Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
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  1. Apr 29, 2022
    80
    It might scare off some of the fans drawn to the pop side of Toro, but for those who appreciate the subtle twists and turns of his early work -- and especially those who wish he had expanded on What For? -- this is Bear and band at their most exciting, most inventive. and most fun.
  2. Apr 28, 2022
    80
    Overall, the album is a tour-de-force bound to leave the listener nostalgic for warm, sunny times with an inherently groove-focused, genre-bending sound.
  3. May 3, 2022
    80
    He combines whispering brush patterns and flecks of industrial glitch in the cerebral ‘Foreplay’ yet writes the perfect neo-soul pop song in ‘The Loop’, exemplifying his cross-disciplinary skill, and ability to marry fluid performance with tonal nuance.
  4. 80
    This project is sure to surprise fans with its unique sensibility, further showcasing how difficult it is to constrict the artist into any specific genre. Chaz borrows multiple elements to create something wholly unique, skating through sounds to create a genre pastiche to suit every taste.
  5. May 4, 2022
    75
    Mahal is as fastidiously layered as the rest of Toro y Moi’s style-shifting discography, but Bear leaves the edges rough, connecting the tracks with radio tuning noises and relishing in unvarnished instrumental expression.
  6. Apr 28, 2022
    70
    At times, the album’s songs are so breezy that they’re barely indistinguishable from one another. There are moments here, as is Toro y Moi’s wont, where the pursuit of mood takes precedent above all else.
  7. 60
    Mahal is ultimately too uneven to be an album to particularly cherish.
  8. Apr 28, 2022
    60
    It’s a smooth ride for the most part but sometimes you just wish whoever's driving this thing would find a decent station and stick with it.
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 19
  2. Negative: 5 out of 19
  1. May 2, 2022
    9
    A balance of different emotions and vibes expressed throughout a consistently groovy tracklist. What else could you want. Every track is myA balance of different emotions and vibes expressed throughout a consistently groovy tracklist. What else could you want. Every track is my favorite. This is my album for the summer. Full Review »
  2. May 2, 2022
    9
    its a whole ass vibe... I let this thing play back to back like 3 times before realizing that it was ever started over... Loving the strippedits a whole ass vibe... I let this thing play back to back like 3 times before realizing that it was ever started over... Loving the stripped back vibe all mixed with very good musicianship. Not really a whole lot else to say here. I like it. Ill play it during rainy days, ill play in in blistering hot sunny days... Id say light 9 Full Review »
  3. Apr 29, 2022
    10
    yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes