While(1<2)
by Deadmau5
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 87 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 73 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 87
  3. Negative: 7 out of 87
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  1. barrykester
    Mar 15, 2015
    9
    This is Joel spreading his wings a little bit more -- diverse, emotive, dynamic, and every bit as endearing. The genres interweave around progressive house and modern classical (but not exclusive). Made for listening in your home because frankly there is more than enough crap house to play in your local night club. God bless electronic musicians (Trentemøller also comes to mind, for someThis is Joel spreading his wings a little bit more -- diverse, emotive, dynamic, and every bit as endearing. The genres interweave around progressive house and modern classical (but not exclusive). Made for listening in your home because frankly there is more than enough crap house to play in your local night club. God bless electronic musicians (Trentemøller also comes to mind, for some reason) that go forth and reinterpret EDM and bend a few genres. Very fun, approachable album for the masses -- should make you smile. :-)… Expand
  2. pepperlimes
    Dec 15, 2014
    7
    After giving this album a few lessons, I can safely settle on believing that this album is pretty... good.

    At times, the album is good. An amazing song or remix comes on, such as Ice Age, but many of these great moments are blocked out by some pretty mediocre sounding songs. While these songs aren't bad, I couldn't tell them apart or even name them if I tried. They're just there in the    After giving this album a few lessons, I can safely settle on believing that this album is pretty... good.

    At times, the album is good. An amazing song or remix comes on, such as Ice Age, but many of these great moments are blocked out by some pretty mediocre sounding songs. While these songs aren't bad, I couldn't tell them apart or even name them if I tried. They're just there in the album, and while they continue the atmosphere of the album they are pretty boring to trek through if you want the whole experience of listening to the entire album at once.

    Overall, mau5 has a pretty interesting album here. Some of these songs make my favorites list, while others could be thrown away easily. 7/10    … Expand
  3. PMGamer
    Jun 24, 2014
    9
    Deadmau5 shows a much deeper side of himself and his power as a songwriter, this album certainly is more experimental and less club friendly but for his true fans it's a great and satisfying album.
  4. jeanmontpas6
    Jan 17, 2015
    10
    Fifteen dollars is given,
    All tracks of this album are works of art !!! I've never heard a better song than Avaritia !!! Continue like this deadmau5.
  5. Gabiggio
    Jun 26, 2014
    9
    Absoltely fantastic album. Here we see deadmau5 abilities in mixing genres and even creating new sounds. I love this deadmau5 and I hope he will eventually release many other tracks.
  6. FailedStunt78
    Jul 25, 2014
    10
    Definitely Deadmau5's best effort yet. This is the first deadmau5 album that actually feels like an album and not just a compilation of songs, and you can really see that in the 2nd disc.
    The highs are:
    Disc 1 Avaritia, My Pet Coelacanth. Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer, Somewhere Up Here, Phantoms Can't Hang, and Gula Disc 2 Acedia, Errors in My Bread, Rlyehs Lambet, Mercedes, Bleed,    Definitely Deadmau5's best effort yet. This is the first deadmau5 album that actually feels like an album and not just a compilation of songs, and you can really see that in the 2nd disc.
    The highs are:

    Disc 1
    Avaritia, My Pet Coelacanth. Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer, Somewhere Up Here, Phantoms Can't Hang, and Gula

    Disc 2
    Acedia, Errors in My Bread, Rlyehs Lambet, Mercedes, Bleed, Monday, Pets, and Seeya

    My least favorite is creep, and its probably because i haven't listened to it that much or I just like the other ones more. But regardless, amazing album. Congrats Joel. Don't have your opinion based on a score or critics opinion. Have your own.
    ,    … Expand
  7. experone6
    Jan 17, 2015
    10
    Best album ever. I can't stop listen to it. Thanks Joel for making good music. I presently listen to My Pet Coelacanth and that's awesome ! I can't understand how people can dislike this album. Ignore all the haters, that's AMAZING !!!
  8. DownByTheRiver
    Jun 24, 2014
    7
    I'm glad that Deadmau5 followed up from a fairly mediocre effort with Album Title Goes Here, to a pretty decent album. For the most part this is a solid album with some great mixes in this behemoth of an album. This also includes a couple of remixes one much better than the other unfortunately. For the most part it it's a pretty good album yet there are some problems with it. There is aI'm glad that Deadmau5 followed up from a fairly mediocre effort with Album Title Goes Here, to a pretty decent album. For the most part this is a solid album with some great mixes in this behemoth of an album. This also includes a couple of remixes one much better than the other unfortunately. For the most part it it's a pretty good album yet there are some problems with it. There is a lot of filler in this like just some interludes that are just unnecessary. A couple of songs aren't that great and the nine inch nails song he remixed wasn't that great. Overall I liked this album. Stand-out song: Pets: I very much like the atmospheric feel of the song.… Expand
  9. redfox_seattle
    Jul 8, 2014
    9
    The double album that Deadmau5 needed to make. As mixed reviews have shown, It's a polarizing album; if you're already a big fan, odds are you will love it. If you're a casual fan and expecting cookie-cutter EDM singles, it's probably not for you. The album nods at The Fragile by NIN as well as Trent Reznor's soundtrack work to great affect, proving that Deadmau5 has aspirations beyondThe double album that Deadmau5 needed to make. As mixed reviews have shown, It's a polarizing album; if you're already a big fan, odds are you will love it. If you're a casual fan and expecting cookie-cutter EDM singles, it's probably not for you. The album nods at The Fragile by NIN as well as Trent Reznor's soundtrack work to great affect, proving that Deadmau5 has aspirations beyond the current electronic scene.

    As a long time fan, this is the album I've been waiting to hear.    … Expand
  10. craftsle
    Jun 24, 2014
    8
    deadmau5 dio un giro a su estilo músical al que estabamos acostumbrados , pero este nuevo album muestra quizas su otro lado de el , ya que la gran parte de el disco es bastante quieta y quizas hasta obscura , claro , tambien sin dejar a un lado los clasicos beats de club , definitivamente como el lo dijo , este es su primer album real , y asi es como suena , como un albúm y no como unadeadmau5 dio un giro a su estilo músical al que estabamos acostumbrados , pero este nuevo album muestra quizas su otro lado de el , ya que la gran parte de el disco es bastante quieta y quizas hasta obscura , claro , tambien sin dejar a un lado los clasicos beats de club , definitivamente como el lo dijo , este es su primer album real , y asi es como suena , como un albúm y no como una simple recopilación.… Expand
  11. Kondiash
    Jun 24, 2014
    9
    Sry for using Polish language, i just can't say everything what i want in Eng.

    Trzeba otwarcie przyznać, że ludzie nastawieni na muzykę do klubów czy dyskotek mocno odbiją się od tego albumu. Pozostali zaś docenią kunszt Deadmau5'a przy fantastycznych połączeniach utworów fortepianowych z mocnymi, elektronicznymi brzmieniami. Z mocniejszych akcentów warto wyróżnić "Avaritia", My pet    Sry for using Polish language, i just can't say everything what i want in Eng.

    Trzeba otwarcie przyznać, że ludzie nastawieni na muzykę do klubów czy dyskotek mocno odbiją się od tego albumu. Pozostali zaś docenią kunszt Deadmau5'a przy fantastycznych połączeniach utworów fortepianowych z mocnymi, elektronicznymi brzmieniami. Z mocniejszych akcentów warto wyróżnić "Avaritia", My pet Coelacanth", "Gula", "Mercedes" i "Pets". Z drugiej strony Joel często spowalnia tempo i pozwala na chwilę zapomnienia przy "Invidia", "Rlyehs Lament" i "Silent Picture". Nowa płyta została fantastycznie skomponowana i jest warta zakupu. Aczkolwiek nie obrażę się, jeśli następny album będzie bardziej "danceflorowy" :)    … Expand
  12. itsjustmebigboy
    Jul 14, 2014
    10
    WOW! Just wow. This album is just amazing. When a readed all the bad things people were saying about this album I wanted to find out if it was all very true, and trust me it wasn't!!

    2 discs are very very good although the first one is a little better. better album yet and **** the hate best songs : disc one : My pet Coelacanth , Phantoms can't hang , Infra turbo pigcart racer    WOW! Just wow. This album is just amazing. When a readed all the bad things people were saying about this album I wanted to find out if it was all very true, and trust me it wasn't!!

    2 discs are very very good although the first one is a little better.

    better album yet and **** the hate

    best songs :

    disc one : My pet Coelacanth , Phantoms can't hang , Infra turbo pigcart racer , Gula , Terrors in my head.

    Disc two: Pets, Petting Zoo , Mercedes , Acedia

    there are few slowbeat chill step that are good as well : Creep, somewhere up here, a moment to myself, rlyehs Lament

    are the worst tracks are : coelacanth (2min of boring beat) , superbia ( feels like an intro, nothing special either) invidia ( another filler that is useless

    althought the disc2 contains a lot of pointless songs, its experimental so thats great at less its not clubbish songs, Deadmau5 as FINALLy done an EPIC LP HERE! mercedes, infra turbo pigcart racer, pets and phantoms cant hang are some of the best songs he ever DID!    … Expand
  13. miccael
    Jun 5, 2016
    10
    Definitive masterpiece by one and only deadmau5, not deadmau five, it is deadmau5 like maus, mouse.
    This guy is a unique example of Anti-EDM producer, someone who cares about music and so makes such an awesome albums.
  14. asjklasjklas
    Aug 10, 2014
    8
    Joel Zimmerman AKA deadmau5 has considerably created his best album to date by virtually doing the same thing he's been for years and years -- seriously, some of these songs originally came out years ago, "Bleed" being one of my most notable favorites. But by inserting in some more ambient influences, '80s synths, melancholy melodies, piano pieces, and Nine Inch Nails-esque glitchy bleepsJoel Zimmerman AKA deadmau5 has considerably created his best album to date by virtually doing the same thing he's been for years and years -- seriously, some of these songs originally came out years ago, "Bleed" being one of my most notable favorites. But by inserting in some more ambient influences, '80s synths, melancholy melodies, piano pieces, and Nine Inch Nails-esque glitchy bleeps and bloops (as well as NIN remix), he fools us into believing we're witnessing some sort of transition since his previous album, >album title goes here… Expand
  15. MarcosPro
    May 2, 2018
    10
    Uno de los mejores albums de joel zimmerman, este mezcla una faceta de canciones que traen consigo el caracteristico estilo mas oscuro de el raton y tambien trae una serie de canciones con varios drops intensos
  16. alecvl08
    Dec 19, 2014
    7
    This album has its great moments, but it occasionally gets lost in its length, spiraling off into the white space of its simple, soft piano pieces. However, it flows in the vein of the Selected Ambient Works albums by Aphex Twin and is worth a listen.
  17. dikkedeur
    May 21, 2015
    9
    I am starting to appreciate other music than music from the ''EDM'' scene (like all songs on spinnin, revealed and wall recordings). Overall it sounds a bit sad (I think it has to do with the breakup with his girlfriend). But this album is just a masterpiece.
  18. jjossie
    Apr 5, 2017
    10
    This is deadmau5's first album. Seriously, he's said himself that this is the first LP he's released that he would call and album, and it shows. There is real cohesiveness here, with tracks like Coelecanth I & II and all the piano pieces that really tie together the album as a work of art. This album has exactly the kind of energetic tracks we've come to expect from deadmau5 in the formThis is deadmau5's first album. Seriously, he's said himself that this is the first LP he's released that he would call and album, and it shows. There is real cohesiveness here, with tracks like Coelecanth I & II and all the piano pieces that really tie together the album as a work of art. This album has exactly the kind of energetic tracks we've come to expect from deadmau5 in the form of Phantoms Can't Hang, Pets, Avaritia, and Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer, yet there is still plenty of sonic exploration going on here in tracks like Creep, Rlyehs Lament, and Monday. This is the first album that truly feels like an artistic expression of Joel Zimmerman's own mind.… Expand
  19. JonasCassel
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    This is one of the most underrated albums I know. It is strange but fascinating. The capital vices of Christianity (aka the seven deadly sins) is the predominant theme throughout the album. Each of the sins is given its respective song, interspersed throughout the album. These songs (Avaritia, Gula, Acedia, Invidia, Superbia, and Ira), are all beautifully composed piano pieces with aThis is one of the most underrated albums I know. It is strange but fascinating. The capital vices of Christianity (aka the seven deadly sins) is the predominant theme throughout the album. Each of the sins is given its respective song, interspersed throughout the album. These songs (Avaritia, Gula, Acedia, Invidia, Superbia, and Ira), are all beautifully composed piano pieces with a melancholic character, suggesting a connection to their respective sin. These songs do indeed invoke feelings of guilt, jadedness, and just plain sadness, but does this in a contemplative and self-aware way. This ties into the Janus-faced nature of the album as a whole. The quiet piano is juxtaposed with a distorted electronic sound. The sound is somewhat violent, almost impatient, and fast-paced. The song "survivalism," a remix of the nine-inch nails song by the same name, is an excellent example of this. The song, I believe, describes an intrinsic drive to consume. The lyrics "Mother nature is a whore," exemplifies this, and I think this is (at least to me), what the central theme of the album is concerning. Consumerism.… Expand
  20. c43l4n
    May 28, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This album is by far Joel's best work. There are driven house tracks on this album with a very dark twist, notably Avaritia and Acedia, which can give serious chills. Other more ambient and glitchy tracks give a very moody vibe that can be happy or sad, notably Silent Picture.… Expand
  21. badmuchachob
    Aug 12, 2022
    8
    I think this album gets a lot of crap for not being yet another house compilation from mau5. But what we got instead was much better. This album is a great balancing act of genres that flows very well. There's a couple weird picks on here (a NiN remix? Really?) but other than that, this is Joel's best album to date.

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Most Discussed Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Q Magazine
    Jul 2, 2014
    60
    Ultimately, while(1<2) is overlong and never quite the cohesive masterpiece it wants to be, but there's tantalising evidence of a smart brain ticking away beneath those big Disney ears. [Aug 2014, p.114]
  2. Consequence
    Jun 23, 2014
    75
    While(1<2) offers a more thorough understanding of the dance music culture than the main stage at Ultra has done over the last six years.
    Read full review
  3. Slant Magazine
    Jun 23, 2014
    40
    Repeating very simple, barely there melodies over spare arrangements and ghostly keys is fine when you're soundtracking a Michael Mann film, but it isn't enough to fill the long gaps between your club-crashers.
    Read full review
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