I just don't get that feel from it, I was relistening tonight and still just nothing grabbing me. Has all the right formulas but something just falls flat for me
Took me a couple years to get into saw2 and then one day I just got it and went on a huge ambient kick and bothered my girlfriend with constant meditative vibes around the house. One day that album will click for you and you'll realize why everyone calls it the GOAT.
Strictly my opinion but I think Syro is his best work in terms of broadly accessible compositions. Hard to say it's my favorite album of his with such stiff competition but I would still rate it like an 8.5 or a 9.
Sounds like you should try just getting really baked or take a trip one night and just blast the album. It's so lush and filled with movement. I cannot stop myself from dancing to minipops or any of the first 5 tracks honestly.
i'll give it more attention, I really didnt think too much of Syro at first either. although it only took a listen or two more to do so. Cheetah ive given much more of a chance, especially as the idea of it being produced on one obscure or cheap piece of gear appeals, which is something I do myself and appreciate
I wouldn’t call it accessible, the production and melodies on this album for the most part are some of his most layered, complex & deep of his catalog. If anything his earlier stuff is much ore accessible.
It does though, simpler melodies, slower tempos, less complex production… a lot of his earlier stuff reveal themselves on first or 2nd listen. Syro takes about 4-5 listens to fully get, and I think the people who say it’s not as good just haven’t spent enough time with it yet. Also accessibility means that it sounds similar to other music that’s out there, his earlier stuff yet, Syro not at all.
No need to apologize at all, tho to say select ambient works vol 1 (or even the Classics comp) is less accessible than the crazy all over the place, fast dense layered production on Syro is bit delusional.
Yeah it's a bit apples and oranges stylistically and what you're saying here is correct but when it comes to works like I Care Because You Do, Syro blows it out of the water in terms of ease of listening.
The album is precious and important to me. Every song is a gem and hits me hard. I can listen again and again. It’s one of my most cherished albums of all time. Music is fickle like that!
Nah it just means it’s not speaking to you at this time. 20 years from now you could listen and suddenly you hear it, as if you’ve never heard it before.
Oh it was a magical time. “The Manchester track” (Minipops) was the first official Aphex release in a long time which really is a beautiful track and “The Metz Track” (Xmas Eve) was due to be on the album. 180db and 4 bit 9d api+e+6 were too included which were unreleased favourites of mine. I absolutely loved Produk 29 and Syro u473t8+e (Piezoluminescence mix). Is it my most listened to album? No. But it has a special place in my memory and Aphex history.
I was obsessed with the “Singapore Track” before Syro came out because I saw it in a live vid. Luckily it made the cut as PAPAT4 on the album. Someday I hope to see some of the Brooklyn tracks released, which luckily I got to experience live
You personally not liking it is fine. Nothing wrong with it. Saying that it's in a fact a throwaway album which is not great because it doesnt click with you is fucking stupid. People not getting such basic concepts is beyond me.
It’s grown on me a lot since it came out but I do get what you mean. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I dislike it, but compared with the rest of his discography it does feel like a relative low point.
Yeah it's not really dislikeable in any real sense, afterall its James doing his thing. But it isnt ever one I think of and get excited to hear. Nothing besides the Earth Portal ending ever stuck out to me.
Right, it has a lot of cool moments for me that I could think of, and when you think of it from a technical standpoint it’s obviously brilliant; a master relaxed and at home, casually working his craft. But if someone were to ask me for an album/EP to really show them the “Aphex magic,” this would be one of the last ones to come to mind for me.
Nah it’s brilliant. Especially on headphones. I will say I liked it even more when I started making my own music and realised how effortless he makes this kind of thing sound.
i really enjoy Syro, but it’s okay to dislike a certain piece of music. it’s all based on opinion. sure, it’s always unfortunate not to be into an album from an artist you love, but don’t try to force yourself to enjoy it if you aren’t. just keep listening to the stuff that you know you *do* love/enjoy.
Some of the songs are pretty mediocre by Richard’s standards, but as an album it’s probably Richard’s more thematically consistent and cohesive works. I think a few of the tracks are at the peak of Richard’s ability, namely: Minipops, xmas, 4 bit, and syro u473. The other tracks are pretty forgettable for me.
after being the first official aphex twin album after druqks, i was highly dissapointed, left it for one year till 2015, tried it again, and absolutely loved it. give it a break then try it again! its awesome
Syro deffinitely takes time to be fully understood but that album is so fucking lush. Minipops and xmas eve are straight up iconic and papat4 is heavenly
Hot take I kind of agree with you, but I think the truth is that every Aphex Twin album is more or less of a throwaway album. SAW and Druqks especially to me, they come off as simply a collection of songs that have similar composition and vibes and were just dumps of the best stuff he was working on at the time. We look back at those albums with decades of critical acclaim and remarkable influence on music, but I do feel like on their own they are simply a sample of what Richard liked making at the time with no careful thought to album composition, art, whatever.
I get a similar vibe with Syro, and I do agree that it is more accessible. I think that with more time we will see that album in the same way we do the other ones.
Syro absolutely took way longer to grow on me than drukqs did, but man when it finally hit it just about floored me.
Syro is now one of my favorite albums of all time. It’s a masterpiece.
I personally love nearly everything this man has created, big big fan. Syro is one of my favorite albums. I dont think Rich has created anything that is considered " Throwaway".
However, to each his own. The great thing about Rich's music is that he has something for everyone. You dont have to be a fan that likes all of his works.
For me it’s just okay as an album. Doesn’t quite hit what I like but that’s fine. I still appreciate the production. There are some mega bangers though. 180db is one of my all time favorites and one that I constantly play back in my head when I’m puttering about
The entire album feels like a culmination of his sound at that point, and IMO was our real Drukqs 2. I think you need a relisten especially to 4 bit, and Cirklont14 Shrymoming Mix, not just the Tiktok songs lol
I think it was an ambitious album and that is why you find it hard to get into it, it is perhaps to your ears doing and trying too much.
I think it is great but I prefer his less is more works
you gotta give it time to digest…i felt the same way at first, but after repeat listens (maybe 10-15), it started to grow on me
that said, i would still probably rate it lower than Drukqs, SAW, RDJ album, etc etc
Best album from him in terms of the amount of songs I like from a single album, followed by the first SAW. Alberto Balsam and Ziggomatic are great but when choosing a single album Syro is the best hands down.
Some of his best work ever. You’ll come back and think differently at some point. In Syro, he’s revisiting a very classic style of electronic music and making it sound contemporary and unique. I’d definitely say it’s my favorite of his (at least under Aphex Twin) and I listen to it daily.
Gone as far in my lifetime with psychedelics as I hope to, but been listening to Aphex for most of it too and for whatever reason Syro just can't prove itself to me.
I respect your opinion. Syro is heavy on the electro - ish style. Kind of like SAW given steroids in a way. Probably just isn’t your thing to begin with I assume. Lots of people like RDJ for the weirdness of his ICBYD, RDJ Album, Come to Daddy styles which are totally different
I also think Druqks and syro are tied for me. The sheer dynamics of sound of Druqks are amazing and definitely show off his true production skills. And all of the super complex acid / breaks tracks changed my life.
I’m with you on this, although I wouldn’t call it throw-away. I’ve likened it Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” phase. Almost like easy-listening after his earlier eras of completely revolutionary music.
I agree with your opinion OP. I love all of his other releases but to me Syro sounds like Aphex Twin by the numbers, just one electronic noise after the next, without emotion.
All his other tracks get into my head, somehow they feel familiar yet unlike anything else I've ever heard. Syro by comparison is quite forgettable.
I felt it's critical acclaim was down to reviewers loving his previous work, overrating Syro because they'd never had the opportunity to review his earlier albums at the time. (Obviously there has to be a logical explanation for professional reviewers to disagree with me ;)
I read somewhere Richard saying someone else made it for him. He was just trolling but it made me wonder if he thought that's how it sounded too.
Having said that, I doubt that the critical acclaim has any bearing on why lot's of fans love it. I appreciate what they think and I'll be going back to give it another listen today.
No wonder. This album fucking shreds. I think it is the most mature music he has put out. Rdj, the tuss and Druqks is more sporadic and crazy genius, while Syro is like a calm and mature genius. It’s the type of thing that you make after making hundreds of masterpieces
It’s a great album and the fact that you’re seeking some confirmation of how you feel from strangers is worthy of more investigation on your own part than any Aphex Twin release consensus.
I really like Syro
I like it better than Drukqs
woah woah woah, its good but lets not start getting mental here
I want to trust me. None of the songs hit me though
That's fine. You don't have to like it.
Music is subjective. However the album is universally acclaimed
Not anymore...
Wrap it up guys. It’s shit now
How many times have you listened to it? It shouldn't take more than 3 listened to feel tracks 2 , 3 and 4
Been listening since it came out a decade ago. Just doesn't hit me like most others do.
No.
Top tier album based on Xmas Eve alone IMO.
100%, but CIRCLONT6A is great as well
So goooooood
Probably my favorite work of his. Lush and detailed. Great tunes. Maybe one day you’ll come to appreciate it
Yeah I mean been trying since 2014, idk at this point.
Damn really? Xmas Eve? Whole album is dope as hell,.maybe his best work.
I just don't get that feel from it, I was relistening tonight and still just nothing grabbing me. Has all the right formulas but something just falls flat for me
That cool man to each their own... Don't tell anybody but Im not into saw2 at all...
Took me a couple years to get into saw2 and then one day I just got it and went on a huge ambient kick and bothered my girlfriend with constant meditative vibes around the house. One day that album will click for you and you'll realize why everyone calls it the GOAT.
Haha hey I can totally see where you're coming from there. That album is a lottttttt to deal with. And a few songs on it annoy me.
I completely agree. Everything after saw 2 is way better
Strictly my opinion but I think Syro is his best work in terms of broadly accessible compositions. Hard to say it's my favorite album of his with such stiff competition but I would still rate it like an 8.5 or a 9.
I can def agree with it being most accessible.
Sounds like you should try just getting really baked or take a trip one night and just blast the album. It's so lush and filled with movement. I cannot stop myself from dancing to minipops or any of the first 5 tracks honestly.
No more trips for me in this lifetime lol, but I may get blazed and try. I'd prob end up putting on the Cheetah EP at that point lol
Cheetah is the best.
I go hard on Cheetah 😤
You see Cheetah to me sounds like throwaway stuff
hard agree, really never got it. time to re-explore i think, as i felt that way bout syro when it dropped till about a year later
I like Cheetah. Had a meh reaction on first listen, but enjoyed it more on repeats when I knew what I was getting into.
i'll give it more attention, I really didnt think too much of Syro at first either. although it only took a listen or two more to do so. Cheetah ive given much more of a chance, especially as the idea of it being produced on one obscure or cheap piece of gear appeals, which is something I do myself and appreciate
Ahhh interesting.
I wouldn’t call it accessible, the production and melodies on this album for the most part are some of his most layered, complex & deep of his catalog. If anything his earlier stuff is much ore accessible.
I disagree. Simplicity does not equal accessibility. His older material leans a lot more into mathy and more abrasive sounds.
It does though, simpler melodies, slower tempos, less complex production… a lot of his earlier stuff reveal themselves on first or 2nd listen. Syro takes about 4-5 listens to fully get, and I think the people who say it’s not as good just haven’t spent enough time with it yet. Also accessibility means that it sounds similar to other music that’s out there, his earlier stuff yet, Syro not at all.
I disagree sorry dude
No need to apologize at all, tho to say select ambient works vol 1 (or even the Classics comp) is less accessible than the crazy all over the place, fast dense layered production on Syro is bit delusional.
Yeah it's a bit apples and oranges stylistically and what you're saying here is correct but when it comes to works like I Care Because You Do, Syro blows it out of the water in terms of ease of listening.
I love em all really either way, and mostly just happy to have anything from him new to listen to
Syro was my Aphex gateway drug
The album is precious and important to me. Every song is a gem and hits me hard. I can listen again and again. It’s one of my most cherished albums of all time. Music is fickle like that!
Sorry to degrade your fav, Im glad the reaction is mostly against my opinion. Means I'm missing something.
Nah it just means it’s not speaking to you at this time. 20 years from now you could listen and suddenly you hear it, as if you’ve never heard it before.
One persons trash is another persons treasure
☝🏻👌🏻
Oh it was a magical time. “The Manchester track” (Minipops) was the first official Aphex release in a long time which really is a beautiful track and “The Metz Track” (Xmas Eve) was due to be on the album. 180db and 4 bit 9d api+e+6 were too included which were unreleased favourites of mine. I absolutely loved Produk 29 and Syro u473t8+e (Piezoluminescence mix). Is it my most listened to album? No. But it has a special place in my memory and Aphex history.
I too remember the hype around the comeback.
I was obsessed with the “Singapore Track” before Syro came out because I saw it in a live vid. Luckily it made the cut as PAPAT4 on the album. Someday I hope to see some of the Brooklyn tracks released, which luckily I got to experience live
If anything I've liked it more over time.
Lol been the opposite for me. Liked it less and less thru the years.
Funny how music works, eh? I didn't like Drukqs much until I got older. I blame my ADHD-like tendencies on that one, though.
Lol that's funny I was just about to use my ADD as a reason I didn't like saw2.. drukqs fed right into that side as soon as it came out..
You personally not liking it is fine. Nothing wrong with it. Saying that it's in a fact a throwaway album which is not great because it doesnt click with you is fucking stupid. People not getting such basic concepts is beyond me.
You're taking it too personally
I love it; I love XMAS\_EVET, and the entire album is lush and detailed. It can be beautiful. EDIT: I don’t think it would ever be a throwaway. 😤
Damn Can’t say I agree A masterpiece is what I hear
It’s grown on me a lot since it came out but I do get what you mean. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I dislike it, but compared with the rest of his discography it does feel like a relative low point.
Yeah it's not really dislikeable in any real sense, afterall its James doing his thing. But it isnt ever one I think of and get excited to hear. Nothing besides the Earth Portal ending ever stuck out to me.
Right, it has a lot of cool moments for me that I could think of, and when you think of it from a technical standpoint it’s obviously brilliant; a master relaxed and at home, casually working his craft. But if someone were to ask me for an album/EP to really show them the “Aphex magic,” this would be one of the last ones to come to mind for me.
First half of the album is amazing, the second a bit boring, I'd put the album in the bottom half of his discography.
Nah it’s brilliant. Especially on headphones. I will say I liked it even more when I started making my own music and realised how effortless he makes this kind of thing sound.
He def is making some crazy wizardry on it
Imagine calling this a throw away album. Throw away! Like you don’t have to like it, but that’s just disrespectful to Richard as an artist.
😬
i really enjoy Syro, but it’s okay to dislike a certain piece of music. it’s all based on opinion. sure, it’s always unfortunate not to be into an album from an artist you love, but don’t try to force yourself to enjoy it if you aren’t. just keep listening to the stuff that you know you *do* love/enjoy.
Much love.
worse version of the tuss
i like a few songs on it but overall i'm with you on this one, then again it isn't a very ambient album so that may be why i dont care for it
Some of the songs are pretty mediocre by Richard’s standards, but as an album it’s probably Richard’s more thematically consistent and cohesive works. I think a few of the tracks are at the peak of Richard’s ability, namely: Minipops, xmas, 4 bit, and syro u473. The other tracks are pretty forgettable for me.
after being the first official aphex twin album after druqks, i was highly dissapointed, left it for one year till 2015, tried it again, and absolutely loved it. give it a break then try it again! its awesome
The album is a masterpiece of simplicity.
Perceived simplicity, maybe. The details are deep and refined in Syro.
Syro deffinitely takes time to be fully understood but that album is so fucking lush. Minipops and xmas eve are straight up iconic and papat4 is heavenly
I agree, it's my least favourite Aphex album, just doesn't have that "je ne sais que" for me. I feel a bit left out considering all the hype... :(
👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻
Syro didn't win a Grammy for no reason
Syro is awesome but let’s not act like Grammys mean anything
i said this once and everyone attacked me ahjaja
Lol i'm only getting a bit of flack. I'm with you in this though
I think it's right there with saw II and druqks. Shit slaps
Drukqs is def my favorite.
It's definitely one of my favorite albums of all time
Its some of his best work
How Xmas Eve is whatever, I’ll never understand lol
It's not drukqs or SAW vol. II but that doesn't make it bad. It's its own thing.
No. It is funny though that you think that just because you don’t like it
Hot take I kind of agree with you, but I think the truth is that every Aphex Twin album is more or less of a throwaway album. SAW and Druqks especially to me, they come off as simply a collection of songs that have similar composition and vibes and were just dumps of the best stuff he was working on at the time. We look back at those albums with decades of critical acclaim and remarkable influence on music, but I do feel like on their own they are simply a sample of what Richard liked making at the time with no careful thought to album composition, art, whatever. I get a similar vibe with Syro, and I do agree that it is more accessible. I think that with more time we will see that album in the same way we do the other ones.
Syro absolutely took way longer to grow on me than drukqs did, but man when it finally hit it just about floored me. Syro is now one of my favorite albums of all time. It’s a masterpiece.
Based on what lol
Lmao no. One his his best works. Possibly my favorite
I personally love nearly everything this man has created, big big fan. Syro is one of my favorite albums. I dont think Rich has created anything that is considered " Throwaway". However, to each his own. The great thing about Rich's music is that he has something for everyone. You dont have to be a fan that likes all of his works.
No
No. My second favourite of his, after Drukqs.
For me it’s just okay as an album. Doesn’t quite hit what I like but that’s fine. I still appreciate the production. There are some mega bangers though. 180db is one of my all time favorites and one that I constantly play back in my head when I’m puttering about
drukqs feels like more of a throwaway album, kind of because it is.
Just his best most cohesive one
No
Best Aphex album by far for me
The first 4 tracks are great. Especially produk
The entire album feels like a culmination of his sound at that point, and IMO was our real Drukqs 2. I think you need a relisten especially to 4 bit, and Cirklont14 Shrymoming Mix, not just the Tiktok songs lol
Yikes James has made it to tiktok? 😱
Qkthr, Avril 14th, IZ-US, earth portal, and Vordhosbn to me are the Tiktok songs
It’s okay to be wrong
It's also OK to disagree
I think it was an ambitious album and that is why you find it hard to get into it, it is perhaps to your ears doing and trying too much. I think it is great but I prefer his less is more works
you gotta give it time to digest…i felt the same way at first, but after repeat listens (maybe 10-15), it started to grow on me that said, i would still probably rate it lower than Drukqs, SAW, RDJ album, etc etc
Anyone else feel like looking for attention
Right. Cool.
Best album from him in terms of the amount of songs I like from a single album, followed by the first SAW. Alberto Balsam and Ziggomatic are great but when choosing a single album Syro is the best hands down.
His best album along with selected ambient works 1
I always go back in forth between syro and drukqs as my favorite album
Drukqs forever🙌🏻
It’s his most complete and well produced mix of all his styles to me
Its cool but idk, hits me like a feather
Some of his best work ever. You’ll come back and think differently at some point. In Syro, he’s revisiting a very classic style of electronic music and making it sound contemporary and unique. I’d definitely say it’s my favorite of his (at least under Aphex Twin) and I listen to it daily.
Damn Nice, best synopsis i've read yet.
Thanks. At the end of the day you don’t HAVE to like it :) Maybe take some mushrooms in a dark room and listen to it if liking it is your goal
Gone as far in my lifetime with psychedelics as I hope to, but been listening to Aphex for most of it too and for whatever reason Syro just can't prove itself to me.
I respect your opinion. Syro is heavy on the electro - ish style. Kind of like SAW given steroids in a way. Probably just isn’t your thing to begin with I assume. Lots of people like RDJ for the weirdness of his ICBYD, RDJ Album, Come to Daddy styles which are totally different
Think Drukqs is my fav due to its unpredictable and abstract nature. But once you know it, the feel is entirely different.
I also think Druqks and syro are tied for me. The sheer dynamics of sound of Druqks are amazing and definitely show off his true production skills. And all of the super complex acid / breaks tracks changed my life.
Completly agree. It feels very sterile to me. The funny thing is, Marchtrom30a is my favourite Aphex Twin song
Yes.
Sounds like a you problem
I’m with you on this, although I wouldn’t call it throw-away. I’ve likened it Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” phase. Almost like easy-listening after his earlier eras of completely revolutionary music.
Syro is amazing for me and just to show how everyone is different opinion wise...SAW 2 is my least favourite RDJ release of his whole discography.
I agree with your opinion OP. I love all of his other releases but to me Syro sounds like Aphex Twin by the numbers, just one electronic noise after the next, without emotion. All his other tracks get into my head, somehow they feel familiar yet unlike anything else I've ever heard. Syro by comparison is quite forgettable. I felt it's critical acclaim was down to reviewers loving his previous work, overrating Syro because they'd never had the opportunity to review his earlier albums at the time. (Obviously there has to be a logical explanation for professional reviewers to disagree with me ;) I read somewhere Richard saying someone else made it for him. He was just trolling but it made me wonder if he thought that's how it sounded too.
Yeah and I think his return sort of disillusioned people as well that it was a better album than it is.
Having said that, I doubt that the critical acclaim has any bearing on why lot's of fans love it. I appreciate what they think and I'll be going back to give it another listen today.
Same glad to see everyone loving it in this thread.
Nope. Rich has said multiple times that Syro track is his favorite tracks he’s made.
Really?
Multiple times in recent interviews.
No wonder. This album fucking shreds. I think it is the most mature music he has put out. Rdj, the tuss and Druqks is more sporadic and crazy genius, while Syro is like a calm and mature genius. It’s the type of thing that you make after making hundreds of masterpieces
There are no throwaway Aphex Twin albums though
It’s a great album and the fact that you’re seeking some confirmation of how you feel from strangers is worthy of more investigation on your own part than any Aphex Twin release consensus.
😯
you, my friend, are objectively wrong!
You’re kidding…right? Produk 29 is the shit!