A Moon Shaped Pool
by Radiohead
  • Record Label: XL
  • Release Date: May 8, 2016
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 1525 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,393 out of 1525
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 1525
  3. Negative: 91 out of 1525
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  1. answers2no1
    Jun 24, 2016
    4
    I'm a massive radiohead fan, and I always have been. I gotta be honest, though: this album does nothing for me... and it's not because I lack the sophistication to appreciate the ambiance, layering, subtlety, and textural aspects. Those elements are there, and I dig it…but there is precious little else to applaud. It's a wandering piece, with no statement, emphasis, drama, or any of theI'm a massive radiohead fan, and I always have been. I gotta be honest, though: this album does nothing for me... and it's not because I lack the sophistication to appreciate the ambiance, layering, subtlety, and textural aspects. Those elements are there, and I dig it…but there is precious little else to applaud. It's a wandering piece, with no statement, emphasis, drama, or any of the brilliance that made us fall in love with Radiohead years ago. The band has given us lots of indirect music, and other wandering albums before, but this one lacks passion. It sounds like previously discarded tracks were re-worked out of pity.,,and then a huge knob twisting studio session gave them just enough of an artsy feel so the non-critical fans would eat it up. It comes off too formulaic, but it seems to have worked. I guess if I'm convinced, or desperate enough, I could fall in love with a railroad tie- and I think that's what some (not all) of the fans are doing. They're gonna pile on and praise anything the band does as high art- even a trip to the loo. Look at the Atoms for Peace tour. Yorke was having a blast, and the music was great. Where did all that energy go? I was expecting something more. Those who are loving this one would be better served listening to their neighbor's TV with the tone backed off. Subtlety and mood music is ubiquitous. This sounds like the Johnny Greenwood exit music band.… Expand
  2. BKM
    May 26, 2016
    5
    The most disappointing quality of Radiohead's latest album is how boring the whole thing is. This band has had many superlatives applied to them over their career, but dull has never been one. The opening track, Burn the Witch, sets the bar high for what is to follow. But after that song ends, the rest of the material is slow and lifeless. Radiohead have reached the point where theyThe most disappointing quality of Radiohead's latest album is how boring the whole thing is. This band has had many superlatives applied to them over their career, but dull has never been one. The opening track, Burn the Witch, sets the bar high for what is to follow. But after that song ends, the rest of the material is slow and lifeless. Radiohead have reached the point where they can no longer get by on their name alone. They need a jolt of creative infusion.… Expand
  3. Rob1986
    May 9, 2016
    6
    It's slow, it lacks the rushes of emotion that are present on the great radiohead albums. There is some subtlety that might allow it to grow on you, but this album and TKOL make me think that the run of great Radiohead albums is over. People change over time which means a bands chemistry also has to change. I'm still hoping for another great album sometime in the future, but it didn'tIt's slow, it lacks the rushes of emotion that are present on the great radiohead albums. There is some subtlety that might allow it to grow on you, but this album and TKOL make me think that the run of great Radiohead albums is over. People change over time which means a bands chemistry also has to change. I'm still hoping for another great album sometime in the future, but it didn't happen this time.… Expand
  4. revillo
    May 17, 2016
    5
    New Radiohead is languishing and sentimental. I still dig the drummer in this band, but man the orchestrations are so moody you'd think they were ripped from the soundtrack to some new age Donnie Darko ripoff. Thom Yorke's voice continues it's descent into wispy exhalations even as he attempts to make some "normal" sounding music stealing AM radio hooks on tracks like Decks Dark.New Radiohead is languishing and sentimental. I still dig the drummer in this band, but man the orchestrations are so moody you'd think they were ripped from the soundtrack to some new age Donnie Darko ripoff. Thom Yorke's voice continues it's descent into wispy exhalations even as he attempts to make some "normal" sounding music stealing AM radio hooks on tracks like Decks Dark.

    Overall, it's the sound of a band showing up to work, delivering some fan service, showing no particularly enthusiasm for the process, and calling it a night with half baked ideas. Little orchestral touches here and there add some emotion, but Ful Stop is the only track worth listening to in its entirety.

    In Rainbows was the band's best, largely because it came from a band in a good place, happy to share their art, and not on the precipice of wrist-slitting disaffection / numbness.    … Expand
  5. Felipealonso
    May 8, 2016
    4
    A Jonny Greenwood solo album with Thom Yorke's voice, or a Thom Yorke solo work with Greenwood's arrangements. I think it has both of them, with the three other Radiohead members having very little to contribute to the album. The record is very atmospheric, subtle and does require a proper listening, fully concentrated in the music. But it's just that, layers of layers of sound added toA Jonny Greenwood solo album with Thom Yorke's voice, or a Thom Yorke solo work with Greenwood's arrangements. I think it has both of them, with the three other Radiohead members having very little to contribute to the album. The record is very atmospheric, subtle and does require a proper listening, fully concentrated in the music. But it's just that, layers of layers of sound added to songs that doesn't have a fully developped structure. It even sounds like a post rock album in many parts, with some songs have a little more than a demo development. It doesn't have the challenging quality we're used to when it comes to Radiohead. The most remarkable thing are the amazing orchestral arrangements. It has some good moments, like True Love Waits, Glass Eyes and The Numbers But overall it's boring and it seems to me that Radiohead, as a band, are splitted into a duet plus three other session/ live musicians. 4/10… Expand
  6. maddreya77
    May 10, 2016
    5
    As a long time Radiohead fan, I must say I was very disappointed by this record. The mastering isn't right and the track listing doesn't flow properly. Also, I don't understand why they once again took a popular track that was great as it was (TLW) and distorted it into a sub par darker version. I get the context, but it overall it doesn't work for me.
  7. zjm555
    May 10, 2016
    4
    Full disclosure: OK Computer and The Bends are in my top-10 albums of all time, but I really feel Radiohead hit their creative peak nearly two decades ago and have been phoning it in ever since.

    With that said, this is probably their best work *since* OK Computer, though it seems to be retreading a lot of what they did on In Rainbows. Diehard fans will love it because it's Radiohead,    Full disclosure: OK Computer and The Bends are in my top-10 albums of all time, but I really feel Radiohead hit their creative peak nearly two decades ago and have been phoning it in ever since.

    With that said, this is probably their best work *since* OK Computer, though it seems to be retreading a lot of what they did on In Rainbows. Diehard fans will love it because it's Radiohead, but those looking for something truly ground-breaking will probably be disappointed, or, like me, actually bored before the end of the album.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best Album of 2016
8
#8 Most Discussed Album of 2016
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 43
  3. Negative: 0 out of 43
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Aug 11, 2016
    89
    Gone are any remnants of yesteryear's "rock music" ideology, thrusting Radiohead into a mature state of potentially their best work still to come.
    Read full review
  2. Magnet
    Aug 9, 2016
    90
    This is Radiohead's deepest, darkest pool of devotion and doubt in a career marked by almost nothing but. [No. 133, p.51]
  3. Uncut
    Jun 21, 2016
    90
    There's a lighter, more hopeful bent to the musical settings, which perfectly balance the more dissonant leanings of The King Of Limbs with a sumptuousness and gentleness they've rarely sought since OK Computer. [Aug 2016, p.81]
See all critic reviews »