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10,000 Hz Legend Image
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 29 Ratings

  • Summary: The French indie-electronica band made waves with their 1998 debut 'Moon Safari,' but since then their only release has been the motion picture score to Sofia Coppola's "The Virgin Suicides." The wait for their true sophomore album is over with the release of '10,000 Hz Legend,' whichThe French indie-electronica band made waves with their 1998 debut 'Moon Safari,' but since then their only release has been the motion picture score to Sofia Coppola's "The Virgin Suicides." The wait for their true sophomore album is over with the release of '10,000 Hz Legend,' which includes guest vocal contributions from Beck and Buffalo Daughter. Expand

Top Track

Sex Born Poison
Shoot, use your gun of life I'm not afraid to die In your arms Shoot, use your gun of life Keep on watching me Poison me 目覚めさす... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 22
  2. Negative: 2 out of 22
  1. '10,000Hz Legend' is nothing like 'Moon Safari', then again it doesn't really bear a resemblance to much. Instead, it's a glowing, highly ambitious, quasi-concept album that sees Air spiralling off on a wildly idiosyncratic and brilliantly insane tangent all of their own.
  2. Alternative Press
    80
    The good news is that in their quest not to make fly-away pop, Air have unearthed a bizarre and dark sense of humor that allows them to subvert and celebrate their new gloomier chops. [Jul 2001, p.59]
  3. Mixer
    80
    Maybe the stint scoring music for the acclaimed film The Virgin Suicides helped them segue their too-atmospheric-for-the-room lingerings into something more tangible. [May 2001, p.76]
  4. The resulting mélange doesn’t always work, but the songs on 10,000HZ Legend still succeed often enough to override the record’s occasional shortcomings.
  5. Apart from the slow-burning, spine-tingling opener Electronic Performers, though, the duo seem reluctant to exploit their remarkable gift for melody, and tunes are too often mangled or left to fizzle out.
  6. Uncompromising and wildly unpredictable, but only intermittently entertaining.
  7. By trying to offer something for everyone, the mostly dull 10,000 Hz Legend has little to offer anyone.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. DavidP.
    Jun 18, 2001
    10
    Exactly the type of album I've had in my head since I began listening to music, and finally someone has made this imagination become a Exactly the type of album I've had in my head since I began listening to music, and finally someone has made this imagination become a reality. The music is new and exciting upon first listen, and becomes all the more sedating and addictive upon every listen. I can think of only a few other times I have been so exciting with a release, and I'd have to rank this one with Beck's "Odelay" and Radiohead's "OK Computer". Definitely "headphone" rock at its very best, mixing every different genre and culture possible into a cohesive work that makes much more sense every listen. I do not expect people to share these tastes, but this release is certainly a musical artist's dream. Expand
  2. Jan 19, 2018
    10
    Experiental, eletronic and stunning. This album is the best, and remember a good time together with my girlfriend in a beach. Amazing, piece of art.
  3. JamesL.
    Aug 28, 2001
    10
    10,000 Legend is one of the best CD's I've heard in years!Progressive Rock in disquise.Continues Virgin Sucides and more.I like 10,000 Legend is one of the best CD's I've heard in years!Progressive Rock in disquise.Continues Virgin Sucides and more.I like their darker side better than their pop/dance side.You can have Sexy Boy and Radio 1!Floyd 2001!Hope their next CD is in the same vein.Sex Born Poison Yeah!! Expand
  4. Alex
    Oct 19, 2007
    10
    Every song on this album absolutely sings to me. I first got hooked by "How Does It Make You Feel", but quickly found the rest of the album Every song on this album absolutely sings to me. I first got hooked by "How Does It Make You Feel", but quickly found the rest of the album to be just as redeeming. 10,000 Hz Legend is one of those rare albums that you can just play from start to finish and lose yourself. As much as I love Moon Safari and Pocket Symphony, this is undoubtedly my favourite. Expand
  5. Apr 20, 2017
    10
    One of the best Electronic albums of the 2000s, from the jaw dropping beginning of Electronic Performer to the soothing Caramel Prisoner, thisOne of the best Electronic albums of the 2000s, from the jaw dropping beginning of Electronic Performer to the soothing Caramel Prisoner, this album has got it all. Expand
  6. Ri
    Apr 16, 2004
    8
    I love the band and I own their previous works. Though I feel it's very important to present something new (rather than just simply I love the band and I own their previous works. Though I feel it's very important to present something new (rather than just simply repeat the formula of great albums such as moon safari), I think that 10,000 hrtz legend lost that french vibe that have Air's records an experience from the outter space. Radio#1, Don't be light and The Vagabond sound like 'northamerican taste' tracks, very commercial, and in some ways, empty. The rest of the album is soft and dark, lonely, romantic and sincere; the perfect follow-up of the Virgin Suicides sdtk. Expand
  7. Wander
    Nov 5, 2005
    6
    Disappointing follow-up to the classic 'Moon safari'. Talkie walkie, the successor, is also way better. The first three songs are Disappointing follow-up to the classic 'Moon safari'. Talkie walkie, the successor, is also way better. The first three songs are great, air-standard, build up tension and give the band a new, heavier, direction. Most of the following songs are pretty directionless and miss the magic of the other albums. Still, surely not a bad album. Expand

See all 10 User Reviews