Young Prayer
by Panda Bear
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    90
    Armed mainly with just his guitar and voice, Panda Bear creates some of the most longing and heart-rending songs you'll ever hear.
  2. Stylus Magazine
    90
    What results is an achingly brutal intensity given to each broken phrase, scream and sigh.
  3. Pitchfork
    85
    It's the kind of record that will have a profound impact on a small number of people, be ridiculed by many more, and never be heard at all by almost everybody.
  5. Playlouder
    80
    'Young Prayer' is a piece of work that feels both mysterious and honest; a truly rare combination.
  6. Junkmedia
    80
    Far less lucid than his past work, even by Animal Collective standards, all nine untitled compositions reflect a man whose soul is adrift.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    An underground delight. [13 Nov 2004, p.57]
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  8. cokemachineglow
    77
    The album manages to achieve that perfect pop effect: the ability to deal with enormously sad and personal subjects within the medium of happy, upbeat music.
  9. Almost Cool
    73
    If you're a fan of work by the Animal Collective, you'll probably want to check this out, but keep in mind that you'll need a little patience.
  10. Dusted Magazine
    70
    The initial pleasure of past Animal Collective albums is missing, but that may be the point. Panda Bear's grasp of the sublime makes this disc more than worth checking out.
  11. PopMatters
    70
    As much a personal meditation as Sung Tongs is a social celebration.
  12. The Wire
    70
    Think of Young Prayer as the demos deemed too spectral, too elusive, to be revisited for [Brian] Wilson's new take on Smile. [#249, p.61]
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  13. Splendid
    70
    Young Prayer is a visceral religious experience, its lyrics forsaken in favor of mantras that are more chanted than sung.
  14. AllMusic
    70
    A restrained lamentation, a controlled elegiac mediation on the death of a loved one.
  15. Uncut
    60
    Weirdly affecting. [Dec 2004, p.151]
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  16. Under The Radar
    40
    Rather than being a well-planned effort, the record is perhaps a means of casual, off-the-cuff catharsis for the artist. [#8, p.116]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. mattp
    Jun 4, 2005
    10
    one of the most amazing albums to listen to alone listen to the way his voice just pour out of him, like it's being channeled. at times one of the most amazing albums to listen to alone listen to the way his voice just pour out of him, like it's being channeled. at times playful, and spooky, it always reminds me of old antiques, beautiful and.. um, yes i'm high why do you ask?… Full Review »
  2. MJ88
    May 1, 2007
    9
    Great stuff. So amazingly heartfelt... it's a must-listen.
  3. clppngfan
    Aug 4, 2014
    4
    Nowhere near as good as Person Pitch or Tomboy, but still has a few somewhat decent qualities going for it. Panda Bear is at his best whenNowhere near as good as Person Pitch or Tomboy, but still has a few somewhat decent qualities going for it. Panda Bear is at his best when he's experimenting, and this just isn't that much of a risk.… Full Review »
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