How to Solve Our Human Problems, Pts. 1-3
by Belle and Sebastian
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Feb 16, 2018
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
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  1. American Songwriter
    Feb 14, 2018
    90
    Recording in his Glasgow hometown helps provide a vibrant, unhurried enthusiasm that’s contagious. Each track is enhanced with guests periodically contributing horns, woodwinds, strings, and even French horns and glockenspiels.
  2. Blurt Magazine
    Mar 30, 2018
    80
    These beautiful, beguiling melodies make for an album that’s so rich and regal in both style and shimmer, it’s simply stunning to say the least. Prepare to be enticed.
  3. Under The Radar
    Feb 26, 2018
    80
    How to Solve Our Human Problems is difficult to pin down. In some ways, Belle and Sebastian's new work represents unexplored territory—yet, the group have been around for so long that one could find elements of nearly every one of their last albums in the 15 collected tracks of this EP trilogy.
  5. The Independent (UK)
    Feb 15, 2018
    80
    Quite, quite lovely.
  6. Mojo
    Feb 14, 2018
    80
    [The EPs] bring together the best of both sides of Belle And Sebastian: the innocence and experience, if you will. [Feb 2018, p.92]
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  7. Rolling Stone
    Feb 15, 2018
    70
    This 15-track set offers a tasting menu of the Scottish band’s strengths.
  8. AllMusic
    Feb 15, 2018
    70
    Since this is a series of five-song EPs, Human Problems isn't paced like an LP, which is a benefit. Perhaps there are moments that drift, such as the mellow bachelor pad neo-instrumental "Everything Is Now," but they're designed that way, offering color and texture to music that already had a surplus of both.
  9. Uncut
    Feb 14, 2018
    70
    It won't cure humanity's ills, but it does a fine job of rejuvenating a band entering its third decade. [Mar 2018, p.22]
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  10. The Observer (UK)
    Feb 26, 2018
    40
    But stretched across 15 tracks and almost 70 minutes, the highlights are spread too thinly, the likes of Show Me the Sun and Cornflakes mired in mediocrity. There’s unevenness within these overlong songs too.
  11. Q Magazine
    Feb 14, 2018
    40
    There's polish here aplenty, yes, but less majesty. [Mar 2018, p.107]
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. LaloMurdoch29
    Feb 19, 2018
    10
    So here we have the perfect example of how a band can grow up without leaving his classic sound; being an album or not, this serie of EP's isSo here we have the perfect example of how a band can grow up without leaving his classic sound; being an album or not, this serie of EP's is perfect from the start to the end. Every EP is better than the other one till we go to the final song and tells ''this is how we are, a great band''; I'm pretty surure that Poor Boy is the best song and should- will be the final single, the single that could give to the band all the sucess they deserve.… Full Review »
  2. NeutralMilkH
    Feb 18, 2018
    8
    It's a shame that they didn't just decide to release his as an album, because it's a pretty solid collection of songs, and its overall salesIt's a shame that they didn't just decide to release his as an album, because it's a pretty solid collection of songs, and its overall sales would've probably been boosted in my opinion. The intro tracks to each of these parts are pretty great.

    Part 1: 7.5 (1 and 2 are great, 3 and 5 are fine, and 4 is a bit laughable, but that's just Belle and Sebastian I guess.)
    Part 2: 8.5 (Good tracks. 5 in particular actually reminds me of their older days, so yeah, I like this one. If I had to say one track doesn't quite hit it for me, it would be Cornflakes.)
    Part 3: 8 (More interesting than part 1, but still doesn't mesh as well as part 2.)

    8/10... like I said, they really should've just released this as an album, lol.    … Full Review »
  3. tsururadio
    Feb 18, 2018
    10
    Wonderfully diverse, sweet then mature then intelligent then fun. Often easy on the surface with many complexities showing through on repeatedWonderfully diverse, sweet then mature then intelligent then fun. Often easy on the surface with many complexities showing through on repeated listens.… Full Review »
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