Too Bright

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 8.4/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/6693/Perfume-Genius-Too-Bright.aspx|title=Too Bright by Perfume Genius reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=December 19, 2019}}

| MC = 87/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/too-bright/perfume-genius|title=Reviews for Too Bright by Perfume Genius|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=January 26, 2015}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score= {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/too-bright-mw0002717340|title=Too Bright – Perfume Genius|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 30, 2014|last=Phares|first=Heather}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2Score = A−{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/review/his-third-album-perfume-genius-proves-he-cant-burn-209221|title=On his third album, Perfume Genius proves he can't burn Too Bright|work=The A.V. Club|date=September 23, 2014|access-date=September 29, 2014|last=Cosores|first=Philip}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score = A−{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2014/09/26/albums-oct-3-2014|title=Albums: Oct. 3, 2014|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 26, 2014|access-date=September 29, 2014|last1=Raymer|first1=Miles|last2=Anderson|first2=Kyle|last3=Rahman|first3=Ray}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/18/perfume-genius-too-bright-review|title=Perfume Genius: Too Bright review – hypnotic and nonconformist|work=The Guardian|date=September 18, 2014|access-date=December 12, 2015|last=Costa|first=Maddy}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=Perfume Genius: Too Bright|journal=Mojo|issue=252|date=November 2014|page=98}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 8/10{{cite journal|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/perfume-genius/15648|title=Perfume Genius – 'Too Bright'|journal=NME|date=September 26, 2014|access-date=September 29, 2014|last=Fullerton|first=Jamie|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601220908/http://www.nme.com/reviews/perfume-genius/15648|archivedate=June 1, 2016}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 8.5/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19798-perfume-genius-too-bright/|title=Perfume Genius: Too Bright|work=Pitchfork|date=September 23, 2014|access-date=September 29, 2014|last=Stosuy|first=Brandon}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=Perfume Genius: Too Bright|journal=Q|issue=340|date=November 2014|page=116}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/perfume-genius-too-bright-20140923|title=Too Bright|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 23, 2014|access-date=September 29, 2014|last=Weiner|first=Sophie}}

| rev10 = Wondering Sound

| rev10Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wonderingsound.com/review/perfume-genius-bright/|title=Perfume Genius, Too Bright|work=Wondering Sound|date=September 23, 2014|access-date=September 29, 2014|last=Lefebvre|first=Sam|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224215821/http://www.wonderingsound.com/review/perfume-genius-bright/|archivedate=February 24, 2017}}

}}

Too Bright has received critical acclaim. Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, gave the album an average score of 87, which indicates "universal acclaim".

Brandon Stosuy of Pitchfork gave the album a very positive review, stating, "A huge part of what makes the work so strong is the generous human spirit that bleeds into it, and Too Bright is the best example to date of the lengths he goes to confront his fears and demons. These songs feel less like songs and more like treasures, ones that fill you with power and wisdom, and as a result, Too Bright seems capable of resonating with, comforting, and moving anyone who's ever felt alienated, discriminated against, or "other-ized," regardless of sexual orientation." The album was given a score of 8.5 and was titled Best New Music.

The album artwork was shot by Luke Gilford and it showcases an androgynous Perfume Genius. It would encompass a bold and proud theme throughout Too Bright.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wonderingsound.com/review/perfume-genius-bright/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224215821/http://www.wonderingsound.com/review/perfume-genius-bright/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-02-24|title=Perfume Genius, 'Too Bright' (Matador) Review {{!}} Wondering Sound|date=2017-02-24|access-date=2020-03-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://the-dots.com/projects/perfume-genius-too-bright-123561|title=The Dots|website=the-dots.com|access-date=2020-03-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2014/09/73674/perfume-genius-too-bright|title=Perfume Genius' Homosexuality Is Bolder Than Ever|last=Norris|first=John|website=www.refinery29.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-11}}

In an interview for Refinery29, Perfume Genius said, "I don’t know, for a long time I had been kind of constantly seeking reassurance and acceptance all over the place, and wanting to be taken seriously but waiting for someone else to do it for me, do you know what I mean?.” He explains that this was a more serious approach to making this album. Too Bright further explores topics on sexuality, empowerment, and queer identity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/perfume-genius-interview-too-bright|title=Perfume Genius Takes His Music to a Defiant New Place With Too Bright|last=Brown|first=Jacob|website=Vogue|date=23 September 2014 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-11}}

{{track listing

| total_length = 33:38

| title1 = I Decline

| length1 = 1:58

| title2 = Queen

| length2 = 3:50

| title3 = Fool

| length3 = 3:55

| title4 = No Good

| length4 = 3:49

| title5 = My Body

| length5 = 2:17

| title6 = Don't Let Them In

| length6 = 2:21

| title7 = Grid

| length7 = 2:39

| title8 = Longpig

| length8 = 2:50

| title9 = I'm a Mother

| length9 = 3:30

| title10 = Too Bright

| length10 = 3:25

| title11 = All Along

| length11 = 2:34

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Too Bright{{nobold| — Bonus Track Version}}

| title12 = Thing

| length12 = 2:55

}}{{Track listing

| headline = Too Bright{{nobold| — 10th Anniversary Edition}}

| title12 = Story of Love

| length12 = 2:34

| title13 = My Place

| length13 = 3:00

| title14 = When U Need Someone

| length14 = 3:40

}}

Main personnel

• Mike Hadreas – vocals, piano (1, 4, 6, 10), synth (3, 7, 9, 10), keyboards (2, 8), gong (5), handclaps (8), wurlitzer (11), composer, additional recording
• Adrian Utley – synth (2, 3, 5, 7, 8), bass guitar (2, 3, 5, 11), guitar (1, 11), winebox (5), fuzz bass (7), handclaps (8), engineer, mixing, producer
• Alan Wyffels – synth (3, 4, 8, 10), keyboards (2, 5), piano (6)
• Jim Barr – double bass (3, 4, 6)
• Herve Becart – drums (3, 5, 8)
• Ross Hughes – bass clarinet (3, 4, 10), saxophone (7)
• John Parish – drums (2, 7, 8, 11), shaker (5)

Additional personnel

• Greg Calbi – mastering
• Ali Chant – engineer, mixing, producer, handclaps (8)
• Alison Fielding – design
• Luke Gilford – photography

• "Too Bright" was featured on the ABC legal drama How to Get Away with Murder's second season finale.
• "Queen" was featured in the season one episode "eps1.3_da3m0ns.mp4" and season four episode "Hello, Elliot" of the USA Network television series Mr. Robot.
• "Queen" was featured on the Hulu television series The Great in the season two episode titled "Heads It's Me".
• "Queen" was featured as the closing song for the HBO series "Vice Principals" season 2 episode "Think Change".
• "Queen" was featured as the closing song for the Apple TV+ series Dark Matter season 1 episode 7 "In the Fires of Dead Stars".

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Category:2014 albums

Category:Perfume Genius albums

Category:Matador Records albums

Category:LGBTQ-related albums

Category:Lo-fi music albums

Category:Albums produced by Adrian Utley