Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
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  1. Harmlessness is a perfect record and it’s the best one we’ll hear in 2015 and nothing will come close. The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die have created their magnum opus and the most transcendent and challenging piece of music to emerge from modern rock in a long, long time.
  2. Oct 2, 2015
    100
    Something so well crafted by a group of individuals that bleeds music and emotions makes me thinks/hopes this is just the beginning for The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die.
  3. 80
    L lo and behold, leave it to Harmlessness to rediscover the wit and irascible, emotive charm of the band, which funnily enough nodded back to their older material . The same material that became one of the templates by which I would later gauge all indie records.
  4. Oct 2, 2015
    79
    With Harmlessness, the World Is a Beautiful Place have accomplished a rare feat: a lofty, loaded album with the grace and momentum of a far leaner one.
  5. Nov 12, 2015
    75
    Harmlessness, the band's second album, refines its sound while remaining ambitious enough to enthrall even emo-averse listeners. [Nov-Dec 2015, p.76]
  6. Alternative Press
    Oct 2, 2015
    70
    This is as good as emo gets in 2015, and one of the most consistently stunning records of any type this year. [Oct 2015, p.98]
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. Oct 9, 2015
    8
    The emo band has crafted a strong indie rock album. One that can be downright beautiful at times. It's melodic tones and hipster energy makeThe emo band has crafted a strong indie rock album. One that can be downright beautiful at times. It's melodic tones and hipster energy make it feel like the soundtrack to clichéd and overly emotional coming of age drama aimed at teenagers. That isn't a bad thing in the case of this album.

    While you do have to be a person of a particular taste to enjoy this kind of music, the band is fully aware of this and embraces it wholeheartedly. As a result we get a confident piece of work. One that knows just what it wants to be and embraces it all the way through. The results might push people away who aren't already a fan of the genre, but even they can't deny the talent the album contains and at least get some enjoyment out of it even if they plan on never returning to it afterwards. I should know, I'm one of those people.

    While perhaps not the most diverse album out there it's one that stand as an important entry in the genre. Maybe even getting this style of music some more mainstream attention. It does so without sacrificing what makes the genre so special to those who follow it. It will evoke the right emotions from them and give them something new to obsess over.

    While the natural style of the emo/indie rock genres will still alienate some, other will find a powerful collection of songs to be enjoyed here. It's definitely not for everyone, but it's good enough to still be respected. Even by those of us who just aren't fans. It's a pretty great album.
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