The Rip Tide
by Beirut
  • Record Label: Pompeii
  • Release Date: Aug 30, 2011
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 35
  3. Negative: 1 out of 35
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. eastside
    Aug 31, 2011
    8
    Another enjoyable effort from Beirut. Creative instrumentation, well-constructed songs and some wonderful warbling/crooning from Zach Condon. Looking through the credits, nary a guitar is listed. This is a good thing! Lovely horns and interesting percussion color this strong set throughout. Definitely a nice follow-up to the last album. Good starting point for the curious--if you enjoyAnother enjoyable effort from Beirut. Creative instrumentation, well-constructed songs and some wonderful warbling/crooning from Zach Condon. Looking through the credits, nary a guitar is listed. This is a good thing! Lovely horns and interesting percussion color this strong set throughout. Definitely a nice follow-up to the last album. Good starting point for the curious--if you enjoy this record, be sure to check out the others.… Expand
  2. Texas_Dawg
    Sep 28, 2011
    10
    Best album of 2011 so far. Beautiful music. "Santa Fe," "East Harlem," "Vagabond" are the best efforts, but the album is enjoyable from start to finish with no misses.
  3. lilkillpappy
    Feb 14, 2013
    10
    A great consistent album. Original, dynamic, and honest. Great lyrics, great vocals, soulful music. Don't know what to say other than that. It's the kind of music that takes you somewhere far away.
  4. 2hip2beahipster
    Sep 1, 2011
    8
    An enjoyable album from Condon and Co. Though the instrumentation aren't as grandiose as his previous efforts, they are still creative, and still feel fresh. Condon is charming and tormented as ever as whines and croons his way through the album. The thing I enjoy the most about this album though, for some reason, is the percussion. With basic percussion, the album would still score an 8An enjoyable album from Condon and Co. Though the instrumentation aren't as grandiose as his previous efforts, they are still creative, and still feel fresh. Condon is charming and tormented as ever as whines and croons his way through the album. The thing I enjoy the most about this album though, for some reason, is the percussion. With basic percussion, the album would still score an 8 for me, and would still be as enjoyable, but with percussion such as these I feel as it adds something. It's just a good all-around effort. Once again, the album isn't as "BIG" as his previous efforts, but it's still a great listen through.… Expand
  5. jotaeseche
    Aug 2, 2014
    9
    Here we found a more sophisticated and elaborated process of writing from Zach Condon, while persisting in the same (beautiful) instruments and continuing with that precious melancholy in all the songs. Sounding more pop than folk, the work (eventually) clearly shows a direction change that has to be celebrated. It's like the same marvelous flower just seen through a different perspective.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. AllMusic
    Dec 6, 2011
    80
    Condon spends much of Rip Tide writing in first person, and it lends an air of much needed intimacy to the always gorgeous, yet historically elusive Beirut sound.
    Read full review
  2. PopMatters
    Sep 2, 2011
    50
    I have to think that as an EP, The Rip Tide would be a rousing success. But as it is, there are just too many bland, uninspiring tracks that drag down the whole experience.
    Read full review
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    Sep 1, 2011
    80
    These ideas of acceptance, hope and personal reflection make The Rip Tide an accomplished, restrained record, which sees Condon forgetting his travels, and forging his own native sound.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »