Olympia
by
Olympia Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

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  • Summary: The second full-length studio release for the Canadian-based electro-pop band led by Katie Stelmanis is said to have been a more collaborative effort.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Exclaim
    Jun 18, 2013
    90
    This is easily Austra's most exciting and fully formed piece of work yet.
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Jun 17, 2013
    80
    Sub-zero synths and crashing drums resound through this fine second album, while the powerful, tremulous voice of frontwoman Katie Stelmanis instils even minor sentiments with a sense of operatic foreboding.
  3. Consequence
    Jun 21, 2013
    80
    Olympia’s aura pervades the listening sphere Austra has fabricated for their second LP, transcending the frozen cave of their first to the upper echelons of atmospheric dance-pop.
  4. Pitchfork
    Jun 26, 2013
    72
    Stelmanis has said she listened to a lot of early Cat Power while recording Olympia, and while nothing here sounds anywhere near as stark, the lyrics often do, and lead appropriately tense, nervy sounding songs.
  5. CMJ
    Jun 20, 2013
    70
    It doesn’t push boundaries in the same way that Feel It Break busted up notions of genres, but its smooth production stabilizes the lyrics’ emotional bombast.
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jun 17, 2013
    70
    Ultimately this is an album to dance, not cry, to.
  7. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    Jun 17, 2013
    60
    Katie Stelmanis's emotionally tortured vibrato meshes with her band's lush textures to often-potent effect.

See all 26 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Bestpony
    Jul 21, 2013
    7
    Austra made their sound just a tiny bit poppier and more danceable and it's done them wonders. It's a very good, gothy synthpop album withAustra made their sound just a tiny bit poppier and more danceable and it's done them wonders. It's a very good, gothy synthpop album with excellent, operatic vocals and strong melodies.… Expand
  2. Derezzination
    Jul 4, 2013
    6
    In 2011 the Canadian 3-piece released their debut album Feel It Break which was a dark and moody electronic album, it had sad overtones, whichIn 2011 the Canadian 3-piece released their debut album Feel It Break which was a dark and moody electronic album, it had sad overtones, which tremble into Olympia. The album, whilst having a generally more up beat sound to it, does have it's darker moments, like on album opener "What We Done", which is one of the better songs on the album. Austra remain electronic, despite the heavy piano usage throughout the album. Even with greater use of piano, the album still manages to feel dancy.

    After, "What We Done", it's not until "Home" where the album picks itself up from mediocrity. The songs in between feel a bit tired. "Home" uses the sounds of the piano well like "The Beast" did on Feel it Break.

    "I Don't Care (I'm a Man)" is soft and gentle, but it feels to short, more like an interlude, and I wish it was longer because it is one of the stronger ideas that feature on the album. The album from there turns up the "dance" but then also brings in more quiet piano, a theme in the album that sits slightly uneasily with me, it seems like they want to make a dance album, but they want to have the elegance that a piano brings, I'm not to sure.

    By far, the best song along with "Home" is "Hurt Me Now", which surprised me in being the last track. It feels like a song from Feel it Break, or I should rather say, it feels like what Olympia should have been. It's that right transition in sound, it's not as dark, but not to quiet, it's lively, you can dance to it, but it's not confused. I just wish the rest of the album was this focused.

    Overall, Austra bring a mixed bag for album number two, but one that can still be enjoyed, even though there is that thought of "What could have been?"    … Expand

See all 3 User Reviews

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