Tasmania
by Pond
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 37
  3. Negative: 2 out of 37
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  1. beardenbob
    Mar 29, 2019
    9
    Love this album, start to finish. Ironically, it's what I wish Tame Impala sounded more like.
  2. Tricko2103
    Apr 6, 2019
    9
    This is a great record that gets better and better with repeated listenings. I don’t understand why these guys aren’t huge. This and their last album are sexy, funny, hummable, distinctive and are equally satisfying on the car stereo or on headphones in a dark room.
  3. Icedrop
    Mar 1, 2019
    9
    Pond is back, with more ambitious fun ideas. Still as colourful and playful. Prob their best album yet, in terms of sound and ideas. I would given it a 10/10. If it wasn´t for one song. Overall, this is very strong album. Once again it sees them teaming up with Kevin "Mr Tame Impala" Parker on the producing. It´s thing that has always worked for Pond. Seeing as Kevin Parker knows PondPond is back, with more ambitious fun ideas. Still as colourful and playful. Prob their best album yet, in terms of sound and ideas. I would given it a 10/10. If it wasn´t for one song. Overall, this is very strong album. Once again it sees them teaming up with Kevin "Mr Tame Impala" Parker on the producing. It´s thing that has always worked for Pond. Seeing as Kevin Parker knows Pond better than themselves, jokes aside. Pond is band that never stop to amaze me. One thing I always appreciated, is their need to never repeat themselves. Thank god for bands/artists like that.. And as much as they say this is like "sister album" to "The Weather" This has more "70´s pop rock /groove" to it. This is at times reminding me of Bowie, and The Flaming Lips. Some moments Nick Allbrook seems to channel bit of Prince. This is much worth listen. What superb album!… Expand
  4. IsabelL
    Mar 3, 2019
    10
    This is great album! Nothing about this is mediocre and forgetful. The ones doesn't like it at all. Seems to be the one wanting the "hit tracks" such as Daisy. Which is very easy to "digest" on first listen. This album is perhaps Pond´s most complex. Strive back is just not Ponds concept. I don´t understand the ones that are surprised they aren´t getting new "Beard Wives Denim" This isThis is great album! Nothing about this is mediocre and forgetful. The ones doesn't like it at all. Seems to be the one wanting the "hit tracks" such as Daisy. Which is very easy to "digest" on first listen. This album is perhaps Pond´s most complex. Strive back is just not Ponds concept. I don´t understand the ones that are surprised they aren´t getting new "Beard Wives Denim" This is the 8th!, yeah you heard me right. 8th record by them. And they always challenged themselves, trying out new things. That´s why I enjoy this band so much. It should be applauded. Too many artists get stuck in old ways. However, there is difference in completely losing your DNA as musicians. Into something the listeners can´t recognise. But you still hear this is Pond, and very much so I would say. Curious musicians going into unknown territory and who are constantly refining themselves.. Can´t wait to see what the next step is for these guys!… Expand
  5. thunderboltway
    Mar 3, 2019
    7
    The cynical view that this is a typical Pond effort run through the filter of the "Currents" studio gear, a concept which lacks the novelty fans have come to expect from the band in 2019, especially considering Pond's often cold and detached psychedelic lyrics lack the confessional intrigue that made that record so compelling.

    The optimistic view is that the band have cooled and toned    The cynical view that this is a typical Pond effort run through the filter of the "Currents" studio gear, a concept which lacks the novelty fans have come to expect from the band in 2019, especially considering Pond's often cold and detached psychedelic lyrics lack the confessional intrigue that made that record so compelling.

    The optimistic view is that the band have cooled and toned down their production bombast here in the effort to get a more introspective sound and broader audience, and while I think I listen to this band precisely for its blazing, sharper edges, I still wouldn't trade this effort for anything else as it's grown on me, reminiscent to Yo La Tengo chilling out their fans by releasing "And Then Nothing" after "I Can Hear The Heart Beating"

    The album is often beautiful and evokes Damon Albarn, Marvin Gaye, Air, Grandaddy, and Arcade Fire, but please note:

    If you listen, I recommend skipping straight to the title track, "Tasmania."
    Not to knock the first two tracks, but they sound like warm-up while the rest of the record features the atmospheric, progressive experimentation you would expect from the band, and their inclusion alone drops the review score two solid points.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Under The Radar
    Apr 12, 2019
    70
    Over burbling synths and cosmic jam sessions the soundscapes veer from of Montreal to Can, but the innocently pensive voice at the core of it all unifies all of these threads into a quilt your psyched out grandmother knit to keep you warm whenever you needed to recharge.
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  2. AllMusic
    Mar 22, 2019
    70
    It's Pond's personality that shines brightest on Tasmania, and they've turned these songs into an off-kilter gem that's worth exploring.
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  3. musicOMH.com
    Mar 12, 2019
    60
    Despite some excellent high points, Tasmania appears jumbled as a whole and there are too many tracks that just don’t hit the bullseye for it to be upheld as the best Pond have recorded.
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