The House
by Porches
  • Record Label: Domino
  • Release Date: Jan 19, 2018
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
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  1. DavidWasHere
    Feb 24, 2018
    7
    Porches continue the intoxicating retro-80s synthpop and intimate songwriting from their fantastic Pool with the House. There are some fantastic cuts like the techno dance number Find Me, the worldbeat-influenced Anymore, and Leave the House and Now the Water continues Aaron Maine's winning streak of great indie pop cuts with languid-yet-hypnotic atmosphere. However, there are a ton ofPorches continue the intoxicating retro-80s synthpop and intimate songwriting from their fantastic Pool with the House. There are some fantastic cuts like the techno dance number Find Me, the worldbeat-influenced Anymore, and Leave the House and Now the Water continues Aaron Maine's winning streak of great indie pop cuts with languid-yet-hypnotic atmosphere. However, there are a ton of cuts on here that feel more like filler, particularly the ones under 2 minutes. Country feels like a demo rather than a lead single, Akeren just hides it's bland composition with the Norwegian singing, and Swimmer is not a heartbreaking piano ballad from a robot, it's just obnoxious. But it's not like there are songs here that aren't underwhelming when they are longer. Wobble is a repetitive ballad with some of the worst synth tones for the "solo," By My Side is a bland 80s ballad that would have been found on a b-side to a beaten up 45 in a Goodwill. Of course this can be looked past for a solid indie pop album, however that is if you can look past Maine's languid delivery, which from my understanding is always the biggest deal breaker for people not into Porches. Which I can understand why, and there are times where the use of auto-tune does feel like overkill (particularly on Anymore, which I do like by the way, By My Side, Wobble, and Swimmer). The album is not as consistent as Pool, but if you were hooked on their past effort, there are tunes here that will win you over. Maybe not worth revisiting a ton, but still worthwhile in my eyes.… Expand
  2. OrenBrown
    Feb 23, 2018
    7
    Really nice production and vocal. A few beautiful tracks on this one, but also some filler that prevents it from being really standout.
  3. a_straats
    Jan 20, 2018
    8
    My first time listening to Porches, and I was pleasantly surprised. This album has really good beats and you can relate well to the pain he is feeling. Good album.

Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. The Quietus
    Jan 22, 2018
    80
    On The House, Maine is vulnerable, honest and strong--he soars on this, his best album yet.
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  2. Pitchfork
    Jan 22, 2018
    64
    Punctuating The House’s actual songs are occasionally baffling interludes (one, “Åkeren,” is sung entirely in Norwegian, a first for Porches), which play more like unfinished sketches than intentional moments of quiet.
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  3. The Line of Best Fit
    Jan 22, 2018
    70
    Though longtime fans of Porches--or any of Maine’s work--will never get another Pool, The House makes for a fulfilling, if not occasionally excellent listen and addition to Maine’s discography.
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