Monsters

"Odell's love of Springsteen lifts piano ballad "Lose You Again" to histrionic heights, and his evolution falters and overreaches, but the rewards are great. The highlights both last just 90 seconds, like Sixties pop. "Noise" blurs career doubts and internet paranoia into an escalating cry of anguish, a cultural panic attack. "Country Star" then casts a contrastingly cool eye on a one-night stand with an American country star in an English hotel bar, making out on a barroom windowsill "between the dust and the daffodils". Later, paparazzi blur past her limo, "like rain on tinted glass". When the closing, straightforwardly pretty ballad "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" comes, he's earned it".

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"Tom Odell (...) står [faktisk] stærkest, når han skruer ned for staffage. Det gør han desværre kun i glimt og forfalder i stedet ærgerligt til effekter og 'nemme' forsøg på at gøre musikken mere... ung? frisk? smart? (...) Det er svært at sige - det fungerer desværre for sjældent".

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"The Chichester singer-songwriter mines more experimental sounds, but loses his way ... You're left wishing he actually committed to it fully - currently, all we're left with is a slightly cynical and half-arsed attempt at getting in on the latest zeitgeisty pop sound".

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"A sonic diary in every sense of the word, monsters sheds free the Tom Odell expectation and stares blank faced at the reality. With some clever production, it is an album that sees a complete re-invention. Although born from some dark periods, it sees Odell embark on a new chapter with good stead".

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