Another Eternity
by Purity Ring
  • Record Label: 4AD
  • Release Date: Mar 3, 2015
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 82 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 63 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 82
  3. Negative: 4 out of 82
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  1. asjklasjklas
    Sep 16, 2015
    7
    Purity Ring are apparently aiming at more mainstream styles of pop music nowadays and it’s a so-and-so effort—Shrines felt fresh due to the claustrophobic, equally eerie and endearing nature of the tracks that transpired into a sound numerous artists soon began to emulate. The contrary inhabits another eternity, an album largely influenced by everything else, even its own predecessor toPurity Ring are apparently aiming at more mainstream styles of pop music nowadays and it’s a so-and-so effort—Shrines felt fresh due to the claustrophobic, equally eerie and endearing nature of the tracks that transpired into a sound numerous artists soon began to emulate. The contrary inhabits another eternity, an album largely influenced by everything else, even its own predecessor to certain extents. A contemporary pop sheen can be found covering everything from the hook-laden choruses (“I, I, I lied, now I’m wide awake/I, I, I cried till my body ache”) to Corin Roddick’s heavy use of trap and trance tropes to create catchy, but quite commonly heard electronic soundscapes. Luckily, Megan James’ voice is still her softest, sweetest musical advisory; her songwriting, albeit much more suggestive nowadays (“Get inside and pull on my sea/Get inside and build your castle into me”), remains poetic, but has a penchant for ‘repetition’, most notably James’ fascination with her innards and inserting a special somebody into them, figuratively and… literally? Elsewhere, it just doesn’t get any quirkier than an accidental—maybe?—shout-out to Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” on “stranger than earth”. It’s nowhere near bad, but Purity Ring are too talented to be just ‘good’. And that’s what another eternity is, just good.

    Overall rating: 7.0    … Expand
  2. MirrorPhase
    Sep 29, 2016
    10
    'Another Eternity' consolidates the significant potential evident in Purity Ring's first album 'Shrines.' Many critics have argued the band has lost some of its alternative appeal with a cleaner, tighter and bigger sound. The general consensus seems to be that the duo is pushing toward the mainstream (code for 'selling out' perhaps). It could equally be argued, however, that Purity Ring's'Another Eternity' consolidates the significant potential evident in Purity Ring's first album 'Shrines.' Many critics have argued the band has lost some of its alternative appeal with a cleaner, tighter and bigger sound. The general consensus seems to be that the duo is pushing toward the mainstream (code for 'selling out' perhaps). It could equally be argued, however, that Purity Ring's modus operandi on 'Another Eternity' is actually the exploitation of top 40 sounds and production standards to create something that is disconcertingly close to the mainstream even as it unsettles the latter's familiarity/banality. And this may be more powerfully 'alternative' than the band's use of more traditional techniques (read identity-markers) of indie music on their earlier work. Most notably the reverb-drenched vocals and warped/off-pitch keyboard melodies canonised by pioneers like Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine have been replaced with up-front pop-style vocal production and tight EDM basses and riffs, but the end result feels oddly displaced from the mainstream, even as it invites comparisons to MTV mainstays Katy Perry or Lil Wayne. It recalls the artistic strategy of re-framing the TV soapie employed so powerfully by auteur director David Lynch during his Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet era. 'Another Eternity' is decidedly dark, and reminded me of my first encounters with Massive Attack's Mezzanine. It also feels as significant a moment for electronic music as the release of that late 90s masterpiece. I should add, however, that Another Eternity does not fall foul of being a purely self-reflexive or academic exercise in musical post-modernism. Its astute appropriation and re-framing of pop creates a visceral masterpiece, with some of the most powerful songs I have heard for some time. It is also notable for its sheer consistency of quality. While the music industry norm is 3 or maybe 4 stand-out tracks on a major album release, with the remainder being fillers, nearly every track on this album shines. May this release auger still greater things to come.… Expand
  3. longjetty7
    Mar 5, 2015
    9
    What originally drew me to Purity Ring was the ethereal sound and intricate textures on their first album, Shrines. Another Eternity is still recognizable as the same band, but it's a bit of a departure as well. On this album, Purity Ring is stepping out of the ghostly shadows and embracing a somewhat more mainstream electropop sound. The songs are a lot more melodic and catchy this timeWhat originally drew me to Purity Ring was the ethereal sound and intricate textures on their first album, Shrines. Another Eternity is still recognizable as the same band, but it's a bit of a departure as well. On this album, Purity Ring is stepping out of the ghostly shadows and embracing a somewhat more mainstream electropop sound. The songs are a lot more melodic and catchy this time around, and they're actually distinguishable from each other! (I've listened to Shrines many times and still have a hard time remembering which song is which.) Even though Another Eternity may not be as innovative as Shrines, I think it's overall a stronger album. The songwriting is varied, confident, and consistent, and since the album is somewhat short, it makes me want to play it again when it's over.… Expand
  4. Dennonyx
    Mar 3, 2015
    8
    A good collection of songs with an electronic but light flavor, sounding alienating and futuristic at the same time, but definitely not overproduced. It seems like the singer and the producer are a sort of twins synchronously expressed in their tracks, the one with the music and the other with the voice.
    This record is pretty unique, maybe it could remind the last album by Yelle but it    A good collection of songs with an electronic but light flavor, sounding alienating and futuristic at the same time, but definitely not overproduced. It seems like the singer and the producer are a sort of twins synchronously expressed in their tracks, the one with the music and the other with the voice.
    This record is pretty unique, maybe it could remind the last album by Yelle but it definitely sounds more ethereal and refined than Completement Fou. Maybe also too much.    … Expand
  5. brettrosey
    Mar 4, 2015
    2
    As a huge Purity Ring fan, I came into this record with some of the highest expectations. To say that they let me down is the understatement of the year. To me, this record is the epitome of a superficial electro pop album that barely scrapes past the surface. Every melody, every hook falls short to the point where I have to genuinely wonder what outside help they received on Shrines thatAs a huge Purity Ring fan, I came into this record with some of the highest expectations. To say that they let me down is the understatement of the year. To me, this record is the epitome of a superficial electro pop album that barely scrapes past the surface. Every melody, every hook falls short to the point where I have to genuinely wonder what outside help they received on Shrines that they didn't get here. If this were merely a case of label deadline issues and they put this out a year after Shrines I'd cut them some slack. But this is the result of 3-4 years of effort. Tracks like "Repetition" and "Flood on the Floor" are ones that I would be genuinely embarrassed to put my name by. To me, another eternity is more than just a sophomore slump, it's the beginning of the end for the band that originally inspired me to become a music producer. I am still hopeful they turn it all around with their next effort, but I can't say I have much faith after hearing another eternity.… Expand
  6. quotes
    Apr 4, 2015
    6
    I have never heard about Purity Ring until I listened to this album, so I didn't put any expectations on it and I am really glad of it. Another Eternity is good and repetitive at the same time, all the songs look equal for me. I don't know if I don't get this yet and may be wrong or I can be right about the disc, but I'm sure that is not what I had thought before to listen it.
  7. GenuineOpinion
    Mar 23, 2016
    8
    I like this album, on the whole, much more than the previous album. Compared to the last album, it's much less heavy handed. Some people might like that. I certainly like it.
  8. nobodyknowsme
    Feb 2, 2016
    6
    This album is a huge disappointment for Purity Ring.Their debut "Shrines" was amazing and I thought they will do better for their sophomore album.But like every band or solo artist they failed on their sophomore album.I'm not saying it's a bad album or something.I'm just saying it's not satisfying comparing to "Shrines".Tracks like "heartsigh","bodyache","push pull","stranger than earth"This album is a huge disappointment for Purity Ring.Their debut "Shrines" was amazing and I thought they will do better for their sophomore album.But like every band or solo artist they failed on their sophomore album.I'm not saying it's a bad album or something.I'm just saying it's not satisfying comparing to "Shrines".Tracks like "heartsigh","bodyache","push pull","stranger than earth" are pretty decent.Especially "heartsigh" is very good.It opens up this album perfectly.But rest of the tracks are not reflecting this album very well.They sound very strange for Purity Ring not in the good way.This is a very confusing album.It has decent and mediocre songs at the same time.I'm giving this album a 6.
    My fave track:heartsigh
    My least fave track:dust hymn    … Expand
  9. diegonelli
    Dec 19, 2015
    8
    -I met Purity Ring thanks to MTV early this year. ''Push pull'' was on TV and I really liked the song, but I didn't pay attention to them until now, I decided to search their album and I fell in love with it, I love the dream sounds and the quiet of the songs.
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  10. sasuke4477
    Dec 29, 2017
    10
    An incredible album! Way better than Shrines, every song is almost a highlight on here. every hook, every verse and every beat gets stuck in your head and this is what I want for a pop album, Shrines might be more unique but it has nowhere near the same replay value or is as catchy as this one. it will be really hard to top this amazing piece of art.

    Favorite tracks: stranger than    An incredible album! Way better than Shrines, every song is almost a highlight on here. every hook, every verse and every beat gets stuck in your head and this is what I want for a pop album, Shrines might be more unique but it has nowhere near the same replay value or is as catchy as this one. it will be really hard to top this amazing piece of art.

    Favorite tracks: stranger than earth, flood on the floor, the rest of the album
    Least favorites: none    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Mojo
    Mar 19, 2015
    60
    This brittle, torrid world has little light and shade. [Apr 2015, p.89]
  2. musicOMH.com
    Mar 17, 2015
    50
    More often than not you do wish another eternity was a little less slick and had a little more of the oddness and darkness which permeated Shrines in another eternity.
    Read full review
  3. Clash Music
    Mar 13, 2015
    80
    With more revealed in every listen, Another Eternity shows that there's much more to Purity Ring than initially meets the eye.
    Read full review
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