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Familiars
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Familiars Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 58 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth album from Brooklyn indie band led by Pete Silberman was influenced by the Eastern philosophy books Silberman was reading.
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  • Record Label: Anti
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi, Indie Electronic, Chamber Pop
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Top Track

Hotel
In the hotel, I can't remember how the past felt I rent a blank room to stop living in my past self Fuck now, I'm outta here tomorrow Fuck now, I'm... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. The A.V. Club
    Jun 17, 2014
    91
    With this rewarding album, The Antlers take the band’s wounds and find glimmers of redemption and hope.
  2. Paste Magazine
    Jun 24, 2014
    89
    The album is ultimately the most cathartic and uplifting that songwriter Peter Silberman has crafted, indicating the demons he has long wrestled with may be tiring, if not nearing defeat.
  3. Q Magazine
    Jun 13, 2014
    80
    It's a record that demands you get to know it inside out. [Jul 2014, p.101]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. musicOMH.com
    Jun 16, 2014
    80
    Poignant, lush and beautifully played, this is another predictably wonderful record from The Antlers.
  5. Mojo
    Jul 2, 2014
    80
    Unwieldy on paper, it comes to life through odd, prickly phrases, but the music cuts deepest. [Aug 2014, p.93]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Pitchfork
    Jun 18, 2014
    78
    Against all odds, they’ve become one of the most interesting indie rock bands working, and the stately beauty of Familiars is the latest satisfying effort from a band that continues to reward those listeners who give them the attention their elegant, secretly weird music deserves.
  7. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 13, 2014
    60
    Familiars, then, is unsurprisingly, immensely moving.... But Familiars lacks any real musical inventiveness.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. zmusicmovieman
    Jun 24, 2014
    9
    The Antlers have slowly creeped under the radar with nothing but brilliant, original music. It's just a matter of time before they get theThe Antlers have slowly creeped under the radar with nothing but brilliant, original music. It's just a matter of time before they get the credit they deserve. No one should expect to get another Hospice but they seem to grow in ideas and originality as they grow older as a band. I consider them the Radiohead of American music, and not just because they both have brilliant lead singers that sing through their bones on each note. They are quite unique and I love everything they have put out to this point and I truly think they are easily one of the best bands in the world at the moment, even if the world doesn't know it yet. Their brilliance is unparalleled in almost everything they have made to this point. I hope for even better going forward and I hope their brilliance spreads world wide as well.… Expand
  2. adhamhany
    Jul 13, 2014
    8
    It's not the kind of music i expected from the Antlers, but it nonetheless manages to be better than their two previous beautiful albumsIt's not the kind of music i expected from the Antlers, but it nonetheless manages to be better than their two previous beautiful albums ("Hospice" and "Burst Apart"). The music is full of subtle touches that converge together to create this wonderful serene mood. The lyrics and vocals are great as well.

    I truly like this band and wish them the best of luck in their future.    … Expand
  4. jotaeseche
    Aug 2, 2014
    8
    As charmingly and deliciously created and performed as the album grows further and further, the consistency and stability the work projects isAs charmingly and deliciously created and performed as the album grows further and further, the consistency and stability the work projects is sometimes diminished by excessively steady and slow structures that end up being a bit boring or tedious. Despite saying that if it had lasted 35 minutes instead of 53 it would have been quite tastier and prettier, the combination of exquisite trumpets, aesthetic and profound lyrics and Silberman‘s astonishing voice denotes a purely talented band that has made a nostalgic and thrilling job (all over again).… Expand
  5. pdesaab07
    Jun 19, 2014
    8
    Another great album from the Antlers... more of a following from Burst Apart than Hospice but very well executed and subtle music arrangementsAnother great album from the Antlers... more of a following from Burst Apart than Hospice but very well executed and subtle music arrangements as well as the songwriting.

    I do believe they are an under-rated band and they deverve much more success. The introduction Palace is a gem by itself !

    Bravo.    … Expand
  6. Ricko
    Jun 17, 2015
    7
    Previous album "Burst Apart" was more song driven compared to the sparse, soundscape of their excellent "Hospice" album. "Familiars" fallsPrevious album "Burst Apart" was more song driven compared to the sparse, soundscape of their excellent "Hospice" album. "Familiars" falls between the two. Pretty much all the songs pass the 5 minute mark and choruses are a rare thing. Instead, the band create a mood with each track that fits in with the overall album - a much more upbeat affair than was found on "Hospice" but more sprawling than "Burst Apart". If you've heard "I Don't Want Love" from that "Burst Apart", this is what you can expect here but longer and with more exploration going on. Not on par with whats gone before but still decent.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Best Album of 2014

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