Paranoïa, Angels, True Love
by Christine and the Queens
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. AndresDmusic
    Jun 13, 2023
    8
    The first part of this record is brilliant, in its second and third part the album becomes heavy and a bit repetitive to listen to but it still has gems that make your interest come back.
  2. Lajaleaa
    Jul 9, 2023
    6
    It is a very frustrating project for what Christine's promises since their first album. And with Madonna all along. Jees.
    I'm very confused. Almost all the songs are rendered incomplete, and yet, they last too long getting somewhere that, overall, this ended up being one of the most empty, unfocused, adrift and in several ways, pointless experience. There are peaces of ambientation here    It is a very frustrating project for what Christine's promises since their first album. And with Madonna all along. Jees.
    I'm very confused. Almost all the songs are rendered incomplete, and yet, they last too long getting somewhere that, overall, this ended up being one of the most empty, unfocused, adrift and in several ways, pointless experience. There are peaces of ambientation here that would've been interesting to see evolve and take form, and I can admire the talent of the composition to put peaces of an ambient or a concept in each song of something that felt at least interesting. Instead, we have a great wall, blurring out everything that would've truly meant something for this album. Christine just needed a clearer direction, but we have a long long, very long way to a nowhere loop, really.    … Expand
  3. RipView
    Jun 15, 2023
    10
    His best album. A work of art so gloriously and vulnerably devoted to grief and (I imagine) feeling under the weight of the world. I feel blessed that Chris dug so deep and produced work so raw, complex and emotional in Redcar.

    I don't think any of the songs, individually, are in my top 5 Chris songs (maybe a day in the water?) but as an album, this feels so explorative, unexpected,    His best album. A work of art so gloriously and vulnerably devoted to grief and (I imagine) feeling under the weight of the world. I feel blessed that Chris dug so deep and produced work so raw, complex and emotional in Redcar.

    I don't think any of the songs, individually, are in my top 5 Chris songs (maybe a day in the water?) but as an album, this feels so explorative, unexpected, defining and complete - you're rewarded with every listen and never listen to it the same way twice.

    How the hell does anyone define grief? It's such an unfathomable, overwhelming emotion that cannot be described and everyone feels it and processes it differently. For Chris to unpack his grief in this album and subject it to the world, I think is incredibly courageous, considering the enormous mental struggle humans have with TALKING ABOUT IT. Pitchfork said this album felt like a 'first draft'... *sighs*. Personally, I find the rough edges in the production, muffles, missed notes, groans and incompleteness even more bold and moving. They only add to the notion of trying to explain the unexplainable. Chaleur Humaine and Chris showed us Chris is perfectly capable of producing polished pop. The imperfection here evokes intrigue and nuance and shows Chris' willingness to take risks for his art.

    Quick note on the production - wow. The layers and textures here are incredibly interesting and experimental - I can hand-on-heart say I've never heard a sound-scape like this in an album. Without getting too meta, I feel like Chris and Mike Dean (ft. A.G Cook) have created a landscape of grey-shades, soft and jagged textures, bright light and shadows and every song explores a different area within. It's expanse and depth is limitless and completely subjective, scoring this on a scale of 1-10 feels criminally reductive.

    Pure genius. Thank you, Chris.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Most Discussed Album of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. musicOMH.com
    Jul 7, 2023
    60
    It’s possibly an album that’s easier to admire than to enjoy, but you can’t fault his ambition.
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  2. Clash Music
    Jun 15, 2023
    80
    A record composed of experimental dissonance and slick pop bravery, ‘PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE’ ranks as the boldest aspect of his career to date. A project that searches for honesty, it places Christine and the Queens in a quite singular lane of alt-pop abstraction.
    Read full review
  3. Pitchfork
    Jun 14, 2023
    68
    At its very best, Paranoïa, Angels, True Love captures this feverish lightning-in-a-bottle energy. But where Kushner’s many moving parts lock into place, spurring each other on toward a harrowing, rapturous climax, the songs of Chris’s album never quite cohere.
    Read full review
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