Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes

Drowned In Sound“Nauseating and beautiful...” Before Today was a tough act to follow – and so it’s been followed with more of the same. But more is the operative word: Mature Themes is more detailed, more developed, more everything than its predecessor...

Pitchfork“As vital as anything he's ever recorded...” Some have pegged Mature Themes as an alienating move meant to prune Pink's flock back down to the diehards. But the album is too rich for that straightforward reading. Here, even his puerile sentiments remain generously melodic and lovingly wrought..

The Quietus“The songs on Mature Themes aren't connected by a style...” He's not the postmodern artist playing excitedly with the fragments of history, but the vaguely resistant body through which those fragments, after a brief fight, go on living...

Clash Music“Could have been one of the albums of the year...” When the songs succeed - as on the gothic, Bauhaus-inspired ‘Driftwood’ and the upbeat but surprisingly emotive ‘Live It Up’ - it’s clear that there is, beneath the quirky inaccessibility, some kind of twisted genius at play...

The Line of Best Fit“A triumphant...” Is it perfect? Hell no, but if perfection’s what your seeking there’s a point being missed. Although his production values and songwriting prowess have increased immeasurably since his early releases, you’d still struggle to call this polishe

allmusic“His most accomplished album...” While Mature Themes' conceptual glue makes it more cohesive than all of his previous work put together, glorious randomness abounds: not many artists would interrupt a song to order food at a drive-thru...

The Independent“Simply irritating, in so many ways...” His band make half-hearted stabs at an authentic psychrock swirl, but lack the gutsy conviction to create compelling garage-rock...

Guardian“It remains deeply odd...” Mature Themes poses questions of the listener: is this pop? Is this for real? Is he taking the mick? It will likely infuriate as many as it delights, but no one could dispute the singularity of Pink's vision...