Outer Peace

Outer Peace is the sixth studio album by American musician Toro y Moi, released on January 18, 2019, through Carpark Records. The tracks "Freelance" and "Ordinary Pleasure" were released prior to the album.[1] On January 10, the album became available to stream in full via NPR's website.[2]

Outer Peace
Studio album by Toro y Moi
Released	January 18, 2019
Genre	Synth-pop futurepop alternative dance
Length	30:30
Label	Carpark
Producer	Chaz Bear
Toro y Moi chronology
Boo Boo (2017) Outer Peace (2019)

Background

Chaz Bear stated that the album came about after he decided not to tour for his previous record, 2017's Boo Boo.[3] He instead played DJ sets, later explaining that "The [club] nightlife energy is way different than the concert type of nightlife energy. This next album for Toro is a lot more inspired by bigger club sounds."[3] Along with the "accessible dance music" of Daft Punk, Bear was inspired by Wally Badarou's "innovative synths" and trips to Mexico City and Northern California while making the album. Bear also stated about the album title that "usually the peace is within, so to have peace on the outside is the challenge. I kind of just wanted to call that out."[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.0/10[4]
Metacritic	72/100[5]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[7]
The Line of Best Fit	7/10[8]
NME	[9]
Pitchfork	7.4/10[10]

Stereogum writer Tom Breihan said that "With Outer Peace, Bundick has given us a half-hour of playfully sleek synthpop, pulling in influences from house and R&B and straight-up future-pop. He sings many of his songs through Auto-Tune, which never muffles the bemused silliness in his voice."[1] Jordan Lawrence of the Free Times opined that "It's the first Toro LP that isn't preoccupied with Bear's romantic insecurities and personal doubts", calling the album "yet another bold move, pushing decisively into Daft Punk-indebted modern disco and bleary-eyed Drake-ishness."[3] NPR judged that "The variety of transformative production on Outer Peace speaks to Bundick's efforts to challenge himself, as well as listeners."[2]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Fading"	3:17
2.	"Ordinary Pleasure"	3:03
3.	"Laws of the Universe"	2:49
4.	"Miss Me" (featuring Abra)	3:00
5.	"New House"	2:30
6.	"Baby Drive It Down"	3:07
7.	"Freelance"	3:45
8.	"Who I Am"	3:28
9.	"Monte Carlo" (featuring Wet)	2:05
10.	"50-50" (featuring Instupendo)	3:26
Total length:		30:30

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[11]	114
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[12]	13

References

1. Breihan, Tom (January 10, 2019). "Stream Toro y Moi's New Album Outer Peace". Stereogum. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
2. Madden, Sidney (January 10, 2019). "First Listen: Toro y Moi, 'Outer Peace'". NPR. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
3. Lawrence, Jordan (November 14, 2018). "With Forthcoming Album, Toro Y Moi's Chaz Bear Reflects on His Place in Modern Music". Free Times. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
4. "Outer Peace by Toro Y Moi reviews". Retrieved February 2, 2019.
5. "Outer Peace by Toro y Moi". Metacritic. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
6. Sendra, Tim. "Outer Peace – Toro y Moi". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
7. Miller, Kellan. "Toro Y Moi – Outer Peace". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
8. Bray, Jack. "Toro Y Moi's Outer Peace is an exercise in playful exploration". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
9. Hunt, El (January 16, 2019). "Toro Y Moi – 'Outer Peace'". NME. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
10. Sherburne, Philip. "Toro Y Moi: Outer Peace Album Review". pitchfork.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
11. "Toro y Moi Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
12. "Toro y Moi Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2019.