Varmints
by Anna Meredith
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. musicOMH.com
    Mar 8, 2016
    90
    It’s a marvellously un-sobering boisterous beast of a record, and a sparkling début.
  2. Pitchfork
    Mar 8, 2016
    84
    She wears her obvious theoretical grounding lightly and never lets it obstruct her ecstatic quest for new ideas and deranged stimuli. And Varmints is a knockout, the kind that makes you see cartoon stars.
  3. Pretty Much Amazing
    Apr 18, 2016
    83
    Varmints displays both extremely well crafted instrumentation, and an overwhelming creative freedom.
  5. No Ripcord
    Apr 13, 2016
    80
    Varmints is a playfully delirious listen that constantly rewards with new ideas at every corner, one that sketches an idealized pop landscape without recognizing that it actually touches all of its requisite pleasure points.
  6. Uncut
    Mar 22, 2016
    80
    Largely instrumental, but with some strong vocal hooks, this is music of ascension. [May 2016, p.76]
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  7. Q Magazine
    Mar 16, 2016
    80
    Visceral, cerebral, utterly lovable. [May 2016, p.112]
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  8. The Wire
    Mar 8, 2016
    80
    A poised and playful opus of 11 tracks dominated byt the sound of maxed-out 1980s 8-bit videogame soundtracks zapped 300 years into the future. [Mar 2016, p.47]
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  9. The Line of Best Fit
    Mar 8, 2016
    80
    Even the songs with more conventional structure feature an attention to detail and craftsmanship that is clearly rare.
  10. Dusted Magazine
    Mar 17, 2016
    70
    Varmints is an expansive, surprising listen for which sonic left turns can be taken for granted.

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best Album of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 3 out of 27
  1. peterhayes
    Apr 11, 2016
    10
    Anna Meredith's Varmints is a triumph in the studies of electronic, classical and experimental music and one of my favorite albums of 2016 soAnna Meredith's Varmints is a triumph in the studies of electronic, classical and experimental music and one of my favorite albums of 2016 so far.

    The one adjective that seems to appropriately describe most of Anna Meredith's music is "giant". The percussion, the synths, the horns, everything is elevated to a massive roar for her debut. Even on the more subdued tracks there is an unmistakable sense of urgency that is constantly driving the album forward to the next level, at times even threatening to derail the whole thing.

    But it never does. Meredith's sense of composition and choice of arrangement is the main show here. There are moments when it feels like she's about to drive over the edge of the cliff or at least get stuck in a corner, but her seemingly endless understanding of classical music is like the guiding light allowing her to navigate the intricate and chaotic worlds she builds.    … Full Review »
  2. Custom_Concerns
    Apr 17, 2016
    7
    The best thing about Varmints is the melding of a variety of musical styles that rarely see mixing: classical, electronic, and indie pop areThe best thing about Varmints is the melding of a variety of musical styles that rarely see mixing: classical, electronic, and indie pop are blended together into an intriguing and altogether pleasant album. No tracks stand out to me as particularly great songs, but they work well in context and make this album one that I would definitely recommend, especially if the genres I listed above interest you.

    68/100    … Full Review »
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