-
10.0
123175
10.0 |
NME
The breakout star has crafted a quietly subversive pop record that, for all its deceptive softness, challenges old perceptions of sexuality and mental health
Read Review
-
9.1
123248
9.1 |
Consequence Of Sound
Parks treads the subjects of depression, mental health, and queerness with care and spot-on intuition
Read Review
-
9.0
123153
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Every track can mould around different settings and this level of versatility in a debut album is a rarity. Collapsed In Sunbeams is timeless
Read Review
-
9.0
123161
9.0 |
Northern Transmissions
At once effortless and dripping with deluxe sonic nuances, the focal point of Collapsed In Sunbeams is the crème de la crème fragrance of Arlo Parks’ exquisite voice, embroidered with her elysian lyricism
Read Review
-
9.0
123162
9.0 |
Gigwise
An old soul with a poetic heart
Read Review
-
8.5
123249
8.5 |
Under The Radar
Arlo Parks’ debut confirms what fans of her EPs likely already knew; she is a rising songwriter of unusual skill and grace. Her take on bedroom pop feels unusually distinctive in a genre that has exploded in popularity over the past few years
Read Review
-
8.5
123548
8.5 |
Spectrum Culture
The young artist has put together a stunning display of her talent for “making rainbows out of something painful”
Read Review
-
8.3
123441
8.3 |
Gig Soup
As a debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams has summed up what Arlo Parks is all about. There may be nothing special about the production but it's the poetry and dream like melody that shines through. Pure bedroom pop
Read Review
-
8.0
123452
8.0 |
The FT
There are deep currents beneath the easy musical flow of the Londoner’s debut album
Read Review
-
8.0
123326
8.0 |
Albumism
This is a remarkably mature debut album for a twenty-year-old, filled with poetic flourishes, luxurious soul-pop stylings and Parks’ velvety, characterful voice
Read Review
-
8.0
123328
8.0 |
Vinyl Chapters
The record features creative songs that make you feel upbeat and part of a new movement. She’s one to watch out for and it will be exciting to see what she has in store for us next
Read Review
-
8.0
123296
8.0 |
XS Noize
A deeply personal record, but its creator welcomes listeners into her world to indulge in its poetry. It doesn’t look like she’ll be slowing down any time soon
Read Review
-
8.0
123595
8.0 |
Sungenre
Collapsed In Sunbeams could have been a curated home run for a musician at the height of their success, but instead it’s Parks first foray into creating a single body of work, something that evokes her strengths and her personality
Read Review
-
8.0
123262
8.0 |
Evening Standard
As a whole, these are songs that offer comfort rather than expressing pain – which could be what her generation, and the rest of us, need the most
Read Review
-
8.0
123187
8.0 |
Uncut
The 20-year-old punctuates beautifully languid, trip-hoppy vignettes with a voice redolent of Martina Topley-Bird and a neat line in spoken word poetic musings. Print edition only
-
8.0
123227
8.0 |
DIY
She makes light work of demonstrating exactly why the nation has become so invested in her art
Read Review
-
8.0
123231
8.0 |
The Guardian
She may be saddled with being the Voice of a Generation, but the London singer-songwriter’s warm, conversational and observant debut justifies the hype
Read Review
-
8.0
123232
8.0 |
The Independent
A spot of brightness in a dark year
Read Review
-
8.0
123168
8.0 |
musicOMH
Most of the sound on the album treads an endearing old-school hip-hop feel that will have everyone clamouring for the hazy and fun-filled summers of yore, yet there are a couple of departures in the electronica-lite Bluish and the dark and sensual For Violet
Read Review
-
8.0
123145
8.0 |
The Irish Times
Her talents stretch far beyond the written word as her debut album is incredibly musically engaging too
Read Review
-
8.0
123146
8.0 |
Clash
Reflective, intuitive and introspective, ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’ is an immensely gripping debut. With no features, Arlo holds her own across all 12 singles and sets the bar high for those who follow
Read Review
-
7.8
123243
7.8 |
Paste Magazine
Though a bit uneven, the British prodigy’s hotly anticipated debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams is shrewd, vivid and empathetic
Read Review
-
7.2
123373
7.2 |
Beats Per Minute
The irony of Collapsed in Sunbeams is that Parks’ greatest strength also gives the album its most noticeable weaknesses
Read Review
-
7.0
123155
7.0 |
Loud And Quiet
It would have benefitted the album’s low-key mood if a few more tracks had been willing to experiment but it still has a consistency that’s impressive in a debut
Read Review
-
7.0
123309
7.0 |
Crack
Ultimately it’s Parks’ poeticism that marks her out as someone special – and makes her meditations on Gen-Z adolescence worthy of your time
Read Review
-
7.0
123321
7.0 |
God Is In The TV
Anyone listening to this LP will walk away with a series of singles to treasure. Whilst not every track sees her on top form, given she is only 20, I have no doubt this is the first instalment in an impressive discography
Read Review
-
7.0
123174
7.0 |
Exclaim
With her precocious writing capabilities, it's possible to envision the potential of someone who really could become the voice of this new generation. If anything, she's a special storyteller who will only garner more respect and attention as time passes
Read Review
-
7.0
123235
7.0 |
All Music
If the musical qualities of Collapsed in Sunbeams suffer from a bit of sameyness by the end, the formula is a soothing, pleasant one with sentiment to spare and, as a debut, full of promise
Read Review
-
7.0
123275
7.0 |
No Ripcord
With such a well-defined voice this early into her career, it makes sense that her creative impulses are currently in flux
Read Review
-
6.7
123276
6.7 |
Pitchfork
The hotly tipped 20-year-old singer-songwriter debuts with a cool, confident record that occasionally blends into pleasant monotony
Read Review
-
6.0
123154
6.0 |
The Arts Desk
Every time I listen to Collapsed in Sunbeams I’m warmed and engaged at the start but then focus drifts off. It becomes a background mood rather than a song cycle
Read Review
-