Cows on Hourglass Pond
by Avey Tare
  • Record Label: Domino
  • Release Date: Mar 22, 2019
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
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  1. AllMusic
    Mar 21, 2019
    90
    Cows on Hourglass Pond is an uncluttered and beautifully direct reading of Portner's always-opaque songwriting. The best tracks are among his strongest and the entire record finds Portner opening up the gates of noise and abstraction that can cloud his productions just enough for listeners to get a better look at his mysterious but friendly world as it evolves.
  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Mar 21, 2019
    85
    Tight melodic fare is coupled with less conventional overtones, interlacing with each other in an alchemical fashion that proves both breezy and combustible; a hypnotic tension that continues to reward on repeated playback.
  3. Consequence
    Mar 21, 2019
    83
    The resulting music ranks among Avey Tare’s strongest work of the ’10s, whether alone or with Animal Collective, and should be required listening for any old Millennial scared of turning 40 but even more scared of the alternative.
  5. Drowned In Sound
    Apr 1, 2019
    80
    Despite a miss or two, with Cows On Hourglass Pond Tare will likely appease even the most weary AnCo audiences, stringing together an album that is sonically ornate, scintillating, and poetically metaphysical.
  6. DIY Magazine
    Mar 22, 2019
    80
    Frequently unintelligible, and downright bizarre lyrics only serve to add to the personality of his genre-bending music. Ultimately, Cows On Hourglass Pond is a new kind of psych-folk that Avey Tare can proudly call his own.
  7. Uncut
    Mar 21, 2019
    80
    It's a work of elegant simplicity--a suite of wistful and slightly breathless songs set to dreamy tropical guitar and muted lo-fi beats. [May 2019, p.23]
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  8. Under The Radar
    Mar 27, 2019
    75
    The angst is more measured and the acceptance of difficult motions in the growth of relationships cuts through like a wise fable from an experienced elder, ambiguous and directly applicable in equal measure.
  9. Pitchfork
    Mar 27, 2019
    70
    Whether yelping or mumbling, Avey Tare occasionally gets stuck on autopilot, but here he sounds like he’s trying out new things and, crucially, having fun.
  10. Exclaim
    Mar 26, 2019
    70
    Fans of Animal Collective, Avey Tare and the psychedelic sound they are so strongly identified with will find much to enjoy here. On the other hand, Avey Tare cannot be said to be pushing boundaries or taking many risks here, other than on final track "HORS_," which shows hints of newer experiments into electronic music that could be developed further in the future.
  11. The 405
    Apr 1, 2019
    60
    Hourglass Pond is an off-balance album. If you played the album to someone who didn’t know Tare had a new album, it would be very unclear where it belongs in his discography.

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Most Shared Album of 2019

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 31
  3. Negative: 2 out of 31
  1. meninjamatt
    Mar 22, 2019
    8
    I don't know much about Avey's solo work but this record is very mellow. It's a good record, just not what I expected from the lead singer ofI don't know much about Avey's solo work but this record is very mellow. It's a good record, just not what I expected from the lead singer of Animal Collective. Highlight would be K.C. Yours. Good to hear a little aggressive vocals in a song even if it's just a minor segment. We need more of that in future records whether it's with the collective or more solo work.… Full Review »
  2. hzy0421
    May 13, 2019
    6
    Way better than last year's group effort which was finished through some drone sound generator.
  3. SusanMarie
    Mar 31, 2019
    10
    Atmospheric and dream-like, wistful and wonderful. Opener "What's the Goodside?" seemingly reaches into the primeval core of both Avey andAtmospheric and dream-like, wistful and wonderful. Opener "What's the Goodside?" seemingly reaches into the primeval core of both Avey and humanity itself, questioning where he/we are as "we're getting old now." Haunting, yet ultimately with a message of positivity - catch your sunsets, people. "Saturdays (Again)" is extraordinarily accessible for an Avey composition - joyful, light-hearted - danceable even - yet still possessing quite an atmospheric depth. "K.C. Yours" is a harsh and scary look at the future in terms of our dependence on robots/technology, yet Avey still manages to make it beautiful, and danceable. My personal favorite, "Remember Mayan", is so beautiful it makes me cry. Only Avey could produce an aural media so compelling one feels as though they've just watched "Apocalypto". Avey's voice has never been more likable imho - harsh when it needs to be, but more often gentle, lilting and lifting. Instrumentally, my favorite part of this album is its strong bass lines. We are transported thematically from ancient human past, to growth and maturity, to the unknown and possibly dystopian future. Overall, this is a truly fantastic production in every way, and arguably Avey's best work to date. Bravo, Mr. Tare.… Full Review »
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