Relaxer
by Alt-J
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Jun 2, 2017
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 116 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 84 out of 116
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 116
  3. Negative: 9 out of 116
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  1. EatYoga
    Jun 6, 2017
    5
    I was so excited to see them release a new album, but on my first listen, I was a little disappointed. The album is going for a slower pace, more calming relaxing sound overall, which I didn't really enjoy from them. All songs are alright, but only In Cold Blood is really good, and feels like a true Alt-J song. 3WW and Deadcrush also stand out, but the other songs just don't reallyI was so excited to see them release a new album, but on my first listen, I was a little disappointed. The album is going for a slower pace, more calming relaxing sound overall, which I didn't really enjoy from them. All songs are alright, but only In Cold Blood is really good, and feels like a true Alt-J song. 3WW and Deadcrush also stand out, but the other songs just don't really differentiate themselves and make the album tedious for me to listen from start to finish.

    This is definitely their worst album. As an overall album, its ok, and I wouldn't mind owning it, or having it play in a restaurant or coffee shop while I'm there, but as an Alt-J album, it was disappointing.    … Expand
  2. scepticpurple
    Jul 15, 2017
    6
    As connoisseurs of the bizarre, Alt J's success has largely arisen from their ability to meticulously amalgamate the avant garde with with enough of a sense of reality to form outlandishly unorthodox but bewilderingly catchy melodies, of which sadly, Relaxer has an unfortunate lack of, and with a startlingly short track list this only shows all the more. Relaxer is by far Alt J's mostAs connoisseurs of the bizarre, Alt J's success has largely arisen from their ability to meticulously amalgamate the avant garde with with enough of a sense of reality to form outlandishly unorthodox but bewilderingly catchy melodies, of which sadly, Relaxer has an unfortunate lack of, and with a startlingly short track list this only shows all the more. Relaxer is by far Alt J's most ambitious and individual album yet, but one that perhaps, is just a little too atypical for anyone but their most devout fans to truly enjoy.… Expand
  3. DavidWasHere
    Aug 1, 2017
    6
    As someone that is an alt-J fan, I was excited to hear what the group was cooking up. Unfortunately it's a mix bag. While cutting back the songs and run time sounded like a good idea (which was my big issue with their last record, This is All Yours, an album I liked but was weighed down by bland filler tracks), unfortunately this album has a huge problem with inconsistency. With two reallyAs someone that is an alt-J fan, I was excited to hear what the group was cooking up. Unfortunately it's a mix bag. While cutting back the songs and run time sounded like a good idea (which was my big issue with their last record, This is All Yours, an album I liked but was weighed down by bland filler tracks), unfortunately this album has a huge problem with inconsistency. With two really good songs on here, In Cold Blood and Adeline (maybe 3WW), the rest of the song are either just boring and drifts aimlessly (Last Year and their agonizing cover of House of the Rising Sun) to good ideas but with horrid ideas (Deadcrush with those awful high pitch vocals and the closer Pleader being all over the place), or just flat out not being good (Hit Me Like That Snare being a poor attempt to do another Left Hand Free), RELAXER is pretty underwhelming.

    With that being said, I am being forgiving because the composition (at times) and instrumentation are fantastic as usual, shifting with the band's trademark of odd and genre-fusing styles to at times being cinematic (the exception is Hit Me Like That Snare of course), which is why I'm being a bit more forgiving with my score    … Expand
  4. Copperknob
    Jun 5, 2017
    6
    Alt-J is a English indie band that everyone I know has been recommending me to listen to but never knew where to begin. I kept asking myself “should I listen to An Awesome Wave or This is All Yours?” but now their brand new album ‘Relaxer’ is out now I decided to give it a listen without listening to their discography and knowing what genre they are. (The only Alt-J related thing i’veAlt-J is a English indie band that everyone I know has been recommending me to listen to but never knew where to begin. I kept asking myself “should I listen to An Awesome Wave or This is All Yours?” but now their brand new album ‘Relaxer’ is out now I decided to give it a listen without listening to their discography and knowing what genre they are. (The only Alt-J related thing i’ve listened to is a YouTube video called ‘How To Write a Alt-J Song’)

    The opener ‘3WW’ begins with a calm atmospheric instrumental making me waiting for the vocals to kick in, and boy was I not expecting the clean transition when the vocals come in.

    The 2 track that stands out to me was ‘Hit Me Like That Snare’, which has a David Bowie vibe, and ‘Last Year’ with it’s deep lyrics and also referencing another track ‘House of The Rising Sun’ (“Augustus came and stabilized me with my father's bane, relieving drug die as a poem”). The closer ‘Pleader’ is the most experimental out of the whole album, sounding like i’ve just walked into a church which they did well but the song itself isn’t exactly my favourite.

    Overall I've heard this record is very experimental compared to the others and I can imagine that, this was a fun project to listen to with it’s ups and downs!

    Good: In Cold Blood, Hit Me Like That Snare | Least: Pleader, 3WW    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Most Discussed Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 27
  3. Negative: 1 out of 27
  1. No Ripcord
    Jul 19, 2017
    50
    In Cold Blood follows and is excellent, with code-like vocals and a brass-funk cascade drenching a menacing chorus. Hit Me Like That Snare is alt-J flexing their nerdiness, and Deadcrush is great. The final three tracks of the record are painfully boring and terminally so.
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  2. Record Collector
    Jun 23, 2017
    20
    Alt-J’s retelling of this age-old tale of ill repute has less edge than a mesh sack of Babybel cheeses.
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  3. musicOMH.com
    Jun 19, 2017
    50
    It adds up to a disjointed, uneasy compilation of songs, with the band seemingly refusing to conform to expectation.
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