Palo Santo
by Years & Years
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 185 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 157 out of 185
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 185
  3. Negative: 22 out of 185
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  1. DavidWasHere
    Jul 6, 2018
    6
    While Years and Years debut, Communion, didn't set the world on fire, I was excited for the followup, hoping that maybe they can build upon their debut to something bigger, better, and grander. Unfortunately it felt more of the same, sadly. That's not to say the album is bad necessarily, at it's best the production is colorful and full of textures, like on dance-jams like on All For You,While Years and Years debut, Communion, didn't set the world on fire, I was excited for the followup, hoping that maybe they can build upon their debut to something bigger, better, and grander. Unfortunately it felt more of the same, sadly. That's not to say the album is bad necessarily, at it's best the production is colorful and full of textures, like on dance-jams like on All For You, Hallelujah, and Karma, however it is weighed down by bad production choices, like the darker lead off single Sanctify that the band cannot pull off, to the annoying synth melody on If You're Over Me, to the more intense trap production reminiscent of TNGHT on Lucky Escape that doesn't flatter the band, and the dull ballads that also plagued Communion. While it is admirable for the more queer topics and openness that Ollie Alexander brings to the table, unfortunately his vocals are just too weak to carry any strength or real emotion besides quivering and stiffness. I wouldn't call this bad exactly, even with some overproduction there are some great melodies, textures, and hooks here, and the lyrical content is very meaty at times, and this album will certainly mean a lot for the band's LGBT fan base, however it's more hit or miss than triumphant, and that's the real shame.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Most Discussed Album of 2018
67
#67 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. AllMusic
    Jul 27, 2018
    80
    With Palo Santo, Years & Years have crafted an album that pulses with that richness.
    Read full review
  2. Under The Radar
    Jul 24, 2018
    80
    Most impressively, while Palo Santo jumps between genres, it is surprisingly cohesive. These songs are best heard as an album and they reinforce one another in context.
    Read full review
  3. Spin
    Jul 18, 2018
    50
    Beaty and bouncy but less meaty, Palo Santo is for now an unsatisfying follow-up to a terrific debut.
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