Underneath the Pine Image

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critics What's this?

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Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

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  • Summary: With upbeat, experimental pop songs and psychedelic synthesizer sounds, this duo defines their music under the genre of chillwave.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Mar 18, 2011
    This record a solid improvement over the excellent Causers Of This, and I am excited for his continued growth as an artist.
  2. Mar 8, 2011
    The rest of the album holds up to the single's brilliance, as Bundick traverses quite a few genres-from his trademark chillwave, to acoustic dream-pop ("Before I'm Done") and severe piano-led ballads ("Good Hold").
  3. Feb 22, 2011
    There isn't the clarity that characterised his lovelorn debut. It's a minor criticism, though, and one that doesn't tarnish an album as equally rich in invention as his first offering.
  4. Mar 23, 2011
    This album seemingly floats on a pool of nostalgia, pop culture references momentarily bursting to the surface before slowly sinking back into its blue depths. [Feb. 2011, p. 69]
  5. Jun 6, 2011
    You can get long way into Underneath the Pine without gaining any clear impression of exactly what kind of record it is that you're listening to. But amorphous isn't the worst thing in the world to be.
  6. Feb 28, 2011
    That Toro Y Moi's new record Underneath the Pine is distinctly a product of his songwriting, without sounding exactly like his 2010 debut, suggests that chillwave may still have some legs to it after all.
  7. Feb 18, 2011
    Despite the oversaturated warmth of Beneath the Pine's production, this is a cold record, an archetype of technical mastery and genre-worship prevailing over the artistry of an individual voice. As a result, Bundick often sounds not like one artist, but the amalgamation of a whole movement's worth of ideas and styles, borrowed and rearranged into a faceless, forgettable whole.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Apr 22, 2011
    This is my favorite album of the year so far. Ridiculously unique and amazing. I've got no idea why it hasn't scored higher. I could listen to it endlessly. Expand
  2. Mar 23, 2012
    I've heard Causers of This and enjoyed it thoroughly. Catchy vocals, beautiful music and thought provoking atmospheres. But there's something about Underneath the Pine that feels... Classic. Never has an album had me repeating it over and over again. Whenever New Beat come on, I can't help but get into it; bobbing my head in the car, really feeling the music. Chaz Bundick has become one of my favorite musicians of all time. This album is funky, melodic, beautiful, calm, sad.... AMAZING. Expand
  3. Feb 28, 2011
    "Bundick strove to improve (in my opinion) on his first release by replacing much of the synth-pop and drum machines with a much wider array of instruments and an actual drum kit. The result is a richer, more musically diverse album that elevates Bundick out of the 'chillwave' genre to another level as a songwriter and arranger." For my full review see: http://www.altinterstate.com/2011/02/album-review-toro-y-moi-underneath-pine.html Collapse
  4. Oct 3, 2011
    Toro Y Moi surpasses expectations as he comes back with even better no. 2. Itâ
  5. Nov 4, 2011
    Another great work confirmed by his Live performance..Dreamy and groovy, Bundick has realised an album that raises in beauty each time you listen to it Expand
  6. Feb 26, 2014
    Dropping synth restructurings for live arrangements allow for Toro Y Moi to grow as an artist immensely on this work, but that exchange could have been avoided with a more impressive mashing of the two. There is something pleasantly - almost welcoming - haunting about moments in Underneath The Pine. The content in the songs have more emotionally depth than in his previous album, but the album also makes the listener wonder whether or not Chaz has the LP structure all figured it out, or still toying with ideas. Expand