that raises in beauty each time you listen to it… Expand
  7. usherd369
    Feb 26, 2014
    8
    Dropping synth restructurings for live arrangements allow for Toro Y Moi to grow as an artist immensely on this work, but that exchange couldDropping synth restructurings for live arrangements allow for Toro Y Moi to grow as an artist immensely on this work, but that exchange could have been avoided with a more impressive mashing of the two. There is something pleasantly - almost welcoming - haunting about moments in Underneath The Pine. The content in the songs have more emotionally depth than in his previous album, but the album also makes the listener wonder whether or not Chaz has the LP structure all figured it out, or still toying with ideas.… Expand