Walking On A Dream
by Empire of the Sun
  • Record Label: Virgin
  • Release Date: Apr 21, 2009
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 50
  3. Negative: 6 out of 50

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  1. BranchR
    Apr 24, 2009
    5
    Their voices are horrible, and the intro to their single is piss poor. 'walking on a dream / how can i explain?' The singer spits it into the microphone. The visuals both on the cover and the music video are melodramatic. Although the costumes are GREAT, they do not justify the lack of talent shown here. After the intro, the song does get better, but why should some one have to Their voices are horrible, and the intro to their single is piss poor. 'walking on a dream / how can i explain?' The singer spits it into the microphone. The visuals both on the cover and the music video are melodramatic. Although the costumes are GREAT, they do not justify the lack of talent shown here. After the intro, the song does get better, but why should some one have to ignore one part of the song? The whole piece is their vision, and the vision of empire of the sun...is not that great.… Expand
  2. PD1769
    Nov 7, 2010
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Walking On A Dream starts off with a great formula: warm and dreamy Human League-style synths, some acoustic guitar strumming, mellow dance grooves and falsetto-laden choruses. Of the front-loaded tracks, "Half Mast" and "We Are The People" are like lost pop classics circa 1983, the former would be a great fit in a John Hughes flick. But after the first four tracks, it veers into the most god-awful melange of stiff, uninspired dreck that loses touch with the appeal of the synth-pop structure at the top of the track list. Most of it is nightmarish, overproduced, pretentious and outright silly, like a collection of MGMT b-sides recorded in a giant helium tank. Your best bet is to score tracks 1-4 on iTunes or Rhapsody and skip the rest.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Shared Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. BBC Music
    Dec 13, 2011
    80
    This is the sound of the Noughties – electro enough without being harsh, interesting without being over-cool, quirky without being weird. Empire Of The Sun have cracked the perfect blend of fond reflection and sexy new frontier frisson. If this is what the future sounds like, then it's going to be beautiful.
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  2. Sputnikmusic
    Dec 13, 2011
    60
    When they are on, they are very good, as their relaxing – yet strangely dance-worthy – grooves seem almost effortless. Yet, way too often, the duo simply bite off more than they can chew, meaning that when they are off, a 2nd listen almost seems like a chore.
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  3. The Quietus
    Dec 13, 2011
    60
    Is Walking On A Dream the sound of things to come then? Clearly not. Empire Of The Sun's grand ambitions are certainly worth applauding, but unfortunately they amount to nothing more than a cold and pale facsimile of the superior conquests of others who have trod these lands before.
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