Every Open Eye
by Chvrches
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 188 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 149 out of 188
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 188
  3. Negative: 15 out of 188
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  1. DenisOliveira
    May 29, 2018
    10
    Powerful and meaningful, CHVRCHES just did another great and big album as usual.
  2. Brandon3D1
    Jan 28, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very good album, they really made an effort to make some incredible songs like: Leave a Treace, Bury it, Keep you on my side among other very good ones.

    In general they did a very good job, it is highly recommended to listen to this album    … Expand
  3. redaktor
    Nov 25, 2016
    9
    Synth-pop is not really my thang, but these Scots are masters of the genre. These well-crafted songs are pure ear candy, with hooks galore. There's not a duff track in the bunch, and the sequencing is perfect, with the highlights spaced. "Clearest Blue" is an absolute eargasm. The album holds up strongly after repeated listens. Just get it.
  4. rebeligado
    Oct 31, 2016
    9
    Our me too surprised, judged by its cover, then I thought it would be a morass of psychedelic alternative album, was much better than expected, production, sound, voice, loved it. from today will watch the band "Chvrches" and their upcoming releases. High Enough To Carry You Over is very Anthem.
  5. gabrielfobia
    Sep 10, 2016
    9
    It's really difficult to compare Every Open Eye with The Bones Of What You Believe. While the debut was full of anger and so many beats, Every Open Eye shows us the clear sky, the darkness of the first album was left behind to an album who is a total worth listening.
  6. longjetty7
    Jun 19, 2016
    8
    Okay, so this is my third time reviewing this album! Normally after I've listened to an album several times I have a pretty solid opinion about it, and at first I thought this album was kind of dull, but after returning to it months later, I definitely have to say it's grown on me. Lauren Mayberry has a nice voice and the songs are fairly well produced, and I especially like that the songsOkay, so this is my third time reviewing this album! Normally after I've listened to an album several times I have a pretty solid opinion about it, and at first I thought this album was kind of dull, but after returning to it months later, I definitely have to say it's grown on me. Lauren Mayberry has a nice voice and the songs are fairly well produced, and I especially like that the songs flow together nicely. Overall it's a very feel-good album, but there are some darker, more bittersweet tracks (High Enough to Carry You Over, Down Side of Me) that add some nice variety to the mix as well. My only complaint is that the songwriting, although pretty solid, is very safe. They definitely know how to write good, catchy pop songs, but I think they could really blow everyone else out of the water if they tried experimenting a bit more. Chvrches has massive potential I think, but for now this is a satisfying album that is fun to listen to all the way through, and that's fine by me for the time being.… Expand
  7. bernisphere
    Mar 30, 2016
    6
    A fantastic album with an excellent production. But the middle of the album , we quickly cançados the monotony of the melody. Literally 50 % addictive , 50 % unexciting
  8. Danm95VFF
    Mar 27, 2016
    7
    This album has much of the immediacy and melodic brilliance of the first album, but at parts it feels like it sacrifices emotional diversity for consistency. It feels like there are fewer twists and turns to be enjoyed, it doesn't take you on a journey so to speak like the previous album did, making this a very slight disappointment
  9. ouestleguerre
    Mar 12, 2016
    6
    I liked this band's debut record, but their sophomore release is frankly a let down. The production is very clean-cut and slick but coupled with bland and often uninspired lyricism the resulting album is too clinical, too superficial and thoroughly underwhelming. A record thats more consistent than the first yet fails to reach the same highs that made CHVRCHES an interesting band.
  10. mau1
    Dec 4, 2015
    10
    CHVRCHES are a still a terrific alternative to the barrage of mind-numbing EDM and soulless euro trash of acts such as Icona Pop that permeate our airwaves and devour advertisements. Another heavenly and peerless collection from the Glaswegian synth-poppers.

    This is a spectacular album. I feel it's a bit more diverse than their debut and the structure of the songs are better. Down Side    CHVRCHES are a still a terrific alternative to the barrage of mind-numbing EDM and soulless euro trash of acts such as Icona Pop that permeate our airwaves and devour advertisements. Another heavenly and peerless collection from the Glaswegian synth-poppers.

    This is a spectacular album. I feel it's a bit more diverse than their debut and the structure of the songs are better. Down Side of Me is truly a surprise and a good example of the kind of depth Chvrches can bring to this genre. Mayberry's vocal performances are great and I like that her vocals aren't as processed as they were on their debut. The choruses on this album are ridiculously catchy.

    A lovely listen and one of the best albums of the year.    … Expand
  11. quotes
    Oct 23, 2015
    9
    CHVRCHES released one of the best albums in 2013, then we've been waiting for new songs as good ass in their debut album. And we cannot be disappointed. Every Open Eye is more clear and upbeat than The Bones of What You Believe, the lyrics are catchier (thank to Lauren's vocals, it is amazing) than the debut and the songs makes you dance with the fast tunes. Some songs are such generic andCHVRCHES released one of the best albums in 2013, then we've been waiting for new songs as good ass in their debut album. And we cannot be disappointed. Every Open Eye is more clear and upbeat than The Bones of What You Believe, the lyrics are catchier (thank to Lauren's vocals, it is amazing) than the debut and the songs makes you dance with the fast tunes. Some songs are such generic and needlees, like 'High Enough to Carry You Over' and 'Afterglow', but it doesn't make the album awful. This album is more balanced and makes you listen to it the whole day! Awesome and brilliant, CHVRCHES has become one of the top synth-pop bands.… Expand
  12. TheRimRider
    Oct 11, 2015
    6
    Strong beginning but definitely tapers off to a lukewarm second half. The non Mayberry songs are terrible. Less songs more consistency. Reeks of sophomore slump. Produces enough decent songs to ensure a future on the live circuit for the next 20 years, but if they wish to remain relevant, they have to diversify the next time around. It's already becoming stale.
  13. senormelvo
    Oct 2, 2015
    10
    "Second album slump"? Where? Honestly, this album turned out to be more sophisticated than I had expected. Every Open Eye sounds like the more upbeat twin to The Bones of What You Believe but it still channels the same type of frustration of heartbreak and love that was felt through TBOWYB. Though the album was tone down lyrically, the production made up for it. Nowhere near disappointed"Second album slump"? Where? Honestly, this album turned out to be more sophisticated than I had expected. Every Open Eye sounds like the more upbeat twin to The Bones of What You Believe but it still channels the same type of frustration of heartbreak and love that was felt through TBOWYB. Though the album was tone down lyrically, the production made up for it. Nowhere near disappointed but wished the lyrics in some songs where a bit more differentiated from one another. However, love every song. Some highlights would be: "Keep You On My Side", "Clearest Blue", "High Enough to Carry You Over" and "Down Side of Me".… Expand
  14. TixyLix
    Oct 1, 2015
    6
    I thought the album was rather average, there are more songs I feel "meh" about than I like, only two songs I find to be standout. I also feel like the lead Singer's voice can feel too Disney, like a cheesy American singer in a few of the songs, especially the ones to the back half of the album.

    It's ok, I'm sure die hard fans will love it and passers by will go "I love Chvrches" when    I thought the album was rather average, there are more songs I feel "meh" about than I like, only two songs I find to be standout. I also feel like the lead Singer's voice can feel too Disney, like a cheesy American singer in a few of the songs, especially the ones to the back half of the album.

    It's ok, I'm sure die hard fans will love it and passers by will go "I love Chvrches" when they really mean that love that one song they heard on the Radio. I couldn't listen to all the way through though, it's no classic, I hope they get their Appetite for Destruction in the third album maybe.    … Expand
  15. saratvaranasi
    Sep 30, 2015
    10
    Simply amazing! Much more consistent than their previous record, while also reaching the same heights in quality. "Clearest Blue", "Playing Dead", and "Down Side of Me" are the highlights.
  16. boy_number_8
    Sep 28, 2015
    8
    People opinions on this album will mainly come down to which style of songs from Chvurches previous album they enjoyed.
    "Every open eye" is a much more cheerful and upbeat sounding album than "The bones of what you believe". People who preferred the slower darker sounding songs may be disappointed this album goes in a little different direction. Although songs such as "Down side of me and    People opinions on this album will mainly come down to which style of songs from Chvurches previous album they enjoyed.
    "Every open eye" is a much more cheerful and upbeat sounding album than "The bones of what you believe". People who preferred the slower darker sounding songs may be disappointed this album goes in a little different direction. Although songs such as "Down side of me and "Leave a trace" are there for those people to enjoy.

    Personally i enjoy the more upbeat tunes "Make them gold and "Empty Threat" but i understand they not be to everyones tastes.

    Overall i think this a strong second album, filled with a bunch of catchy songs which i feel the majority of Chvurches fans will get behind,.

    Personal favorites songs include "Keep you on my side" and "Playing Dead."    … Expand
  17. kony5669
    Sep 28, 2015
    6
    To me, this album is disappointing. I don't like the shift in tone and style. All the off-beat and edginess that made them memorable has been changed to nostalgic '80s-influenced pop. The synths seem cheesier than in the first record, and the lyrics aren't as urgent. As catchy as any of the songs in the previous album were, there was always a dark edge to them, even when they were loveTo me, this album is disappointing. I don't like the shift in tone and style. All the off-beat and edginess that made them memorable has been changed to nostalgic '80s-influenced pop. The synths seem cheesier than in the first record, and the lyrics aren't as urgent. As catchy as any of the songs in the previous album were, there was always a dark edge to them, even when they were love songs, like We Sink; "I'll be a thorn in your side till you die, I'll be a thorn in your side for always". That's what made their brand of pop special.

    Perhaps this is them being more confident in their sound and producing a happier record but I feel they are pushing their music to more traditional pop sounds, and I miss the old CHVRCHES.

    All of this makes me sad, I really loved The Bones of What You Believe and their Recover EP.    … Expand
  18. jrodfilms
    Sep 27, 2015
    6
    Good synth pop. I thought the singles were just okay. 'Keep you on my Side' & 'Playing Dead' are my favorite songs. Some filler, and two songs with a male singer that were pretty good. I have to check out their first album now.
  19. JBBotes
    Sep 27, 2015
    10
    Awesome album, pre-ordered the album and I am not disappointed. Love their music! Love every song. Really great second album, really excited to see what is next! They are underrated - worth a listen!
  20. uneverknew
    Sep 26, 2015
    10
    This is a spectacular album. I feel it's a bit more diverse than their debut and the structure of the songs are better. Down Side of Me is truly a surprise and a good example of the kind of depth Chvrches can bring to this genre. Mayberry's vocal performances are great and I like that her vocals aren't as processed as they were on their debut. The choruses on this album are ridiculouslyThis is a spectacular album. I feel it's a bit more diverse than their debut and the structure of the songs are better. Down Side of Me is truly a surprise and a good example of the kind of depth Chvrches can bring to this genre. Mayberry's vocal performances are great and I like that her vocals aren't as processed as they were on their debut. The choruses on this album are ridiculously catchy.

    A lovely listen and one of the best albums of the year.    … Expand
  21. Tekzilla
    Sep 26, 2015
    10
    Really great album on par with TBOWYB. They take some nice steps forward and show some growth while still making some great music.

    Highlights include "Keep You On My Side", "High Enough To Carry You Over" & "Bury It"

    A great followup and I look forward to what else the Scottish Trio has in store for us.
  22. 7KT
    Sep 26, 2015
    3
    It's Bones 2.0...but without the catchy songs and....without the insightful lyrics and...without the rich soundscapes. Thinking about it, there's a lot missing here.

    EOE could be a forgetable 80s synth pop album collecting dust in the 99cent bin at your local Tesco. The whole record is hard to listen to, and not just because Lauren Mayberry often soars out of her vocal range, resulting    It's Bones 2.0...but without the catchy songs and....without the insightful lyrics and...without the rich soundscapes. Thinking about it, there's a lot missing here.

    EOE could be a forgetable 80s synth pop album collecting dust in the 99cent bin at your local Tesco. The whole record is hard to listen to, and not just because Lauren Mayberry often soars out of her vocal range, resulting in her voice more resembling your mum calling you down for dinner than a pop singer.

    The production and mixing leaves a lot to be desired, and listening to the album more than once gives the listener a feeling of fatigue.

    It's a shame Lauren Mayberry and her two producers spend so much time fighting "trolls" (otherwise known as people they disagree with them) online, because if they didn't, they might have put out a decent sophmore album.

    But as it is, I'll be looking forward to scooping this record out of the discount bin come Christmas time. Every little helps!    … Expand
  23. nobodyknowsme
    Sep 26, 2015
    7
    Yes this album is not as experimental as their debut.But that doesn't mean it's a bad album.Every Open Eye got good production but really unsatisfying lyrics.Almost every song got similar lyrics.And in the song High Enough to Carry You Over martin sings along(Also in Follow You) like he did in Under The Tide in their debut.I liked Under the Tide but not this one it's boring.All along thisYes this album is not as experimental as their debut.But that doesn't mean it's a bad album.Every Open Eye got good production but really unsatisfying lyrics.Almost every song got similar lyrics.And in the song High Enough to Carry You Over martin sings along(Also in Follow You) like he did in Under The Tide in their debut.I liked Under the Tide but not this one it's boring.All along this album is so straightforward comparing to their debut album.My fave tracks:Never Ending Circles,Leave a Trace,Keep You On My Side,Clearest Blue,Afterglow.… Expand
  24. legendarysia
    Sep 25, 2015
    10
    Great catch in overall. I love how the electronic sounds mix with the singer voice. The album is very amusing and enjoyable. This band is good at making this kind of music and their style is unique. Looking forward to their decisions of singles for this masterpiece.
  25. LegendaryMau
    Sep 25, 2015
    10
    Excellent record from the start to end. Been waiting for them since the release of The bones of what you believe and it didn't disappoint me. Give it a listen if you love synthpop you won't regret it.
  26. haxtonaa
    Sep 25, 2015
    4
    Knowing this album was made while touring for "The Bones.." is a good indicator of what to expect out of the afterthought that is "Every Open Eye". Chvrches are by no means a push-over act in their increasingly ambiguous 'indie' niche, but this album shows every sign of a "lets just keep doing what we're doing" cop-out.

    They show zero ambition in improving their sound, innovating in    Knowing this album was made while touring for "The Bones.." is a good indicator of what to expect out of the afterthought that is "Every Open Eye". Chvrches are by no means a push-over act in their increasingly ambiguous 'indie' niche, but this album shows every sign of a "lets just keep doing what we're doing" cop-out.

    They show zero ambition in improving their sound, innovating in any possible way, or challenging even the average pop fan. More or less, a keen unbiased listener will quickly pick up that they're listening to what is essentially disc two to "The Bones of What You Believe", only this time its painfully repetitive rather than fresh as the debut was.

    If you're a diehard fan, you're happy with this 11-track LP and the refreshingly short wait you've suffered for it. If you have an ounce of shame or have musically inclined taste, you'll most likely never give this a second spin.    … Expand
  27. JASELVE
    Sep 25, 2015
    3
    I liked their debut album, but that was because it's sound was something fresh and colorful. It feels like EOE is an attempt to be darker and deeper, and yet it doesn't seem to be a good direction for Chvrches.

    One of the reasons boils down to the singer's voice. It isn't so much that it sounds bad, it's just hard to take it seriously when used in a serious song. I feel like Chvrches    I liked their debut album, but that was because it's sound was something fresh and colorful. It feels like EOE is an attempt to be darker and deeper, and yet it doesn't seem to be a good direction for Chvrches.

    One of the reasons boils down to the singer's voice. It isn't so much that it sounds bad, it's just hard to take it seriously when used in a serious song. I feel like Chvrches has a dry well on their hands, where what used to be a band with lush and interesting production is now so overproduced that I can't separate them from other electronic musicians.

    The most important thing about pop music is the "hooks" and the catchiness of the tracks. When the singles "Never Ending Circles" and "Leave A Trace" came out, I thought they were so lifeless that it made me question why Chvrches is even a pop group to begin with. Which then leads to tracks like "Clearest Blue" who's second half feels like an Avici knockoff without the (you guessed it) catchiness. The other songs (and I mean literally the rest of them) I can't seem to remember for the life of me.

    I admire Chvrches for going into a new direction, but it starts to dwindle when it feels like the album is so redundant and copypasted that it feels like I'm listening to the same song for an hour. It's a pop album that fails to be musically memorable in any way, which is so bizarre considering how seriously it takes itself.

    I still like their debut TBOWYB, but this was so lifeless and wimpy for a respectable band's sophomore album. In the end, Every Open Eye is like a deflated beach ball, some color and size here and there, but that can't really change the fact that there's absolutely nothing inside.    … Expand
  28. diegonelli
    Sep 25, 2015
    7
    Well CHVRCHES are monotone, this is The Bones Of What You Believe 2.0, but I still like it and sounds are very catchy. I think they did a great job and it's better than their debut...
  29. Solsun
    Sep 25, 2015
    10
    Chvrches builds on their strong debut with a well layered and catchy sophomore album. While The Bones Of What You Believe displayed very diverse songs, Every Open Eye shows songs that have a similar theme but all have their unique strong points. Down Side of Me is a superb song; by far one of the trio's best to date.
  30. cellardoor
    Sep 25, 2015
    2
    Weren't it for the cheap pseudo-vintage aesthetic and vague drama that surround it, this album would be considered the equal of every other disposable mainstream synthpop record released in the past ten years, because that's exactly what it is, musically speaking.

    No innovation is to be found on it, and the project's heavy reliance on tired pop formulas is only made more obvious by its    Weren't it for the cheap pseudo-vintage aesthetic and vague drama that surround it, this album would be considered the equal of every other disposable mainstream synthpop record released in the past ten years, because that's exactly what it is, musically speaking.

    No innovation is to be found on it, and the project's heavy reliance on tired pop formulas is only made more obvious by its lazy attempts at building a distinct imagery to disguise an overall lack of relevance. Unfortunately, Lauren Mayberry is far from being the only "glamorously plain" (or should we say "fashionably ugly"?) singer in the pretentious twee synthpop game. As for the rest of it, it is readily available in the laptop of any female college student who thinks that a master's degree can redeem a grating personality.

    Sonically, it seems decently mixed, even though too much room is left to Lauren's nasal moans in comparison to the (marginally) more soothing production. The latter can only be defined as a clumsy attempt to replicate the latest internet trends by watering them down and stripping them of any abrasive or innovative quality. This is especially problematic considering the band's reputation as forward-thinking musicians.

    Even though this record lacks progressiveness and any true emotional impact, it is not entirely without merit, as it somehow managed to fool such a large amount of listeners into thinking that it was unique in any fathomable way. While not unheard of, this performance is worthy of consideration.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Most Discussed Album of 2015
32
#32 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Nov 5, 2015
    78
    The Glasgow threepiece has figured out what works: in this case, catchy funk-pop ("High Enough to Carry You Over") that threatens the radio friendliness of Bruno Mars, and nods to early Depeche Mode.
    Read full review
  2. Magnet
    Oct 14, 2015
    70
    Every Open Eye takes an "if it ain't broke" approach, following in the same sonic vein as Bones--sometimes outright repeating Bones--but not really building on it. [No. 125, p.58]
  3. Clash Music
    Oct 9, 2015
    80
    CHVRCHES are a still a terrific alternative to the barrage of mind-numbing EDM and soulless euro trash of acts such as Icona Pop that permeate our airwaves and devour advertisements. Another heavenly and peerless collection from the Glaswegian synth-poppers.
    Read full review
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