got to love the holes in the tights........

bonus track for Before Today.

its awesome.

its called 'Shades Away'

http://www.mediafire.com/?jzgnxn1yg2z

^

you are awesome

he has been plastered casted by cynthia plaster caster!

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14324-before-today/

I'm actually really surprised you were wrong. kudos to pitchfork.

PS What a great record. This is said about a lot of albums, but it REALLY gets better after every damn listen

an album getting a 9.0 on pitchfork is like finding an lp you really really want and have never heard before and can't find for download, but you realise someone has left a maggoty turd inside the jacket, and it still costs £35. you might take the chance but it's very very offputting.

8.5.. 9.0.. close enough! Lemme guess, his label had ads, or he was covered in the news or their video section a lot before release? If so, that means that they've been scanning the internet for leak hype, and they saw they couldn't miss the boat on this release, they had to give it an official rating of 9 or more, so people don't accuse them of missing out like they did with Kurt Vile, or so I've heard elsewhere on this board...

In all seriousness, it's a great record -- definitely deserves a 9, and honestly it's one of the few of the year I can see myself listening to well into next year. It's kinda nice that a band who actually KNOWS HOW TO WRITE SONGS (with, you know, progressions, parts that make sense and connect in intelligent and interesting ways... an understanding of dynamics and relationships between instruments... songwriting, ah, how I missed thee), and HAS RHYTHM (not faceless directionless drone skronk # 325o352o352 hipster moaning asshole releasing 2520250825 things a week to constantly be in your face) is getting so much positive attention. While the album has some immediately accessible songs and sections, it doesn't reveal its true beauty until quite a few listens, and the fact that it's almost sorta, y'know... I won't say "challenging", but, you know, maybe "not obvious" and "not completely simple", er.. gives me hope. I'd like to see a band like his get popular, really. One of the only times in history I can think of someone benefitting from better production, and having a big band, and not sounding like complete overpolished shit. I liked his no-fi stuff before, but his album is addictive as hell.

Seriously though, this stuff's good. I can't express it enough. Get this record.

Adam, Ariel's on 4AD, home of The National, TV on the Radio, Atlas Sound, etc,, basically everything p4k jizzes on, no way would they give this a bad review.

Well, there ya go then ;)

There is a good possibility they actually find the record good, but I really think their reviews aren't motivated by the actual quality of a record. I don't think most "major publications" (online or print) are motivated by actual opinions. That's why most critics think the same exact thing about every single movie and album and so on... there's very few trustworthy critics left.

I mean I would imagine they probably like the record, a 9.0 is a pretty glowing review, they could've gone with anything a 7 or higher and it'd have been perceived as a good score so...whatever. But just saying, no way would they have trashed it.

I think your thing about the newsfeed/pre-release hype is the reason. Just searched Ariel Pink on P4k, they had announcements and links going back to months ago regarding Before Today. They've been monitoring this one for sure.

Arieola pink?

Hey, Bytor, where is your sig from?! That looks awesome!

I'm gonna buy the new album today. Really excited about it. I played some Ariel Pink to my flat mate last night, and he said it made him feel uncomfortable (in fact he said it reminded him of watching Twin Peaks). I love that.

I feel like I missed something. Ariel Pink does nothing for me.

Oh shit, this album leaked in April? I haven't been keeping up with leaks, but I have had my eye on this single since it showed up. I am gonna see him in July at Bimbo's hopefully.

Where is the leak, I've tried getting it via mediafire, but no luck.

Looking back on Before Today, Butthouse Blondies and Can't Hear My Eyes are easily my favorite tracks of the bunch.