Palo Santo
by Years & Years
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 185 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 157 out of 185
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 185
  3. Negative: 22 out of 185
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  1. frutiger75
    Jul 7, 2018
    10
    Sophomore slump nowhere to be found. Tracks developed sufficiently; execution is top-notch. Production is quite good, too.
  2. Masquic
    Jul 7, 2018
    8
    I'm truly amazed for how much this album is good. The melodies and vocal work in every song are just on point. Every minute of this album makes you want more from Years & Years. It's without a doubt one of the bests of the year!
  3. MattJ28
    Jul 6, 2018
    10
    I've been a massive fan of Years & Years for a long time, even before their first album Communion; which remains to this day one of my favourite albums of all time. This made me very apprehensive for this new album as I didn't know what to expect; whether they would change their style and move in a different direction or remain true to the unique Years & Years sound. I'm so so happy to sayI've been a massive fan of Years & Years for a long time, even before their first album Communion; which remains to this day one of my favourite albums of all time. This made me very apprehensive for this new album as I didn't know what to expect; whether they would change their style and move in a different direction or remain true to the unique Years & Years sound. I'm so so happy to say that I love this album and they definitely haven't let the quality slip after a brilliant first album with this mature follow up. Their sound is still very recognisable, with chartworthy pop/dance songs blending in effortlessly with beautiful balads. The themes and emotions portrayed in this album are so much more personal, brave and unapologetic. The band; especially the frontman Olly, is now oozing with confidence which they once lacked and I couldn't be prouder of what they've achieved. I cant wait to see what they do next. Onwards and upwards for this homegrown British talent.… Expand
  4. owenrw89
    Jul 26, 2018
    8
    I never paid much attention to the Communion phase, but happened to quite like Sanctify when it came out. I decided to give Palo Santo a listen, and it has to be the biggest surprise I've had in years. This record is a contender for pop album of the year. It's stylish, smart, fun and sexy, but also thoughtful and powerful. Palo Santo is the most unashamed celebration of queer life sinceI never paid much attention to the Communion phase, but happened to quite like Sanctify when it came out. I decided to give Palo Santo a listen, and it has to be the biggest surprise I've had in years. This record is a contender for pop album of the year. It's stylish, smart, fun and sexy, but also thoughtful and powerful. Palo Santo is the most unashamed celebration of queer life since Scissor Sisters' Night Work and deserves all the praise and love it gets.… Expand
  5. Dusan
    Jul 13, 2018
    10
    Pure love. Olly's voice and lyrics soar throughout Palo Santo. Plus, I've developed a crush.
  6. ghlladeira
    Jul 8, 2018
    10
    Maravilhoso! Estava receoso se continuaria com a qualidade do Communion. Tão bom quanto. Palo Santo e Howl incríveis
  7. Aarchie
    Jul 8, 2018
    10
    I wasn`t expecting that! The first and second single were good, but the whole album is even better!
  8. Cittadel
    Sep 22, 2018
    7
    Palo Santo is a very well produced pop album. The overall sound of the album is incredibly cohesive, with catchy and quirky beats, that are obviously made to dance to. It's an album full of danceable bops, like the energetic All For You, and the joyful Karma. Hypnotised is a haunting ballad, in which Olly's vocal performance is magnificent. Lead track Sanctify is arguably the most mediocrePalo Santo is a very well produced pop album. The overall sound of the album is incredibly cohesive, with catchy and quirky beats, that are obviously made to dance to. It's an album full of danceable bops, like the energetic All For You, and the joyful Karma. Hypnotised is a haunting ballad, in which Olly's vocal performance is magnificent. Lead track Sanctify is arguably the most mediocre track of the album, followed by second single If You're Over Me. Both of the singles aren't necessarily bad tracks, they're just not as good as the other songs. I feel like All For You would've been the perfect lead single for this album and I genuinely hope it'll become a single someday, instead of a promo single.

    The only thing that kind of annoyed me when it comes to this album, is the whole dystopic Palo Santo world Years & Years created around their second studio album. It feels incredibly out of place and doesn't fit with the upbeat songs featured on the track itself.    … Expand
  9. parkere222
    Jul 28, 2018
    10
    On their own, the tracks can act as standalone singles, with the standouts of Sanctify, If You're Over Me and Hallelujah becoming global hits. Other songs -- Preacher, Lucky Escape and Karma -- solidify this album as one of the best electropop albums in recent memory. Communion as a whole delivers a strong look at main singer Olly Alexander's journey with religion in the modern LGBT world,On their own, the tracks can act as standalone singles, with the standouts of Sanctify, If You're Over Me and Hallelujah becoming global hits. Other songs -- Preacher, Lucky Escape and Karma -- solidify this album as one of the best electropop albums in recent memory. Communion as a whole delivers a strong look at main singer Olly Alexander's journey with religion in the modern LGBT world, a performance enjoyable the first, second and tenth time around.… Expand
  10. teteus06
    Sep 10, 2018
    10
    it's just a great album, I love the production of every song, no song feels like a filler, and the lyrics are also great
  11. hornysoul
    Sep 21, 2018
    10
    Um dos melhores álbuns, se não o melhor, de 2018! As músicas contém letras profundas, maduras e extremamente tocantes para aqueles que as ouvem. O trabalho vocal à volta deste álbum executado pelo Olly Alexander só enaltece mais o talento deste grupo. PERFEITO!
  12. threepm
    Jul 9, 2018
    10
    I was hesitant at first as I wasn't a huge fan of their second single from this album. However, I heard it out of context to the rest of the album. This album is a masterpiece in songwriting and lyrics. In a very very rare accomplishment their sophomore album is as good or perhaps even better and more mature than their debut album.

    Olly's voice has clearly grown and gotten stronger.    I was hesitant at first as I wasn't a huge fan of their second single from this album. However, I heard it out of context to the rest of the album. This album is a masterpiece in songwriting and lyrics. In a very very rare accomplishment their sophomore album is as good or perhaps even better and more mature than their debut album.

    Olly's voice has clearly grown and gotten stronger. The songwriting is A+ they are making music that they want to create. They are doing their own thing without tyring to copy or sound like anyone else but clearly influenced by many different artists from years past.    … Expand
  13. httml
    Jul 6, 2018
    10
    Pretty much flawless pop, a definite improvement over Communion! Olly's voice and lyrics have so much more depth this time around.
  14. juntaoyu
    Jul 7, 2018
    10
    Was a fan before. Now feel like I am completely refreshed. Nice job on integrating Olly's voice to such diverse genres!
  15. leomohan
    Jul 6, 2018
    10
    I was a fan of their music and sound, but not Communion as a whole, which I felt lacked cohesion. However, Palo Santo is a masterpiece of a sophomore album. Each track contributes to a narrative and demonstrates growth and unity. Olly's voice continues to exceed expectations and the story of Palo Santo is a captivating narrative that blends human nature with how we view religion. Overall,I was a fan of their music and sound, but not Communion as a whole, which I felt lacked cohesion. However, Palo Santo is a masterpiece of a sophomore album. Each track contributes to a narrative and demonstrates growth and unity. Olly's voice continues to exceed expectations and the story of Palo Santo is a captivating narrative that blends human nature with how we view religion. Overall, I have nothing but positives to say about this album, and I can't wait to see how they carry their concept further.… Expand
  16. critiquei
    Jul 8, 2018
    10
    Why is palo santo the best album of years and years? Palo santo tells a story of a young gay man and his experiences with heteros and the **** they do when they just want to use gays for sex. I love you olly
  17. DavidWasHere
    Jul 6, 2018
    6
    While Years and Years debut, Communion, didn't set the world on fire, I was excited for the followup, hoping that maybe they can build upon their debut to something bigger, better, and grander. Unfortunately it felt more of the same, sadly. That's not to say the album is bad necessarily, at it's best the production is colorful and full of textures, like on dance-jams like on All For You,While Years and Years debut, Communion, didn't set the world on fire, I was excited for the followup, hoping that maybe they can build upon their debut to something bigger, better, and grander. Unfortunately it felt more of the same, sadly. That's not to say the album is bad necessarily, at it's best the production is colorful and full of textures, like on dance-jams like on All For You, Hallelujah, and Karma, however it is weighed down by bad production choices, like the darker lead off single Sanctify that the band cannot pull off, to the annoying synth melody on If You're Over Me, to the more intense trap production reminiscent of TNGHT on Lucky Escape that doesn't flatter the band, and the dull ballads that also plagued Communion. While it is admirable for the more queer topics and openness that Ollie Alexander brings to the table, unfortunately his vocals are just too weak to carry any strength or real emotion besides quivering and stiffness. I wouldn't call this bad exactly, even with some overproduction there are some great melodies, textures, and hooks here, and the lyrical content is very meaty at times, and this album will certainly mean a lot for the band's LGBT fan base, however it's more hit or miss than triumphant, and that's the real shame.… Expand
  18. Wael
    Jul 8, 2018
    8
    After their 2015 impressive but substance-lacking debut "Communion", British synth-pop band Years & Years are back with a much more thought-out and well-crafted sophomore. "Palo Santo" is an electropop album, with elements of dance music and R&B. The lyrics are so well-written (that wasn't a problem with their debut), and there's a cohesion between the songs that was missing onAfter their 2015 impressive but substance-lacking debut "Communion", British synth-pop band Years & Years are back with a much more thought-out and well-crafted sophomore. "Palo Santo" is an electropop album, with elements of dance music and R&B. The lyrics are so well-written (that wasn't a problem with their debut), and there's a cohesion between the songs that was missing on "Communion". The album visits several vibes, from dark-pop captivating lead single "Sanctify", to hard hitting synthpop track "All For You", to sweet and tender piano ballad "Hypnotised".
    The album also comes with a short film to explain the concept the band was opting for with this album: a society conquered by some sort of robots who capture the remaining humans on earth and make them put on shows just to make them feel emotions. Other highlights include the fun, effortless "If You're Over Me" (the song that drew me in when it was released back in May), and the sing-along anthem "Preacher".
    All in all, "Palo Santo" is undoubtedly one of the best pop records of the year.    … Expand
  19. ultipop19
    Jul 19, 2018
    7
    a lot better than first one. still mostly generic pop but the lyricism and meanings/undertones seem more than skin deep this time
  20. gusttmagrin
    Sep 5, 2020
    10
    esse álbum é perfeito, All For You, If You're Over Me, Lucky Escape e Play são as minhas favoritas do álbum
  21. rahmiell
    Jul 6, 2018
    10
    é uma obra prima, eu não consigo parar de ouvir. rendezvous é a minha favorita, tá tudo muito perfeito,
  22. StavoSwift13
    Aug 18, 2018
    8
    Un trabajo excepcional y que para aquellos que han tenido alguna mala experiencia amorosa les vendrá como anillo al dedo. Una muy buena producción y un cambio a la música que venía haciendo Years & Years pero conservando siempre esa vibra de Oli que transmite en cada canción. Top 5 (Sin Orden). 1. Karma 2. If You're Over Me 3. Lucky Escape 4. Hallelujah 5. Don't Panic. Cabe resaltar queUn trabajo excepcional y que para aquellos que han tenido alguna mala experiencia amorosa les vendrá como anillo al dedo. Una muy buena producción y un cambio a la música que venía haciendo Years & Years pero conservando siempre esa vibra de Oli que transmite en cada canción. Top 5 (Sin Orden). 1. Karma 2. If You're Over Me 3. Lucky Escape 4. Hallelujah 5. Don't Panic. Cabe resaltar que entre la versión deluxe y japonesa pueden perderse en el olvido canciones que sin problema pudieron estar en la versión estándar. Para ser más exacto le doy un 8.7… Expand
  23. diego58
    Nov 19, 2018
    10
    this album brings us diversity in all its splendor, it has incredible sounds that fill the soul and the voice of Olly is so fckng beautiful and impressive, without a doubt this album is in my favorites
  24. Dsros96
    Oct 5, 2022
    10
    Years & Years' best album. More cohesive than the debut one & every song is amazing. A masterpiece.
  25. Keneilwe
    Nov 21, 2020
    10
    from the disco-eque songs like Up in flames to harmonious and yet melancholic ballads like Hypnotize ❤️this album is amazing. Ollie servesd is with vocals and we LOVE IT!
  26. Akura-ou
    Feb 1, 2023
    10
    The album is much more mature than its predecessor. It shows the singer's vocal abilities more clearly and better.

Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Most Discussed Album of 2018
67
#67 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. AllMusic
    Jul 27, 2018
    80
    With Palo Santo, Years & Years have crafted an album that pulses with that richness.
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  2. Under The Radar
    Jul 24, 2018
    80
    Most impressively, while Palo Santo jumps between genres, it is surprisingly cohesive. These songs are best heard as an album and they reinforce one another in context.
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  3. Spin
    Jul 18, 2018
    50
    Beaty and bouncy but less meaty, Palo Santo is for now an unsatisfying follow-up to a terrific debut.
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