To Believe
by The Cinematic Orchestra
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. Resident Advisor
    Apr 9, 2019
    60
    Swinscoe has a knack for both producing lush orchestral movements and picking worthy collaborators. On To Believe, they are unfortunately not more than the sum of their parts.
  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Mar 21, 2019
    60
    This natural movement away from jazz has led them to a sort of awkward middle ground. It feels like To Believe is a beautiful soundtrack to a film we don’t have the visuals for. And it’s just not quite enough on its own.
  3. The 405
    Mar 20, 2019
    60
    The result is a mixed bag of songs with which the group continue to earn their moniker, through moody orchestral pop pieces adorned with the group’s signature electronics, but we’re left wondering whether the soundtrack might have been more interesting.
  5. The Guardian
    Mar 15, 2019
    60
    This is an album that feels accomplished but unremarkable, neither possessing the kind of experimentalism that might push things forward nor idiosyncratic enough to stand out in a newly crowded marketplace.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Mayfieldja
    Mar 20, 2019
    6
    To Believe opens beautifully with its titular track. It’s easy to get lost in the ambient sounds, but if you give it the isolated and engagedTo Believe opens beautifully with its titular track. It’s easy to get lost in the ambient sounds, but if you give it the isolated and engaged listen, you’ll be pleased by what this British duo has given us with their 4th full-length. Tracks are wonderfully composed even within the simplicity that arises at times, but though well produced, this LP will regrettably find itself categorized as ‘really solid but somewhat forgettable’ due to the ease in which it can fade into the background. 6 out of 10.
    Tracks to enjoy “To Believe”; “Lessons”; “The Workers of Art”    … Full Review »
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