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Freetown Sound
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Freetown Sound Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 100 Ratings

  • Summary: The third full-length release for Dev Hynes was self-produced and released three days ahead of its scheduled release date.
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Top Track

Augustine
[Verse 1] My father was a young man My mother off the boat My eyes were fresh at 21 Bruised but still afloat Our heads have hit the pavement Many... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. The A.V. Club
    Jul 1, 2016
    100
    What keeps Hynes grounded is his sense of emotion, demonstrated in the seductively smooth funk undercurrents of “E.V.P.” (featuring Debbie Harry), evoking George McCrae’s stunted yet whisper-like vocals.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    Jul 25, 2016
    90
    It’s melodically strong enough, and bursting with so many ideas that it feels incredibly timeless: futuristic and classic all at once.
  3. Pitchfork
    Jun 30, 2016
    88
    Freetown resonates with everyone sagging under the weight of systemic oppression.
  4. Rolling Stone
    Jun 28, 2016
    80
    Dev Hynes' work--populist, experimental, healing, agitating, straightforward, multi-layered--demonstrates this unfailingly. Prince's radical pop spirit lives on in many artists. But none are channeling it more fully, or artfully.
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jun 29, 2016
    80
    With Freetown Sound, he’s made something bold, challenging, uncompromising and overlong--an album, like the man who made it, that’s the sum of its parts and then some.
  6. musicOMH.com
    Jul 21, 2016
    70
    Admittedly, sometimes the album’s ambition does threaten to trip itself up--there’s a few too many half-sketched ideas crammed in, as opposed to fully formed songs; a bit of ruthless editing might have whittled down the running time to a more manageable 50 minutes or so. However, there’s certainly more highlight than filler contained in Freetown Sound and it is, ultimately, an album that deserves to be heard.
  7. The Guardian
    Jun 28, 2016
    60
    It’s often passionate, illuminating and fascinating, it frequently bears the hallmarks of self-indulgence, and some of it, you get the feeling, might only make sense to its author.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. misfortune
    Jun 30, 2016
    10
    Possibly one of the greatest albums of this year, Freetown Sound shimmers and shines with masterfully crafted lyrics, spectacular vocals, andPossibly one of the greatest albums of this year, Freetown Sound shimmers and shines with masterfully crafted lyrics, spectacular vocals, and impeccable production.… Expand
  2. AnthonyMiller
    Nov 28, 2019
    10
    In my opinion this is the greatest album of the decade. It’s a bold statement, I know, but I truly didn’t enjoy any album the same as I didIn my opinion this is the greatest album of the decade. It’s a bold statement, I know, but I truly didn’t enjoy any album the same as I did this one.… Expand
  4. popcornnsprite
    Jul 10, 2016
    9
    Possibly my favourite album of 2016. The production is immense and it just captures a range of emotions. I've listened to Blood Orange's olderPossibly my favourite album of 2016. The production is immense and it just captures a range of emotions. I've listened to Blood Orange's older albums but I feel like Freetown Sound is far more polished and a true step up. Love it.… Expand
  5. RadioheadLuv17
    Jul 11, 2016
    9
    This very well cold be the AOTY so far- more sonically unique than Lemonade, more consistent than untitled unmastered, more lyricallyThis very well cold be the AOTY so far- more sonically unique than Lemonade, more consistent than untitled unmastered, more lyrically substantial than Coloring Book. Highlights include minimalist dance floor banger Best Of You, the trip-hop soul hybrid Thank You, and the subtly anthemic Hands up. Freetown Sound tackles both racism and sexism with an arsenal of instantly classic melodies.… Expand
  6. BrokenTel
    Jul 7, 2016
    9
    Atmospheric, honest and funky, I love getting lost in this album. The warm mixtape vibe and fluid sequencing helps draw you in but it's Dev'sAtmospheric, honest and funky, I love getting lost in this album. The warm mixtape vibe and fluid sequencing helps draw you in but it's Dev's songwriting skills that take the cake. He masterfully incorporates all these disparate voices (poets, documentary samples, singers like Debbie Harry, Nelly Furtado, Carly Rae Jepsen and Empress Of among others..) with his own to create this cohesive collage of yearning and searching voices. People wondering aloud about love and their place in the world. The album gains power as the lyrics, context and themes sink in. Songs that I thought were boring ('Hands Up', 'Hadron Collider') develop an emotional resonance and the cheesy ones ('But You', 'Juicy 1-4') become not so cheesy when I'm humming them after repeated listens. Dope album with feeling.… Expand
  7. VonSeux
    Oct 2, 2016
    6
    wow calm down people , you seem to be hyping up this record for external factors other than music, while not bad at all, it's a pretty basicwow calm down people , you seem to be hyping up this record for external factors other than music, while not bad at all, it's a pretty basic album with a poor-mans-Prince sound ; certainly this is an artistist worth keeping an eye on, but nothing groundbreaking or "album of the year" here… Expand
  8. ConfuciusPanda
    Oct 12, 2016
    5
    I would prefer to give this album a 5.5. I don't like this album, I found it boring. However there are some nice moments, but these tend toI would prefer to give this album a 5.5. I don't like this album, I found it boring. However there are some nice moments, but these tend to lead to disappointment.
    I will admit my analysis could be considered superficial, I've only listened to the album through once. But I have no real intention to listen to it again.
    Very lackluster, or rather just weak. Not really funky at all; most of the song IMO have life force, they just float about in my head. The vocal are the weakest part of this album, no real power behind them, too dreamy, and too much over-singing.
    HOWEVER, the are some nice sounds. Some really good synths. like in Augustine it starts with a nice smooth horn and synth bit?? but turns into weird watered down synthpop.
    Tries to be artistic and contemporary, but it truth it falls short.
    ALL MY OPINION, NOT FOR ME.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Best Album of 2016
93
#93 Most Shared Album of 2016