What Is This Heart?
by How to Dress Well
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 32
  3. Negative: 1 out of 32
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  1. Mojo
    Jul 24, 2014
    60
    Krell sounds like ha has taken a step back, seemingly trading his experimentalism for a more traditional blue-eyed soul route. [Jul 2014, p.91]
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  2. Rolling Stone
    Jun 24, 2014
    60
    Krell's third LP continues to elevate his R&B-inflected music into sonic clarity, though his emotions remain muddled as ever.
  3. The Observer (UK)
    Jun 23, 2014
    60
    While there are a few great moments here (Words I Don't Remember, Pour Cyril), some judicious pruning of the 55-minute running time wouldn't have gone amiss.
  5. The A.V. Club
    Jun 24, 2014
    58
    On the disjointed What Is This Heart? the disconnect between Krell’s pop leanings and his innate miserableness has never been greater.
  6. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Jul 2, 2014
    50
    It feels lush, it pleases and occasionally stirs, but there’s a cold distance between voice and instrument throughout, a distinction that barely existed on previous releases.
  7. Boston Globe
    Jun 24, 2014
    50
    What Is This Heart? often feels uncomfortably intimate, which cuts both ways..
  8. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jun 23, 2014
    50
    His attempts to revolutionise, strip bare and stretch the borders of R&B with all manner of glitches, gollums and glaciers are admirable, but it’s only when he tranquilizes his inner Usher for the downbeat piano throb of ‘See You Fall’, the spectral orchestration of ‘Pour Cyril’ and the acoustic minimalism of ‘2 Years On (Shame Dream)’ that he achieves the subtlety and invention of, say, Sufjan Stevens.
  9. PopMatters
    Jun 25, 2014
    40
    It’s nice to have a relaxing album to fall asleep to, but What Is This Heart? is an album that will straight up put you to sleep.

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User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 41
  3. Negative: 2 out of 41
  1. NazAw
    Jul 18, 2014
    9
    Less lo-fi and sketchy and more of the polished How To Dress Well project from Tom Krell. Either way, "What Is This Heart?" is certainly oneLess lo-fi and sketchy and more of the polished How To Dress Well project from Tom Krell. Either way, "What Is This Heart?" is certainly one of the most beautiful Pop and Alternative R&B records to come out this year and on longer run!

    As every album, every release with Tom Krell, he surrounds himself with shattered and heartfelt tunes. More than ever, dealing with heartbreak and capturing his own cloud filling atmosphere to sing around.
    "What Is This Heart?" is like one trip to LA's Magic Mountain, it is intriguing, haunting but on another note dark, most vulnerable and alone yet leaving a listener strong thus it's surface.
    Melodies brighter and heavier, less tentative and bolder and more of an accomplished piece of work for Krell's already brilliant but odd discography. The songs have taking a stretch, a new key to play as the orchestral beauty, depthful and hurt "Pour Cyril" whom easily could had it's place on a Terrence Malick picture or any optional international drama film. And the six minute long of straightforward but heart-hitting, chopped love letter of "Words I Don't Remember" that could aspire in awe an audience of young romance as depressing but joyous and living as movies like "The Fault in Our Stars".

    Songs that were hanging as ideas and fast in and outs on earlier LPs, feel more complete on this new set of tracks.
    “Pop, but not populist” - HTDW, in other words, to slight different context. Yes, it is more "Pop" than material from say the groundbreaking debut "Love Remains" that initially paved a way for new alternative/sub-genre up-comers (see; The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Miguel, etc..). The R&B and darkness still lays it's part, though lighter on executes as "Very Best Friend" it may bell in, which with title alone could be a hint to the 90s cut "Best Friend" featured the late-songstress Aaliyah and musician Missy Elliott. But on this round, poppier and bouncy electronica with "My very best friend.." through out the chorus I guess.
    With artists mentioned as such Frank Ocean, who managed to find a spot in the mainstream without sacrificing the-ir definite of art, is it a matter of time just till we see Tom Krell and his outfit as How To Dress Well to dominance a role in the new wave of R&B (or, see PBR&B) he set a scene for and up-lifted in the late 2000s. Or is the sound behind too weird and bearing with his spooky vocals and falsetto?

    None man can tell.

    Still on the third album in, "What Is This Heart?" delivers catchy and touching performances on top of striking instrumentals with many of this years best tracks (see; "Face Again" an anguish Krell over a schizo lyrically and sonically race on distorted, heart-raising industrial production [singers take on Death Grips a la] through pure pain).
    This is the underground but "big-budget" record that varies from Wes Anderson's playful and sugar-sweet dialogue sequences to an end third of Tarantino's Django.
    A must experience for 2014, an inspiring and influential experience that leave marks!    … Full Review »
  2. MooziikMaster
    Jun 24, 2014
    10
    There comes a time every so often when you stumble upon something extraordinary. In this case, How To Dress Well's (aka Tom Krell's) thirdThere comes a time every so often when you stumble upon something extraordinary. In this case, How To Dress Well's (aka Tom Krell's) third studio album exceeds any and all expectations put before it. From the twinkling piano opening of "2 Years On (Shame Dream)" to the soul-wrenching outbursts on "Words I Don't Remember", Krell may have one of the most awe-inspiring albums of recent memory. It squeezes itself among other emotional releases like Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago and James Blake's Overgrown, revealing the innermost feelings of a haunted man.

    Dealing with love and the heartbreak that comes with it, How To Dress Well blows any other wannabe R&B artists out of the water. He crushes every track, offering a sharp and poignant interpretation of his emotions. Whether it be by screaming "I don't even know what's best for me" on "Face Again" or wanting more time with those he loves on "Precious Love", there is no limit to Krell's capabilities. To other artists such as Sam Smith who doesn't quite have love songs figured out, take some pointers from How To Dress Well.    … Full Review »
  3. prosvetov
    Jul 7, 2014
    8
    Tom Krell стареет и перестает шаманить с голосами и сэмплировать Майкла Джексона. Теперь он уходит в 80-е и развлекается то с пляжнымиTom Krell стареет и перестает шаманить с голосами и сэмплировать Майкла Джексона. Теперь он уходит в 80-е и развлекается то с пляжными гитарками, то с минорными струнными.… Full Review »
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