What a Pleasure
by Beach Fossils
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Mar 15, 2011
    48
    while the 7 or so songs on What A Pleasure have different names, it never really feels like anything ends or begins. It just kind of is, much in the same way that after listening to Beach Fossils, you know something happened but you can't remember why it did so or what it meant.
  2. cokemachineglow
    Mar 15, 2011
    65
    While their debut showed a lot of promise, Beach Fossils still haven't really set themselves apart from every other band practicing the same pleasant murmurs of personality.
  3. Consequence
    Mar 15, 2011
    60
    Overall, What a Pleasure is essentially the Beach Fossils sound with the fuzz and some of the reverb stripped away. As expected from a transitional release, it's not a drastic shift, nor is it any better or worse, but it changes things just enough to keep the EP from being overly familiar.
  5. Dusted Magazine
    Apr 27, 2011
    70
    What A Pleasure drips with what so many second-outings lack: promise. If this EP is an indicator, what comes next from these dudes will merit anticipation.
  6. Pitchfork
    Mar 15, 2011
    72
    It'll be interesting to see where Beach Fossils go from here, because What a Pleasure is the type of release that shows they're talented, but still have a little work to do fully capitalize on it.
  7. PopMatters
    Apr 5, 2011
    60
    Now, that's not to say that this process is completely cynical, or that What a Pleasure isn't, well, pleasurable. The problem is that the nostalgia it evokes doesn't seem to be a by-product of an aesthetic objective, but a goal in and of itself.
  8. The Boston Phoenix
    Mar 15, 2011
    63
    This Pleasure is known, but in the end it overstays its welcome.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. gabrielfobia
    Sep 11, 2016
    10
    It is probably their best work for me, it really establishes their sound and how they produce music. In this industry, if you wanna keepIt is probably their best work for me, it really establishes their sound and how they produce music. In this industry, if you wanna keep rocking you got to be innovative and this is certainly why this album should get a 10.… Full Review »
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