User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Visions Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 394 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth release for the Canadian artist Claire Boucher is her first on the 4AD label.
Buy Now
Buy on
  • Record Label: 4AD
  • Genre(s): Electronic, Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Club/Dance, Indie Electronic, Indie Pop
  • More Details and Credits »

Top Track

Oblivion
I never walk about after dark It's my point of view 'Cause someone could break your neck Coming up behind you Always coming and you'd never have a... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 42
  2. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. Feb 21, 2012
    91
    On her 4AD debut, Visions, she continues her march toward accessibility, rendering hazy, quixotic sketches into tangible, hook-heavy electro-pop.
  2. Feb 8, 2012
    86
    Visions is exactly what it sounds like: it's an aesthetic and conceptual vision, one utterly unique to Boucher, and it's both strange and satisfying.
  3. Feb 16, 2012
    80
    While Visions is unmistakably 2012 sonically in its references to R&B and hip-hop, it also fits remarkably gracefully into 4AD's impressive back catalogue of dream pop.
  4. Feb 21, 2012
    80
    Fresh and surprisingly accessible despite its quirks, Visions is bewitching.
  5. Mar 26, 2012
    80
    Visions is beautifully conceived and executed, musically, lyrically and thematically.
  6. Feb 27, 2012
    70
    When it works, it makes for gloriously contradictory pop--it's just a shame that the formula isn't a little more consistent.
  7. 50
    It's a bummer that Visions ended up as a fever dream of a record: unnecessarily oblique, listlessly long (48 minutes!), and painfully shapeless.

See all 42 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 40
  2. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. May 5, 2012
    10
    Claire's ethereal dream pop music style is setted up in this record, and maximized. Not much alike her last two, this is a pavement to aClaire's ethereal dream pop music style is setted up in this record, and maximized. Not much alike her last two, this is a pavement to a success, and the songs seems to be attached. 'Genesis' and 'Oblivion' sounds like featured stories. 'Circumambient', 'Symphonia IX (My Wait Is U)' and 'Visiting Statue' are the best recordings in this album. It is the year's best until now. Expand
  2. Jun 11, 2015
    10
    Amazing. I liked every song; however, the 1 minute tracks (besides Know The Way) are all skippable.

    Best Tracks: "Genesis" "Oblivion"
    Amazing. I liked every song; however, the 1 minute tracks (besides Know The Way) are all skippable.

    Best Tracks: "Genesis" "Oblivion" "Vowels = Space and Time" "Skin" "Know The Way"
    Worst Tracks: "Eight" "Visiting Statue"
    Expand
  3. Jan 31, 2016
    10
    Grimes is a genius. A DIY mastermind who is simply like no other. Listen to Visions to experience her sheer brilliance and give your auditoryGrimes is a genius. A DIY mastermind who is simply like no other. Listen to Visions to experience her sheer brilliance and give your auditory system an epic treat. Expand
  4. Mar 11, 2012
    10
    What I love about this album (for me, the first great one of 2012) is that even after 25 listens I still feel I don't know it. Visions is easyWhat I love about this album (for me, the first great one of 2012) is that even after 25 listens I still feel I don't know it. Visions is easy to admire, but difficult to engage with - resulting in each listen sounding a little like a new experience. Well it would, except the beats, melodies and somewhat indecipherable vocals insinuate themselves insidiously into your consciousness - making you fall in love. It's gorgeous, weird, futuristic and utterly unclassifiable. Expand
  5. Aug 9, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 9.0
    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
    Expand
  6. Sep 17, 2014
    9
    Ok. I am officially in love with Grimes. I just think that sometimes her voice is kind of annoying, but nothing that spoils the beauty of thisOk. I am officially in love with Grimes. I just think that sometimes her voice is kind of annoying, but nothing that spoils the beauty of this wonderful album. Expand
  7. Jul 5, 2017
    6
    Vision is not a bad album, but feels rushed and unfinished compared to her other works.
    However, the ideas are there, and they are good, it
    Vision is not a bad album, but feels rushed and unfinished compared to her other works.
    However, the ideas are there, and they are good, it just that they aren’t as refined as they should and don’t really make me eager to listen to the full album in one take.
    Being what it is I find this album to be the one which confirms Grimes talent that will be recognized by everyone in Art Angels.
    Expand

See all 40 User Reviews

Related Articles

  1. 2012 Music Critic Top Ten Lists

    2012 Music Critic Top Ten Lists Image
    Published: December 4, 2012
    Over the next two months (as we do every year), we'll collect the individual year-end Top Ten lists published by over 100 major music critics, websites, and other publications. Check back daily, as we'll update the overall standings whenever new lists are published.