Silver Eye
by Goldfrapp
  • Record Label: Mute US
  • Release Date: Mar 31, 2017
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 52 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 52
  3. Negative: 4 out of 52
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  1. CharlieGray
    Mar 31, 2017
    10
    Definitely one of the best art pop records of 2017, Goldfrapp have made and awesome comeback, reinventing themselves once more, which is impressive. A must listen.
  2. GuillaumeHigg
    Apr 2, 2017
    9
    Most of the bad critics go this way; ''One album is electro, the other is accoustic, its predictable'' What?! Like those 2 words explained anything by themselve for anyone who pays attention to carefully crafted sounds. Or; ''This one puts together everything they can do so its not new''... When i listen to Goldfrapp, i wanna get Goldfrapp; mission accomplished. People who just needMost of the bad critics go this way; ''One album is electro, the other is accoustic, its predictable'' What?! Like those 2 words explained anything by themselve for anyone who pays attention to carefully crafted sounds. Or; ''This one puts together everything they can do so its not new''... When i listen to Goldfrapp, i wanna get Goldfrapp; mission accomplished. People who just need things to be pure novelty must suffer from a restless boredom i do not envy. This album does bring together all they can do, but only the best of it. It most direct reference is Black Cherry with some of the natural mystique of 7th tree, but the songs are strong enough to be taken solely as themselve. The record is concise yet exploratory, confident but not indulgent, and the construction of the sound is, yes, Electro (duh) but if thats enough to explain what it means, might as well stop talking about music right here and now.… Expand
  3. HKBryce
    Apr 4, 2017
    9
    Easily the best album of their career. The music and lyrics in Silver Eye are both on point and the album captivates (or is that pulsates?) from start to finish.
  4. mysaturday
    Apr 3, 2017
    10
    This is a gorgeous record. There are layers of rich audible landscapes and a feeling of magic throughout this album. Alison sounds great and the production overall is tight. Systemagic is exhilarating and just fun. Moon In Your Mouth is epic and heart-wrenching. It's going to take time to really digest this record, but I love it already. Well done, Goldfrapp.
  5. vargo001
    Apr 2, 2017
    5
    At the end of a band's career, when the quirky fun and the tuneful pathos have run out, one gets clompy, important sounding marches. I think back to Brill Bruisers from New Pornographers. Same thing. Big, clunky beats let you know, "This song was supposed to be important, but we ran out of tunes and lyrics." And still, beyond excited to see them soon in concert!
  6. owenrw89
    Oct 20, 2017
    7
    Silver Eye is the first Goldfrapp album that represents their entire back catalogue in one way or another. It features the oddness of 'Felt Mountain' (see Tigerman), the electro-power of 'Black Cherry' & 'Supernature' (see Anymore, Systemagic & Become The One), the calming-yet-commanding beauty of 'Seventh Tree' (see Beast That Never Was), the upbeat pop of 'Head First' (see Everything IsSilver Eye is the first Goldfrapp album that represents their entire back catalogue in one way or another. It features the oddness of 'Felt Mountain' (see Tigerman), the electro-power of 'Black Cherry' & 'Supernature' (see Anymore, Systemagic & Become The One), the calming-yet-commanding beauty of 'Seventh Tree' (see Beast That Never Was), the upbeat pop of 'Head First' (see Everything Is Never Enough) and finally the visual feel of 'Tales of Us' (see Faux Suede Drifter). We're then left with tracks like Moon In Your Mouth and Zodiac Black which indicate that they're still able to create new and interesting sounds.
    The fact they've used sounds that we've heard from them before does make a little less compelling than previous records, but it's still a stunning piece of alternative electro-pop that any Goldfrapp fan will fully embrace and appreciate.    … Expand
  7. marcmyworks
    May 10, 2017
    8
    This album really should be called 'Black Cherry Volume 2'. In their attempt to go even further off of their mainstream success Goldfrapp still manage to show the world how dance music should sound. Download: Systemagic, Ocean, Tigerman, Moon in your Mouth
  8. gustavolsb
    Jan 18, 2018
    8
    It is a fresh new body of work that reunites all their remarkable characteristics: heavy synthesizers, simple lyrical structure and melancholia, but at the same time comes with a haunting, but pleasant scenery. While the songs "Tigerman", "Become the One" and "Zodiac Black" bring a complete new atmosphere to their sound (including new vocal effects), "Systemagic", "Everything is NeverIt is a fresh new body of work that reunites all their remarkable characteristics: heavy synthesizers, simple lyrical structure and melancholia, but at the same time comes with a haunting, but pleasant scenery. While the songs "Tigerman", "Become the One" and "Zodiac Black" bring a complete new atmosphere to their sound (including new vocal effects), "Systemagic", "Everything is Never Enough" bring the band's recognizable nostalgia.… Expand
  9. joethealien
    Jun 2, 2017
    10
    after 2013's stunning but occasionally stagnant Tales of Us, Goldfrapp returns with an unbelievably radiant album, more reminiscent of Head First and Black Cherry
    Anymore, Systemagic and Tigerman bring the listener back to Supernature and Black Cherry with fierce electroclash pop to strut around rainy streets to
    Everything Is Never Enough (my personal fav), Become the One, Faux Suede    after 2013's stunning but occasionally stagnant Tales of Us, Goldfrapp returns with an unbelievably radiant album, more reminiscent of Head First and Black Cherry
    Anymore, Systemagic and Tigerman bring the listener back to Supernature and Black Cherry with fierce electroclash pop to strut around rainy streets to
    Everything Is Never Enough (my personal fav), Become the One, Faux Suede Drifter, Beast That Never Was and Moon in Your Mouth bring the listener new wave/synthpop synths and beats redolent of Gary Numan and Depeche Mode
    then we have tracks that are completely in a league of their own sonically: Ocean and Zodiac Black
    these tracks bring about new rich layers of sound and darker synths and are thrilling in their own rights
    overall, this album is just another fabulously lush step in the discography of Alison and Will    … Expand
  10. WhiskeyStories
    Jun 21, 2017
    6
    I found Silver Eye to be a bit underwhelming. The whole album has a nice cohesive sound, but it just felt too serene, too tame for me. Especially considering some of Goldfrapp's earlier stuff. Silver Eye is still a well put together record, with highlights like the most intense track "Ocean", the fantastic "Zodiac Black" and "Moon In Your Mouth", but I just felt it kinda lacked bite. I'dI found Silver Eye to be a bit underwhelming. The whole album has a nice cohesive sound, but it just felt too serene, too tame for me. Especially considering some of Goldfrapp's earlier stuff. Silver Eye is still a well put together record, with highlights like the most intense track "Ocean", the fantastic "Zodiac Black" and "Moon In Your Mouth", but I just felt it kinda lacked bite. I'd still recommend listening to it. I'd give it a strong 6 or a light 7 on further listening.… Expand
  11. leonardodrozino
    Apr 6, 2017
    10
    Fresh and unexpected, Silver Eye shows that Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory are able to keep reinventing themselves and doing whatever they want to do - and they always do it well.
  12. andrevictor
    Apr 13, 2017
    8
    Silver Eye not only holds firm to Goldfrapp's purpose in reinventing itself, but also redeems a number of elements originally tested by the duo on the first studio album. However, this permanent sense of renewal at no time prevents the work from growing in the midst of a musical production more geared towards electropop and delicate melodies, allowing to build a light album and at the sameSilver Eye not only holds firm to Goldfrapp's purpose in reinventing itself, but also redeems a number of elements originally tested by the duo on the first studio album. However, this permanent sense of renewal at no time prevents the work from growing in the midst of a musical production more geared towards electropop and delicate melodies, allowing to build a light album and at the same time different, allowing for incredible sensations.… Expand
  13. TheFinalWord
    Apr 22, 2019
    10
    This recording will be enjoyed for generations to come. 40, 50 years from now they will continue to be celebrated, like The Cure is or Pet Sounds is. Without question.

Awards & Rankings

84
#84 Most Discussed Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. The Telegraph (UK)
    Apr 19, 2017
    60
    Goldfrapp hark back to the bombast of a time when electronica was all about man (or woman) versus machine. On Silver Eye, the machines are ascendant.
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  2. Blurt Magazine
    Apr 17, 2017
    80
    Silver Eye is moving forward in that Goldfrapp did not resolve to focus solely on one style, they effortlessly melded several influences, leaving us with a fine album to introduce 2017.
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  3. Clash Music
    Apr 11, 2017
    70
    The album perhaps sags a little in towards the later stages--weighed down by the claustrophobic washes of sound. But as a whole, it compliments the rest of their back catalogue well.
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