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Origins
by
Origins Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 242 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth full-length studio release for the Las Vegas rock band features production from Alex Da Kid, John Hill, Joel Little, Mattman & Robin, Jorgen Odegard, and Ido Zmishlany.
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Top Track

Natural
Will you hold the line When every one of them is giving up or giving in? Tell me In this house of mine Nothing ever comes without a consequence or... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Q Magazine
    Nov 20, 2018
    80
    It follows the million-dollar formula laid down on 2017's Evolve a little too closely. ... But as emotional Trojan Horses go, few do it better. [Jan 2019, p.110]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. The Independent (UK)
    Nov 9, 2018
    80
    Origins is further proof of Reynolds’ pop songwriting capabilities and also his ambition when it comes to pushing the messages that matter onto the charts. And there’s no doubting his sincerity. It’s a refreshing quality in a pop frontman.
  3. Variety
    Nov 9, 2018
    80
    Dragons’ producers Alex da Kid and Mattman & Robin have tamped down the epic flourishes and thudding bottom end that marked this album’s predecessor, “Evolve,” resulting in a more direct sound and message.
  4. Rolling Stone
    Nov 15, 2018
    50
    Unfortunately Imagine Dragons’ actual vision is one that is milquetoast, formulaic, nearly anonymous, free of any real lyrical insight. ... The one place where the Dragons themselves really shine is an outlier in their catalog: “Zero,” made for Ralph Breaks the Internet, is a giddy college rocker that does for the Cure, David Bowie and Jimmy Eat World what Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson did for Prince, Gap Band and Zapp.
  5. PopMatters
    Nov 15, 2018
    50
    Imagine Dragons are confident in their capability and knowledge of pop music, but Origins tries too hard to demonstrate their varied interests with the results generic and indistinct.
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    Nov 15, 2018
    40
    More often than not Origins falls flat, with insipid choruses and melodramatic refrains. Big, bold and a little bit naff, this is another bread and butter album from a mindbogglingly huge group.
  7. Sputnikmusic
    Nov 9, 2018
    20
    Any piece that can cover an emotional spectrum ranging from gruff cries all the way to handclaps must have a lot to offer. ... Step aside Nickelback, there’s a new sheriff in town and his name is Imagine Dragons.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 54
  3. Negative: 13 out of 54
  1. joaomurtaitaobi
    Dec 31, 2019
    10
    The concept of this album is incredible and ispiring, and the songs fit together.
  2. darthyoda
    Nov 11, 2018
    10
    This album is really great. Despite what some critics say, all tracks from the album are different and likeable in their own way.
  4. DanMartinez
    Nov 9, 2018
    10
    Very good album, taking even "inspirations" in several bands, very beautiful in both lyrics and rhythm, without any doubt the best album ofVery good album, taking even "inspirations" in several bands, very beautiful in both lyrics and rhythm, without any doubt the best album of Imagine Dragons… Expand
  5. ROBYWON
    Sep 5, 2021
    8
    A rhythmic album, from the strong transport of the events that have marked the life of the front-man. Although the tracks do not appear linkedA rhythmic album, from the strong transport of the events that have marked the life of the front-man. Although the tracks do not appear linked to each other, they can be listened to one after the other as in a playlist. Top track: "Bad Liar".… Expand
  6. PaulYordan
    Nov 12, 2018
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. UNPOPULAR OPINION

    C’mon **** In the same way that many of you guys find interesting all this rap, mumble-nonsense albums, you can find pretty good songs in this album. I love the vibes of this electronic/minimalistic/futuristic rock. Yes.. I know.. this LP has a couple of unlistenable tracks, but doesn’t mean that the album it’s a peace of **** Btw, The deluxe version it’s way better that the original.

    Fav Tracks: Only, Digital, Natural, Cool Out, Burn Out, Birds, Bullet In A Gun

    Least Fav tracks: Real Life, Love, Machine, Stuck.    … Expand
  7. NolanLundgaard
    Apr 11, 2020
    5
    Origins by Imagine Dragons: 4.66

    Natural: 1 :) Boomerang: 1 :) Machine: 0.5 Cool Out: 0.75 Bad Liar: 1! West Coast: 1 Zero: 1 :)    Origins by Imagine Dragons: 4.66

    Natural: 1 :)
    Boomerang: 1 :)
    Machine: 0.5
    Cool Out: 0.75
    Bad Liar: 1!
    West Coast: 1
    Zero: 1 :)
    Bullet In A Gun: 0.25
    Digital: 0
    Only: 0.5
    Stuck: 0.25
    Love: 0.75
    Birds: 0.5
    Burn Out: 0.75
    Real Life: 1 :)

    10.25/15 ~ .683 -> 4.66

    Origins is the latest (though not the greatest) album by Imagine Dragons. I had really high hopes for this album, as I had heard Natural and Zero before listening to the rest of it. Sadly, besides a couple of other songs, those are the only two I would stick with and not listen to the rest of the album. Originally, it was kind of fun listening to this new style that Imagine Dragons picked up, as it was more energetic (think Night Visions), but sadly Origins relies too much on generic electronic drums and synthesizer effects that can be hard to listen to. I’ve already been over Natural, which is a fantastic song, full of energy and has the true Imagine Dragons spirit that I’ve seen little of since Night Visions. I also really liked Boomerang, as I enjoyed the lyrics as well as the classy mild synths that they incorporated into this song. Machine was a taste of further disappointment to come. Its lyrics and theme were great, but the amount of distortion that was used was a little overwhelming. The bass was really “cool” in Cool Out, as was the piano and electric guitar riff at the end. There was a minor e-drum issue but it wasn’t horrible since it wasn’t super distracting. Everything seemed to fit together well in that song, great execution. Bad Liar was stunning. Powerful lyrics, calmer music, and evident emotion make for a really good song. West Coast was overall a great song, and I want to learn more about the meaning behind it. The acoustic guitar was really jamming. I loved the song Zero. I first heard it during Ralph Breaks the Internet and fell in love with it, and it really made me want to start listening to Origins. Bullet In A Gun was just a weird song. There were some odd invasive electric drums with whack timing, which is a bummer because I hate both. There was also a really strange post-chorus, but I liked the lyrics in this song. I thought things wouldn’t get worse than Bullet, but then Digital came on. The second dose of the distortion bass didn’t work either (shocker), and the record scratch was weird. The whole song was a little hard to listen to, as the bass had weird timing and there was the weird techno yelling in the bridge--it was all just too much. The message was pretty good but I couldn’t appreciate it because everything was so whack in this song. Pretty much my definition of a disaster. Only started out good, and I hoped that it would cleanse the awfulness of the previous two songs, but it was only great until the chorus, where staccato synths and generic drums came in. I enjoyed its lyrics though. Stuck featured generic drums with awful timing, but the lyrics were actually really good but it was a shame since the drums were that bad. It was a “meh” song overall except for lyric quality. Love also had the generic sounding high-hat, but I loved its message. One of best things about Imagine Dragons was the creative drum pop they made back in the Night Visions days, which is now gone upon the entrance of the e-drums. The message was great in Birds, but it was also plagued by the generic drums used in many other songs in Origins. Burn Out was calmer, which was a plus. It also featured great lyrics and I could tell that lots of emotion went into this song. Real Life was actually decent. It had amazing music composed of acoustic guitar, synthesizer, and some piano parts. It was full of energy, which I appreciated, and I loved its lyrics and message of being present with people. Overall, Origins is a rather mediocre work from Imagine Dragons, though there are a few great songs thrown in here. The problem is that Imagine Dragons seemed to try too hard to be mainstream, while one of the things I really liked about them was how different their music was structurally to other pop. The way this album started out was really nice, though. I hope they keep making music like Natural and Zero. Highlights: Natural, Boomerang, Bad Liar, West Coast, Zero, and Real Life.    … Expand
  8. Spoonyon
    Feb 9, 2020
    0
    "Not real music" boomerisms aside, the music Dan Reynolds and the fellas have created here is uninteresting, flat and completely devoid of personality

See all 54 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Most Discussed Album of 2018

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