Too Bright
by Perfume Genius
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Sep 23, 2014
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 119 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 102 out of 119
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 119
  3. Negative: 7 out of 119
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  1. dc137
    Sep 23, 2014
    10
    I only recently discovered Perfume Genius when the video for "Queen" came out a few months ago, so I may be a little biased. However, after watching that masterpiece of a music video, I quickly purchased Learning and Put Your Back N 2 It and listened to them both on repeat for the next several weeks in anticipation of Too Bright's release. Those two albums, almost painfully beautiful inI only recently discovered Perfume Genius when the video for "Queen" came out a few months ago, so I may be a little biased. However, after watching that masterpiece of a music video, I quickly purchased Learning and Put Your Back N 2 It and listened to them both on repeat for the next several weeks in anticipation of Too Bright's release. Those two albums, almost painfully beautiful in their simplicity and emotional resonance, are clearly more related to each other than either is to Too Bright, but I don't see that as a bad thing. In fact, some of the sonic leaps Perfume Genius takes on Too Bright are, well, genius. All the same emotions, pulsating and cathartic as they are, are still present, but on Too Bright, Perfume Genius raises the stakes by exploring and experimenting with sounds, textures, reverberations, and distortions that only lend to the overall emotional impact of his music. Mike Hadreas is a true artist in every possible sense of the word, and part of being an artist is pushing your boundaries and never remaining static. Too Bright is just another step in the evolution of Perfume Genius, and as his third nearly flawless album--and his most over-the-top in terms of production--it is a work that should cement his place in the annals of music-as-art history.… Expand
  2. thaleslucas
    Jan 12, 2015
    10
    Perfume is really a Genius and he show it in this album. So creative, unique and celestial. He can be what he wants around screams and whisperings, feelings and reactions. He's really the best male artist that released an album on 2014.
  3. Lodz
    Sep 24, 2014
    10
    The best album of the year so far. Lyrically powerful and straightforward. Not for right wing limited minds but likely to be cherrished by anybody else. The piano from earlier works now supported with synth arrangements and Adrian Utley (Portishead!) help. No family is safe when I sashay...
  4. giorgi
    Sep 23, 2014
    6
    honestly it felt kinda empty for me, it had it's moments but it was forced for me but it deserves a 6 from me ..................................................................
  5. WadeVS
    Sep 28, 2014
    6
    I don't really get it. I mean Perfume Genius have always shown restraint, which is unique in itself these days, and the space and emptiness of this album is quite refreshing. But only really on the clsoing track is there anything to really grasp onto in terms of a melody, some soul and a drumbeat. It may be my favourite album after a few more plays but right now it comes across as very overrated.
  6. Muddsjr
    Oct 29, 2015
    6
    none of it deems too surprising, in spite of its experimental production and almost the pure stretch to differentiation Perfume Genius clearly wishes to make, but non of it is bad either, there are emotional and memorable moments
  7. more
    Oct 15, 2014
    10
    .aoty SO FAR.
    The lows arent too numberous. Maybe two songs (longpig, and the one after i'm a mother cant remember the title) arent so innovative. For the the rest, it's just emotions, extraverted by an introvert, that just dont run away from his feelings, nor statements. He just doesnt hide his face no more. I wanted to mark a 9, but the score overall's too feeble for this masterpiece,    .aoty SO FAR.
    The lows arent too numberous. Maybe two songs (longpig, and the one after i'm a mother cant remember the title) arent so innovative. For the the rest, it's just emotions, extraverted by an introvert, that just dont run away from his feelings, nor statements. He just doesnt hide his face no more. I wanted to mark a 9, but the score overall's too feeble for this masterpiece, had to pump it a bit.    … Expand
  8. ConnJack
    Oct 2, 2014
    9
    Too Bright, the new album from indie pop musician, Perfume Genius is an amazing experience from start to finish. The album combines terrific song writing with perfect melodies from the vocals, drums and synths along with the lyric’s brilliant storytelling; which take cue from 80’s new wave and pop bands like Depeche Mode and New Order. This is demonstrated in songs like “Queen”, “Grid”,Too Bright, the new album from indie pop musician, Perfume Genius is an amazing experience from start to finish. The album combines terrific song writing with perfect melodies from the vocals, drums and synths along with the lyric’s brilliant storytelling; which take cue from 80’s new wave and pop bands like Depeche Mode and New Order. This is demonstrated in songs like “Queen”, “Grid”, ‘Fool” and “All Along”. Most of the song’s lyrics reflect on the tragic and personal landscape that the singer’s life that Mike Hadreas has gone through. This album is a perfect example of how artists like this evolve creativity and artistically.… Expand
  9. mrtew
    Sep 28, 2014
    10
    Upon first hearing this genius' album streaming in advance I was blown away. I went back and listened to his first two albums which didn't so a whole lot for me as they seem to lack the instrumental edge of this latest work. It sounds like a cross between St. Vincent and Sigur Ros with maybe a little Morrissey mixed in. Very emotionally moving even if you can't understand a word he'sUpon first hearing this genius' album streaming in advance I was blown away. I went back and listened to his first two albums which didn't so a whole lot for me as they seem to lack the instrumental edge of this latest work. It sounds like a cross between St. Vincent and Sigur Ros with maybe a little Morrissey mixed in. Very emotionally moving even if you can't understand a word he's saying. Very impressed.… Expand
  10. SteMail
    Sep 29, 2014
    9
    Perfume Genius' Sophomore release, 'Put Ur Back N 2 It ', was, for me, one of the best album's I'd heard the year it came out. Hadreas's vulnerable, pained voice was such a beautiful fit over the sparce, eerie piano chords found on the song here. This stripped back approach succeeded in that it let the true emotional weight of the songs - the lyrics - hit hard, right at the front ofPerfume Genius' Sophomore release, 'Put Ur Back N 2 It ', was, for me, one of the best album's I'd heard the year it came out. Hadreas's vulnerable, pained voice was such a beautiful fit over the sparce, eerie piano chords found on the song here. This stripped back approach succeeded in that it let the true emotional weight of the songs - the lyrics - hit hard, right at the front of everything.

    On Too Bright, that hard hitting lyrical edge is still just as powerful, but it's backed with some equally emotionally impactful instrumentals, which are more varied, more unsettling, and better performed/produced/written than on anything Hadreas has done before. The lyrical themes deal mainly with being an outsider, or being opressed for who you are, or self hate and self deprication as well as body issues and darker aspects of the psyche. It's a beautiful listen from start to finish, and one of the boldest, hard hitting pop albums i've heard in a while. My only complaint is that it's a tad short at 33 mins, and i feel like some of the songs could be stretched out a bit more, but it's a brilliant record regardless. (And Queen and Grid are probably the best songs I've heard all year bar Carissa from Benji and Body and Blood from CLPPNG)    … Expand
  11. inloco
    Sep 28, 2014
    7
    Not a rip off, but very close to the great Mark Hollis. So, not as original as someone might think. PG is largely overrated. It's just a decent album.
  12. alecvl08
    Jan 7, 2015
    7
    While this album is an improvement over 2012's Put Your Back N 2 It, it doesn't exactly know what it wants. At some points, it seems like Perfume Genius is trying to have an electronic sound, but at others, he meanders along with slower that slow piano-driven tracks. Once again, PG has the right ideas, but he just can't recapture the powerful emotions of Learning. Everything just feels aWhile this album is an improvement over 2012's Put Your Back N 2 It, it doesn't exactly know what it wants. At some points, it seems like Perfume Genius is trying to have an electronic sound, but at others, he meanders along with slower that slow piano-driven tracks. Once again, PG has the right ideas, but he just can't recapture the powerful emotions of Learning. Everything just feels a little stale. There are standout tracks, but as a whole it still remains slightly lackluster.… Expand
  13. MusicPro
    Jan 3, 2015
    10
    One of the best albums of 2014 and one of the best albums of all time!
    It is amazing.

    There are some slow heartbreaking songs, fast songs, fun songs... And.. the whole album is only 32-33 minutes.

    It's short, but it's colorful.
  14. Lopesito27
    Jan 23, 2021
    8
    This album sounds just like the kind of artistic liberation we expect from an artist that never quite lives up to the expectations of creativity, but actually living up to them. This songs feel pure Perfume Genius, like no one else could make them, so props to that.
  15. WhiskeyStories
    Jul 31, 2017
    9
    Perfume Genius' album is an enchanting and captivating experience that's never boring. Mike Hadreas brings his gorgeous vocals and brief but hard-hitting lyrics with beautiful and inventive instrumentals showing real emotions of vulnerability and ferociousness. It's an extremely versatile album. There's a certain serenity to the earlier songs, then comes "My Body" with a certain oddlyPerfume Genius' album is an enchanting and captivating experience that's never boring. Mike Hadreas brings his gorgeous vocals and brief but hard-hitting lyrics with beautiful and inventive instrumentals showing real emotions of vulnerability and ferociousness. It's an extremely versatile album. There's a certain serenity to the earlier songs, then comes "My Body" with a certain oddly suffocating tenseness and confidence, the next song "Don't Let Them In" brings an otherworldy charm, then the versatility continues with the dark groovy vibes in "Grid" with some disturbing shamanic backing vocals, the futuristic instrumentation on "Longpig" is refreshing, but stands out a bit, then there's an almost angelic tenderness in "I'm a mother" with a quite bizarre flare, bringing Twin Peaks vibes. I absolutely loved Too Bright. My only flaw with it is that the flow of the tracks is a bit choppy, sometimes a bit jarring.… Expand
  16. All_ButTrU4
    Feb 24, 2022
    8
    best album . Lyrically powerful and straightforward. Not for right wing limited minds but likely to be cherrished by anybody else. The piano from earlier works now supported with synth arrangements and Adrian Utley (Portishead!) help. No family is safe when I sashay

Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best Album of 2014
67
#67 Most Discussed Album of 2014
47
#47 Most Shared Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. The Quietus
    Nov 26, 2014
    70
    He lacks the humour, more explicit angst and emotional confidence of John Grant and lacks Garneau's devotion to melodrama and pop. He is hardly Stephin Merritt. He exists independently as a cultural explorer as well as simply a very fine, very sensitive songwriter.
    Read full review
  2. Magnet
    Nov 12, 2014
    80
    Too Bright highlights the moments of buoyancy that dotted his first two outings--both of which sounded nothing if not dour on first listen--and setting the stage for Hadress as one off the most compelling new American songwriters of the last half-decade. [No. 115, p.61]
  3. Mojo
    Nov 7, 2014
    80
    It is a deeply odd but consistently compelling work. [Nov 2014, p.98]
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