Please
by Sondre Lerche
  • Record Label: Mona
  • Release Date: Sep 23, 2014
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
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  1. vicyamusicgreat
    Oct 5, 2014
    9
    Starting off the album is "Bad Law." It’s a bouncy number narrated by a career criminal with a nasty past, foolishly rationalizing his dirty deeds from a prison cell, only to stumble inadvertently upon a profound question in the song’s chorus. What follows is a funky eco-friendly number, Crickets,” so innocuous and beguiling that it would not offend your most diligently reactionaryStarting off the album is "Bad Law." It’s a bouncy number narrated by a career criminal with a nasty past, foolishly rationalizing his dirty deeds from a prison cell, only to stumble inadvertently upon a profound question in the song’s chorus. What follows is a funky eco-friendly number, Crickets,” so innocuous and beguiling that it would not offend your most diligently reactionary friends. With “Legends,” could it be that Sondre is mocking Coldplay and its royal couple of Martin and . . um, who is it this week? Nah, that’s just my imagination working overtime. On “Lucifer” Sondre takes on the US’s fascination with evil, and from his characteristically Scandinavian perspective, he like Björk is not that impressed. I was incorrect in my initial review of this album: it is “After the Exorcism” in which he channels David Bowie with a notable diamond-in-the-rough melodicism. “At a Loss for Words” is a lengthy and trenchant reflection on defeat. On “Lucky Guy” Sondre’s letting us know he can still deliver a powerhouse pop number reminiscent the Beatles or Harry Nilsson; perhaps he is paying homage to colleague Rufus Wainwright as well. “Logging Off” is another of Sondre’s intensely inscrutable album’s-last-song, which might take some time for me to piece together. Indeed, the heart of the album is a number at the album’s middle, unlikely titled “Sentimentalist,” which contains The most stunningly beautiful chorus, conjuring up soundtracks of sundry classic French and Italians films of the 1950s and -60s.… Expand
  2. wl8291
    Jul 5, 2015
    6
    Though this album has an appropriately pleasing sound to it and it just seems like Mr. Lerche aims to... please, there were some aspects of this album that didn't really work for me. While it would appear that the distorted sound inserted in various parts of the the album were intentional and perhaps symbolic of poor Sondre's distorted view on love, I feel like it just kind of took awayThough this album has an appropriately pleasing sound to it and it just seems like Mr. Lerche aims to... please, there were some aspects of this album that didn't really work for me. While it would appear that the distorted sound inserted in various parts of the the album were intentional and perhaps symbolic of poor Sondre's distorted view on love, I feel like it just kind of took away from what I look for with his music. However, if Sondre is indeed looking for a new muse to up his tempo and/or perspective on life, I am indeed available! :)… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Magnet
    Nov 5, 2014
    70
    Another gem, and, not unexpectedly, one of his darkest collections. [No. 114, p.59]
  2. AllMusic
    Sep 30, 2014
    80
    It's hardly fair to wish hard times on songwriters just so their work might sound more real and meaningful, but if they have to suffer, one can at least hope that they are able to turn it into the kind of revelatory art that Lerche has on Please.
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  3. musicOMH.com
    Sep 29, 2014
    70
    The more abrasive elements of Please mean that, on the first couple of plays, it might pinch and pull like a new pair of shoes. But, give it a fair hearing, and eventually Lerche’s resplendent melodies will shine through and something akin to a mild obsession might gradually take hold.
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