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Apr 3, 2020TOPS have pretty much mastered their distinctive niche over the course of four albums, and in that respect, I Feel Alive should provide a familiar comfort, if an off-kilter one, for established fans. Initiated and new listeners alike, however, will be treated to a batch of well-crafted, sensual songs for the down-time hours.
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Apr 3, 2020Tops are now up there with Phoenix as the masters of modern soft rock – just don’t go changing.
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Apr 6, 2020It’s obvious they’re well-practiced at the craft, conjuring up 35 minutes of their trademark melancholy. It’s also an album of firsts for them - newly added keyboard player Marta Cikojevic adds a vital new layer. This in turn frees up vocalist Jane Penny to add a couple of flute solos on the record, which is a pleasant surprise. In fact, it’s the broadness of flavour on the album that is its main strength.
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Apr 3, 2020Consistency has been the name of the game for TOPS. I Feel Alive certainly doesn’t change that. Those that are already fans of TOPS’ charming and hooky pop songs won’t find much to disappoint here. What’s more, the album does expand the band’s sound in some subtle ways.
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Apr 3, 2020Beneath its whimsical summery palette, lurks a repetitive sound that dulls the vibrant texture the lineup promises. In short, it’s an album that’s halfway there.
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Apr 3, 2020It's a pleasurable, sun-drenched record — the work of a band who've found their voice, louder and clearer than before.
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Apr 7, 2020TOPS are at their best when they keep digging. Elsewhere on the album, though, they’re just chilling. They’re as despondent and nostalgic as ever, but back to the kind of windswept indie rock that is their trademark.
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Apr 13, 2020For there’s a lot to enjoy on I Feel Alive, but the general feeling of lovelorn listlessness can take its toll on a full listen.
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Q MagazineApr 7, 2020Feels so far behind the curve that it's just rolling gently backwards on roller-skates at this point. ... More edge, it seems, would only burst their bubble. [Jun 2020, p.106]