Perfume Genius - Glory
The latest album from Perfume Genius strikes an immaculate balance between sonic innovation and raw human emotion. On Glory, Mike Hadreas invites listeners into an uncharted journey through his creative universe.
Every Perfume Genius record has charted its own idiosyncratic course, leaving fans guessing what could possibly lie ahead. If past works charmed with their enigmatic detachment, born of eclectic sounds and whispered mysteries, Glory steps forward as Hadreas’s most cohesive and approachable work yet.
But don’t mistake accessibility for a loss of edge—Glory is still a dazzling ride across the intricate soundscapes of Hadreas's artistry. Elements of alt-country shimmer alongside haunting ballads and meticulously honed art-pop flourishes. The album feels like an intricately cut gem, its countless facets catching the light in surprising, breathtaking ways.
Opening with “It’s a Mirror”, the album sets a moody tone that recalls the brooding aesthetics of American gothic like Ethel Cain, or even stirs echoes of R.E.M.'s finest moments. The following track, “No Front Teeth”, is a masterclass in genre fusion and curatorial brilliance. Here, Aldous Harding’s angelic vocals elevate the song into one of Hadreas’s most exceptional works to date—a transcendent moment of collaboration.
A brief respite comes with “Clean Heart”, a tender lullaby that offers space to breathe. Then arrives “Me & Angel”, a gut-wrenching stadium piano ballad. While such descriptors can sometimes seem ironic, in the case of Glory, they are simply another layer of praise for Hadreas’s virtuosity. And this isn’t the album’s only ballad: later, the poignant “Dion” lies in wait, ready to deliver its emotional sucker punch just when you think you’ve recovered.
Hadreas’s delicate, at times tear-streaked vocals weave an added layer of sentimentality throughout. On the wistful “Full On”, his voice flutters like birdsong, while the lush instrumental backdrop swells around you. It’s a song so disarmingly intimate that even its football metaphors (“I saw every quarterback crying”) could bring tears to your eyes. This understated love letter is a memory you’ll carry with you long after the final note fades.
From its intricate arrangements to its technical precision, Glory radiates perfection. Nostalgia creeps in during certain tracks, evoking the endless stretches of a long road trip, while in others, Hadreas’s voice reverberates like a lonely echo through cavernous spaces. On “In a Row”, tension builds steadily, only to erupt into a cathartic crescendo, with a guest choir bringing down the heavens in the chorus.
Dreamy and melancholic, grandiose yet intimate, Glory stands as yet another testament to how radically pop music can be redefined. Balancing earthly grit with euphoric catharsis, this album is, quite simply, glorious.
8.4/10
The album Glory by Perfume Genius is coming on March 28 via Matador Records.