Heaven Or Las Vegas

It's one of those where you have to be in the mood to enjoy it, but when you are in the mood, man is it fucking good. High 3

Moody dream pop, which I guess if you are into that then this album is a good example. For me, I found it pleasant, but somewhat boring.

This album finds Cocteau Twins at the height of their powers. The band's sound (which is practically in a genre of its own) reaches full flower on these glorious and mesmerizing tracks.

It’s like dessert. Fine for a few songs but gets sweet and samey real quick. Some good ones tho…

absolutely beautiful stuff right here.

This is the first time I have listened to this. Lovely dreamy, textured sound. I found myself hardly listening to the lyrics, just enjoying the vocals as if they were an instrument on their own. Played it again while I worked, it was perfect for getting into that creative & focused headspace.

About as lovely as an album can get. I don't know and don't care what Liz Fraser is singing about, she has such a unique and great voice. Perfectly dreamy songs, the world is a much better place with this in it.

This is easily in my top ten records of all time. No need to review it. Just listen and you'll know why.

The beginning of this album felt like walking into the middle of a set, so I’m not surprised to read that this was their 6th album. This probably feels great for established fans, but a little disorienting for new listeners. Overall, this is an easy listen. It isn’t really my thing, but I can appreciate its place in time and the influence it must have had on later UK pop-rock artists.

an absolute pleasure to get this album on a beautiful june day! dreamy summer light linen shirt of an album

Dreamiest of dream pop and the ethereal vocals linger on and on. The whole album keeps the vibe but it also feels all a bit like window dressing once you get past Cherry Flavoured Funk.

3.5/5

Kind of a wistful, dreamy shoegaze. Not exactly my thing, but it was enjoyable enough.

I really enjoyed listening to this, however it quickly fell to the background to the point of forgetting about it. Melodic and well paced. Never overstayed its welcome. Strong Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes

classic

Mi piacce Stabile 4

реально дримкор, с первого трека чувствуется.

Not bad, but not my style. Didn’t do anything for me

I really like it. Her voice is outstanding and her lyrical style is unlike any I’ve heard before.

I love this album so much. It’s my second time listening to it and it’s even better now.

so good

An almost lyric-less fever dream. I love how surreal it sounds

I listened to this album while reading, and I weirdly digged it. Definitely nothing to bop to but lots of chill and good vibe songs.

I love this album. It is perfect for flying on a plane. That said, upon closer critical listening, I would say that the first half (including Heaven of Las Vegas) is slightly stronger. Still, pretty close to perfect 💕

It's good, if short of being the be-all end-all to dreamy music that people treat it as It's relatively consistent and retains its mystic sweetness throughout as well as its lyrics that contribute to the mystique and are generally made up of... some kind of words (couldn't tell you if I've ever had a stroke of Iceblink Luck) Truly a major dub for stoner-kind

This is the second album on here that I’ve already listened to, and what do you know it’s another favorite of mine.

There are many elements of this music that I like, but they come together on this album like a sonic splat. I find this sound generally unpleasant, an issue I have with most shoegaze music. All that said, this album is okay, but I was glad when it was over. Standout track: Cherry-coloured Funk

Kivasti yhdistelee synth poppia ja alt rokkia. Kummiskin aika leppoisaa ja kevyttä soundia. Maalailevaa ja tunnelmallista. Parhaat: Cherry-coloured Funk, Frou-frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires

Hmm

I’ve heard it before not my favorite Cocteau twins album tbh

4.5/5 Opalescent Dreams You Can Drown In Review: This isn’t an album. It’s a shimmering hallucination wrapped in a Scottish fog. Elizabeth Fraser’s voice doesn’t sing — it levitates. The words are half-coherent, like overhearing an angel speak in a language you almost remember from childhood dreams. Every track is like falling in love mid-fainting spell.

Not that good.

This was great! Musically, exactly my wheelhouse, lyrically, stunning.

spacey and airy and wonderful

I find this such a pleasant listen all the way through. I also really enjoy made up lyrics since I can never tell real ones. whenninevveneahlafivestars

First time I listened to them by choice. I enjoyed the listen-through, but started checking how many more songs after the 5th one. I appreciate the ingenuity, but not for me.

I'm a big shoegaze/dreampop slut, so I'm biased, but this is one of the best earlier albums of the genre. I've already listened to this album a couple times before and it don't miss. Just listened to it again two more times.

Consistently catchy and pleasing to the ears. The washy sound is unique and doesn't get annoying. Not quite five star worthy but thoroughly enjoyable.

Ethereal

This one is pretty damn good. One of my favourite albums of all time. Definitely not my favourite Cocteau Twins album, but that just goes to show how good the Cocteau Twins are. This album's vocal performances are such an incredible display of raw emotion. Some tracks are beautiful, some tracks are sad, some tracks are happy, some tracks are bitter. If you try to attach English lyrics to it, you miss the point-- you are speaking the wrong language.

Dad- 6 Mom- 7 Mike- 6 Lori- 5.5 Michael- 7 Miles- NA Cole- 5.5 Avg- 6.17

Averege. I didnt noticed when spotify switch to something else.

Man! Also, really really really boring. Lots of 2-stars snoozers lately.

Always wanted to listen to this record as it’s often cited as an influence on many bands that I listen to. Previously dabbled but never listened to the whole album. Great listen, the easiest album so far on my quest.

I was on the fence about the first Cocteau Twins album I got (Treasure), and when I saw that one of the tracks on this is called Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires, I was expecting it to double down on the irritating aspects of that album. Instead, I liked it - I thought it was still atmospheric but had stronger tunes and was less cloying.

I've never quite settled on an opinion on dream pop, but I've heard some songs from this, and I was pretty confident I would like, but not necessarily love it. However, Cocteau Twins proved me wrong. From the start, the sound of this hooked me, Heaven Or Las Vegas sounds glassy and almost futuristic. It just has a kind of ethereal sheen that I liked a lot more than I thought. Although what I really ended up staying for here is the songs. I had a slow, creeping realization that song after song, Cocteau Twins were sticking the landing. The worst songs on here are engaging and catchy, and the best are really genre defining. The bow on the whole thing is that we end with one of the stronger songs, Frou-Frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires. One other thing I'd like to mention is that the vocals and "lyrics" here are fascinating. The vocals are *very* ethereal, to the extent that almost no lyrics are comprehensible, and in fact, the lyrics aren't published anywhere (again as far as I know). This frames Elizabeth Fraser's voice as an instrument in a way that I usually see in more extreme genres of music with less conventionally sung vocals. Hearing something like this in a context like dreampop achieves a really interesting effect. I really don't have more to say, I was shocked by how much I loved this.

Lovely lush chill

I enjoyed it.

Inget som sticker ut jättemycket men trivs med albumet o får en väldigt stark positiv känsla

sjukt bra

Behagligt.

Didn’t need to listen to this - mixing was weird, couldn’t understand the lyrics. Sounded like europop. Neither heaven nor Las Vegas

This definitely fell into the category of why do I need to listen to this before I die

Ah, I really enjoyed this. Beautiful, shimmery dream pop (not my usual genre) that I missed first time around. Although it is impossible to understand even a single word from the lead singer, even accounting for the difference between Scottish and American English :)

It’s a three, but it’s a little three.

English is not my native language. But the moment I understand any of the Cocteau Twins' lyrics, or any of Liam Gallagher's interviews, without the help of any subtitles, I can get my Green Card anywhere in the world. This was not a music critic. Music is not just about the words and their meanings. It's about how the sounds they emit make you feel. And in this regard, Cocteau Twins are very good! The album, despite being slightly short, has a magnetic aura, which attracts the ears of sensitive people and makes them travel into this particular universe that the album possesses. Well, at least that's what I felt, I didn't understand a damn thing of the lyrics! hahahahaha. Anyway, 4 stars.

Liked this one, very poppy, very pleasant in all the good and bad ways... Not 5 stars, but easy a 4 and since it put me in a good mood, 4.5.

One of my Top 10 favorite albums of all time. Delicious. Ethereal. Perfection.

Will always be a top 20 fav album ever

CLASSIC. still cannot tell you even one word of what they're singing about but who cares. my hot take is that this isn't quite a perfect album so it'll be a 4.5 for me.

Like the background music to every 90s teen drama on the CW

Not bad for a Scottish band.

Not my favorite. Pleasant enough and dreamy vibes but just not connecting with it. First song is best

Took a decade to warm to this but I've matured and can admit it's delightful. I saying that, there better not be any more Cocteau Twins albums on this list. Two is already one too many.

Decent sleepy time music. 3/5 Album 71/1001

I couldn't tell you a single thing about this album but I did listen to it all day so it's gotta be pretty good

Somewhat dreamy music. Vocals reminded me of Tori Amos. Not exactly my style but was okay.

Nice and dreamy. Missed it when it came out.

There's something oddly familiar with this, though I've never heard it before. There's a bit of The Cure meets shoegaze. Interesting and mellow. Wolf in the Breast moved me the most. This album is a 3. It's good, but not crazy good. Definitely glad it was on here, though.

Like an ethereal faerie caught the Holy Spirit and began singing in ecstatic tongues. I want to live in this gossamer, glossolalia world.

I was never a consistent Cocteau Twins listener but so.much of what I've heard from them, I have liked. They definitely have a unique shoegazer type sound. This album was interesting. It's mood music that I think you have to be in the mood for a though.

Min favoritskiva med Cocteau Twins är treasure. Denna, deras kändaste, har jag aldrig lyssnat på som album även om låtar som heaven or las Vegas och cherry coloured funk finns med på alla spellistor med någon slags dream pop koppling. Till saken är att det är en otrolig upplevelse att möta detta i albumformat. En mer distinkt produktion som lyfter fram instrumentering och melodier med ovanligt mycket pop utan att de förlorar sin essens och egenart som band. Rent objektivt är det deras bästa skiva även om jag har hjärtat i treasure.

A lovely change from the 70s rock I've been getting, but a bit of a disappointment as an album. The title track and Iceblink Luck are absolutely beautiful songs, but the others are just pleasant. It's a beautiful soundscape, but one of those where I can't see myself listening again, apart from the two songs above. Maybe it'll grow over time? 3*, possibly a 4 if it does.

Honestly, I’m not sure I actually caught any of the actual words/am not sure what language this is but I really enjoyed the calming melody and music. Would maybe be a fun show to attend, but not something I would listen to consistently.

Very 80s and very boring

not my thing. do not see how this is in the 1001 list.

I liked this album by Cocteau Twins. It was a lot more coherent than previous works, you could actually understand what the lyrics were saying. That being said, the lyrics are quite dark, but dreamy. The whole album felt like I was listening to the soundtrack of a dream. Pretty cool. 3.25 / 5

Not bad

This is the definition of middle of the road for me. I like the singles and I love her voice. However one song (I could have misheard) sounded like she was singing about "The Gremlins." 2/5

Didn't do much for me on first listen.

One of my Holy Trinity of early 90s dream-pop / shoegaze (along with Loveless by My Bloody Valentine and Souvlaki by Slowdive). Untouchable, totally revolutionized the idea of vocals as just another instrument. You don't try to pay attention to the lyrics; they just swirl around you amidst the guitars and synthesizers. 10/10

Another one where I felt nothing

Pleasant background music, hard to grasp on to anything in particular

Not very inspiring

Not my cuppa

Frustrating as I like to follow the lyrics

Cool and calm

oh my goodness oh my god im gonna bust. amazing album very important for me i could talk in depth about the songs but im lazy heaven las vegas very amazing frou foxes very amazing and the rest of them too. anyway here's something i wrote for my shitty rym listening log: this was a very important album in the development of my taste, its where i first got hooked on the taste of that sweet dreamy etherealness provided by dream pop and shoegazers. i dont remember how i discovered shoegaze but the first artist in my shoegaze playlist is wisp so it was probably from tiktok. when i first discovered shoegaze i listened to a bunch of tiktok shoegazers, random songs from the spotify shoegaze playlist, and catherine wheel of all bands. the cocteau twins dont make shoegaze at all but they got me back into dreamy music and theres a lot of dreamy shoegaze out there so it counts. anyway heaven or las vegas was my favorite song for a bit but frou foxes takes a close second. modern me again. that was shitty but idc i love this music so much

OK but gets a bit twee.

This album is really my first introduction to “shoegaze” or”dreampop” or whatever you call this genre. I overall liked some of the effects and techniques, such as the use of reverb, but I felt like this album didn’t explore these ideas to their fullest potential. I only really liked two tracks, of which one was the closing track. Favorite Track: I Wear Your Ring

Didn't know what shoegaze was until I listened to this, but I don't like it. Vocals are too ethereal, the drum machine is soulless and why are some songs in German?

Have only heard of this band - First active attempt to listen to this. Last time I was on this program, it was pre-stroke. This feel airy, synth. No lead up I noticed for the first song. 2nd song, interesting this is from 1990. Interesting album artwork too 3rd song, I didn't mind listening to, jessica insisted we skip it. jessica couldnt finish, will come back

I don't really know where to go with this album. I like some of their sounds. The vocals were really strange and unintelligible. I'm torn between a 2 and a 3 with this but I think I'll go with a 3.

Sounded like happy 80s goth. Some of the sounds were interesting, but it mostly bored me. 2 stars.

Hypnotic wall of ethereal sounds, vocals are excellent. An album that requires a particular mood to listen to it but it's still great

sla cara, adoro a voz da liz e a faixa titulo é de longe melhor (e unica) faixa do album, mas esse pique de música não é meu tipo MESMO, talvez quando eu fosse mais novo eu gostasse pa. Nesse naipe acho que cranberries leva ainda

Drone sounding, lush, definitely early 90’s sound that influenced bands a few years later…The Sunday’s, Lush, Ride. Appreciate the musical direction of the album but just didn’t grab ahold of me.

I remember this from when I was young but I was never really into it back then. It's pretty interesting, not in a bad way. It took me a minute to realize that she wasn't actually singing words that make sense, and it really works well. Her vocals are more like an instrument. Very interesting music too, its very chilled out and spacey. I'm sure I will be listening to this again.

Not really for me.

Heat stroke dreams

Cocteau Twins are a band that I've been meaning to check out for a long time as I've seen the name pop up here and there over the years. They're not what I expected, but that's not a bad thing. The shoegaze sound with elements reminiscent of early Cure records is like an aural blanket.

New to me. Absolutely divine. Very ahead of its time.

The fact that this album is so beloved by just about anyone who happens upon it makes me so happy, because if there's any album that deserves to have that effect on people, it's this one. A good chunk of the songs here I've listened to obsessively for many, many years. And while I do enjoy the hazy production that feels like a flashback to the most perfect moments in your life, it's never been what kept me so attached to the music here, ultimately. Instead, the production always just felt complementary to the real star here, vocalist Elizabeth Fraser. She is perfect, her melodies and choruses are irresistible, her falsettos, harmonies, vibratos...everything about her vocals is just angelic. I don't even mind the fact that her voice is drenched in reverb; it just works. I love the way her vocals just hover alongside the atmosphere on the opener 'Cherry-coloured Funk' during that earwormy chorus. The vocal melody of 'Fifty-fifty Clown' feels like something so nostalgic - like the very first memory I could've possibly ever had...whatever it may be. It has this comforting, lulling effect that's the epitome of innocence. The title track, aside from being the most easily catchy song here, is the only time I can consistently understand what Elizabeth is saying (at least in the chorus). Because if there's anything that amplifies this album's already very dream-like atmosphere, it's Elizabeth's very difficult-to-grasp speech pattern. It's what English must sound like to someone who doesn't know English pretty much. While I usually stick to my favorite crop of songs as opposed to revisiting the entire album whenever I want my 'Heaven or Las Vegas' fix, I'm happy I revisited it this time, because I fell in love with two new songs that I had previously neglected for whatever reason. 'I Wear Your Ring' I remember loving, but completely forgot how utterly gorgeous that core vocal melody was. And 'Fotzepolitic' is the other song here that quickly became another favorite, god, it's so fucking good, can't believe I ignored this song for so long. I know I've sort of neglected the rest of the music here for the vocals, but I do want to emphasize that it's the perfect backdrop to Elizabeth. It's a perfect fusion of many '80s new-wavey and post-punk acts (the songs 'Iceblink Luck' and 'Wolf in the Breast' have instrumentals that sound straight out of The Cure's 'Disintegration'), and your more traditional pop-leaning shoegaze '90s stuff like with 'Cherry-coloured Funk'. And the darker closer gives genuine gothic rock vibes. Comfort music. This whole thing feels like a warm hug, blanket, and fire in a giant ice cave. Cocteau Twins really made something special with this album. Life can't be so bad when this exists, I mean it.

Interesting delulu gibberish lyrics music

few albums have taken their sweet-ass time to grow on me quite like this one. if you asked me a few years ago, I would've told you I thought the Cocteau Twins, and this album in particular, were some of the most overhyped music in the history of the RYM charts. despite that, there's always something that keeps me coming back to Heaven... in the hopes that "maybe this will be the listen where I well and truly 'get it!'" I think this listen was the closest I've come so far. when all the elements fall perfectly into place—the programmed drums, the icy synthesizers, Robin Guthrie's cavernous guitar layering, Simon Raymonde's slinky basslines, and especially Elizabeth Fraser's shimmering voice—the results are tantalizing. my favorite is still the opener ("Cherry-Coloured Funk"), with it's incredible use of Fraser's falsetto in the chorus. this was also the first time I appreciated just how crafty the bridge of the title track is, or the post-chorus of "Fotzepolitic," or any number of other moments. whether or not the lyrics of these songs mean anything is anyone's guess, but they just have such a great sound about them. the main thing that held me back from a fuller enjoyment of this album on previous listens (and believe me, I've been trying for a few years now) was the production and mixing. however, what once sounded like a muddy, overly reverberated blend of gloop to my ears now has a lot more precision and care in it than I previously recognized. it definitely suffers a little bit from that 80s gloopiness, but if anything, the Twins use it to their advantage. I'm not sure what changed with my ears or my brain chemistry, but this listen was easily the most I've ever enjoyed this band! light 9/10.

Yawn.

A pretty pleasant shoegazy ambient pop album. Not anything that holds a candle to Loveless but nice while it's on. 2.5/5 - > 3/5

Heaven or Las Vegas felt super dreamy and floaty, but most of it didn’t really catch my attention — especially the first few songs, which just kind of passed me by. I liked parts of it, like the instrumental on the title track and “Fifty-Fifty Clown” had a nice vibe, but overall it’s not really my style. It wasn’t bad to have in the background, but I wouldn’t go back to it. Just didn’t click with me. 4/10

Whimsy, ethereal indie pop rock - perfect for a slow, peaceful morning. I’ve heard some of these songs in my life, never listened to the complete album. Will listen again!

Short album alternative indie album. Starting of great with first song very ethereal. Third is very catchy. standouts: title track(fav) and froze politic, wolf in breast, ending track is the most cinematic 6.9/10

Fine. 3/5

I am not sure if I can't hear anymore or if they are actually speaking a language I should be able to understand. Doesn't help that Tidal doesn't support track lyrics on this one. This self doubt alone warrants three stars.

achei mais ou menos. não é o tipo de música que eu curto.

-absolutely gorgeous album. I love the Cocteau Twins more each time I hear a song by them… this album was the beginning of my interest in them, I was super into it last year and it sounds better with every listen -I am convinced Elizabeth Fraser is a siren. her voice brings sooo much magic to these songs I can’t even pick which one I like best rip -Favorites are Cherry-Coloured Funk, Pitch The Baby, Fifty-Fifty Clown, and Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires

This album puts me in a sexy mood lol

Not into this unfortunately, dream pop is not for me

The most fun and accessible Cocteau Twins record, if those are metrics that should be applied to them. I didn't really appreciate them at the time when their excellent posters adorned the apartments of the goth-adjacent (also I fell asleep at one of their shows), but my daughter and friends' daughters all have had a Cocteau Twins fixation that made me come around. This album is a gem that could stand a remaster to really makes it glow.

Cocteau Twins are one of those bands who were practically made for listening to with headphones. The music is dreamy and ethereal and lush, and well produced. Elizabeth Fraser has a lovely voice, yet I sometimes wonder what these songs would be like if she sang real lyrics.

Apparently, "the kids" love dream pop, and it definitely seems like the genre has seen a recent resurgence. I'm grateful for this because in the past few years I've taken a closer look at many albums I've slept on. Of these, Heaven Or Las Vegas stands above the rest, a masterpiece of texture.

Like the last record, if I don't understand the lyrics, I probably won't love it .this is fine for background music but not something that engages me.

Our second album consisting primarily of unintelligible lyrics (not that that is a bad thing). Not sure what to say about this one that hasn't already been said. It's just lovely. A sound like no one else.

enjoyed the music more than the vocals. Reminds me of the cranberries.

I was mostly bored here. I didn't like it very much. It may be because I don't like dream pop very much at all but I was not into this. Also I found the songs themselves to be boring and I really hate how buried the vocals are in the mix (something that is hit or miss for me depending on the album) I don't see myself returning to this

Il y a un petit côté Mylène Farmer absolument nul.

1. cherry - 2 2. baby - 1 3. luck - 1.5 4. clouun - 1 5. heaven - 1.5 6. ring - 1.5 7. politic - 1 8. uuolf - 1.5 9. road - 1 10. fozez - 1.5

Pretty cool! Need to revisit when not driving on a road trip from AZ

Not really my thing

Not my thing but can hear the influence on modern indie pop couldn’t believe it was made in 1990

I remember these guys being on 120 Minutes occasionally. I kind of like the title track but this isn't really my cup of tea.

Never listened to Cocteau Twins before, and didn't know what to expect, but I really enjoyed the lush peacefulness of it. A number of the songs have the flow of breathing in and out. I did get distracted by trying to work out what language the lyrics were being sung in, but I was fine with them being indecipherable once I found out it wasn't just me. Interested in hearing more from them.

...so this is what us Scottish people sound like to outsiders?

Not my jam but not terrible either.

Favorite Track: Heaven or Las Vegas

good vibes, need another listen

Very 80's, dreamy goth sounding vibe with indecipherable vocals. If you told me Ai made this I would have believed you. This is nice as background music while you concentrate on other things, but it's not something that's great to actively listen to.

it was good. feeling indifferent. i liked it but didn't love it. but then the last song came on and i was walking and the sun was shining - something shifted.

Perfect album, great morphing of shoegaze with dreampop

This album is a mood perfectly distilled into a musical project. Atmospheric and innovative, it can feel monotonous at times.

My favorite bumper sticker of all time: stop honking I'm trying to figure out what Cocteau Twins are saying

A dizzying dazzlement, a marvelous mosaic of glimmering, gossamer evocations. Who knows what’s being sung when it’s so gorgeously rendered? One has long loved the record but only in listening for this exercise does the stage setting for Sigur Ros become clear. The chamber pop flourishes and structures, the moments of Beach Boyishness, little hints of Joni Mitchell in the phrasings and timbre of RF’s vocals. Fresh, effervescent and Exhilarating are the effects of its peculiar majesty. The closer soars in an understated, elegant sort of way, making one feel like everything will be okay, like a vaguely better (or bettered) person, that the world, sad and ethereal as it so often is, can also be fleetingly and redemptively, beautiful.

:)

I wasn't sure what to expect off this one, but what a delightful surprise. Really lovely dream pop.

This is what is known as 'Dream Pop', which is very fitting because it sent me to sleep.

Nice ethereal background music that sounds much more contemporary than when it came out.

Supreme

I like The Moon and the Melodies more but this was still nice!

This was the most successful album from Scottish group Cocteau Twins (actually three members). The music is etherial/new age with vocals which are hard to comprehend at times. Overall very pleasant listening.

I've only vaguely heard of them before, and I wasn't expecting a lady singer! Dream pop is a good name for what this is. I like it. Not very exciting, which is what I want right now. A nice short album, too. Good. Highlights: 'Cherry-Coloured Funk', 'Fotzepolitic'

3.5

always loved this one

Pretty good one for working!

seeeeeming to beeeeeeeaaaahhh

Awesome

Like a dream nobody wants to have. Not a nightmare - just continually unpleasant and the antithesis of refreshing.

SINGINONNAFEEBAHSTREEEEEEEEEEEEEE IWANTALOVABOWHOWONLOVMEEEEEEEE LIGHINHEAVENORLASVEGASSSSSSSSSSS ITISMOREBRIGTHERTHANTHESUNISTOME Fav track: Heaven or Las Vegas

This was a summer, chill vibe, could easily see it coming out in the 2010s and being relevant as ever. 5*

already known banger

So this is "Dream Pop". Not all bad. It's clearly a forerunner to Shoegaze.

Cool ethereal vibe. Flowing easy but the big beats and hifi recording really pump up the intensity of the listen. Not exactly my thing but I really did enjoy it.

Maybe the sexiest album on the list. This whole album is dripping with a specific kind of tension that makes it a dream to listen to. They really pinoneered a sound all of their own and despite it influencing the shoegaze and dream pop genres, there’s still nothing else that really sounds like it. I could listen to this forever.

Feels euphoric

I started listening to Cocteau Twins this past year, including "Iceblink Luck" off this album. They were a Scottish group formed by guitarist Robin Guthrie and bassist Will Heggie. They started as gothic rock but developed their sound over time and became one of the purveyors of dream pop, a mix of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that placed equal emphasis on atmosphere, sonic texture, and pop melody. This style was well-exemplified in their sixth album, Heaven or Las Vegas. This album felt like putting on a warm blanket, covered in the reverbed bass and drum machine, Robin's guitar hooks coated in ethereal effects, and Elizabeth Fraser's pillowy soprano vocals. The atmosphere never felt overwhelming; rather, there was a purpose to the swell. As for the lyrical content, while Elizabeth's words came off as more impenetrable, there is an emotional arc that she and the band went through. Towards the beginning, Elizabeth expressed her joy in giving birth and welcoming her first child Lucy Belle, particularly on "Pitch the Baby", and there is this celebration of life that is explored. That celebration starts to simmer as Elizabeth reflected on her tenuous relationship with Robin as her partner, particularly on a track like "I Wear Your Ring" where she is taking the role of mother for this child seriously and expected more involvement from him in childcare. The tone of the album grows darker from there, culminating in the closer "Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires", where bassist Simon Reymonde contemplated his father's passing. The transition of themes from birth to death seemed straightforward and well-executed. Heaven or Las Vegas is an amazing offering that showcases the dreamy ambience that Cocteau Twins delivered.

Eh album

GOAT

forgettable

Poprilično ubitačno. Čak je i 37 minuta predugo. Mogla sam preskočiti pola pjesama i ništa ne fuliti. Tek se u zadnjoj pjesmi nešto malo desi.

Obviously influential to many shoegaze artists that I would later love and even Frou Frou. I’m not sure that I would listen again but I enjoyed a few songs and the shuffle after.

Both the melodies and the vocals are bland. Filter/echo on the vocals effectively turns it into mumble pop.

Never heard of this album or this group so I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Really dreamy sound to it. I’ll definitely be listening to this album again. I relistened to this album a year later after relistening to the songs here and there and I had to bump it up from a 4 to a 5. I already enjoyed it right off the bat, but with time I gradually realized how amazing this album is.

goated

Gonna be a perfect addition to my karaoke playlist. Hang on, I’m seeing here… A classic album that encapsulates everything I love about the early ‘90s when it comes to the music scene. It’s iconic, beautiful, and endlessly listenable — super difficult to choose a single standout track off of this one.

This is the kind of album that is very good, I know is very good, but can't fully appreciate because it's not my kind of vibe. I know that it goes for this dreamy, ethereal atmosphere, and it also achieves it really well. But this type of sound is not really my thing. Even when listening to atmospheric music, I prefer it being more varied and exciting. Dream pop, however, is by definition very soft and monotonous, which is just not that fun for me. In short, Heaven or Las Vegas achieves its goal extremely well, but I'm not a huge fan of that goal; however, it's the quintessential dream pop album, and if you like that kind of sound, you'll like this. 7/10

I found this boring and depressing. Not really my thing.

Det är ju välgjord musik. Men den klickar inte riktigt med mig. Gillar rösten! Trea plus

really great album. cocteau twins is one of the groups i am really glad i discovered through this project. this album is so cool, so dreamy, from start to finish.

I really liked this. It surprised me

Miserable listen

Everything sounds the same tbh

A (thankfully) highly-influential masterpiece that gets better every listen. 🙏🙏 Highlights: Heaven or Las Vegas, I Wear Your Ring, Wolf in the Breast, Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires Lowlight: The silence after the album ends

Already love! Loved it - great to listen to the full album too

I have tried to 'get' this album several times in my life. I don't think there will be another.

some people say they wish they could hear a song for the first time again. I feel the opposite here - I wish I could live in the immediate, familiar warmth this album gives me every time, the way listening to the best songs feel like greeting an old friend.

Is there dream pop without heave or las vegas?

This is the 79th album I’m rating. I got very excited when I saw this album. I thought it would take me a while before I found an album I had already listened to and liked but I got one in my first 100. I abandoned talking about every song individually a while back but I want to talk about every song here one by one because it is in my top 10 albums of all time. Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Already Added to my Playlist - Cherry-Coloured Funk, Pitch the Baby, Iceblink Luck, Fifty-Fifty Clown, Heaven or Las Vegas, I Wear Your Ring, Fotzepolitic, Wolf in the Breast, Road, River, and Rail, and Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires. Cherry-Coloured Funk - This is one of the best opening tracks of all time and it immediately tells you what kinda of an album you’re getting into. It is just perfect and I’ve probably listened to it a hundred times with how many times I’ve listened to this album. Immediately you are getting introduced to Elizabeth Fraser’s unique vocal style. Interestingly this is one of the few songs where there are official lyrics and they are in my opinion pretty cool. Pitch the Baby - Admittedly the first time I listened to this I didn’t like it but as time has gone on I’ve grown to appreciate this song. This is such a Cocteau Twins song. By that I mean it makes absolutely means no sense. Elizabeth Fraser said that she writes songs that make no sense only thinking about the way it sounds and this song makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. There is something very charming about that though and I’ve grown to appreciate it. Iceblink Luck - Pitch the Baby was very Cocteau Twins but this is in my opinion the most Cocteau Twins song. Iceblink Luck as a phrase makes no sense and I swear I hear her say cherry cola at around the one minute mark. This is probably the group’s most iconic song. Interestingly though in this song you can definitely make out a lot more words than in their other songs. Fifty-Fifty Clown - Elizabeth Fraser’s vocals are really quite unique in the music landscape. Her vocals helps to create this ethereal atmosphere with the way that the words are mostly unintelligible. Most musicians tend to avoid heavy effects and dense production but the band loved it and I think it creates a very unique very good album. Heaven or Las Vegas - I might’ve lied when talking about Iceblink Luck because this song is very iconic. What does Heaven or Las Vegas mean? I’m not sure but despite lyrics that are very hard to decipher Elizabeth Fraser has said that the lyrics in the songs always hold meaning. I don’t think it matters though what Elizabeth Fraser is really saying anyways all that matters is what you think she means and how it feels. Also, Heaven or Las Vegas will always be stuck in my head because it is just so so catchy. I Wear Your Ring - This song is a perfect example of how the band creates this really nice atmospheric vibe that dream pop is known for. Although not my favorite song on the album I think it would do really well as a blueprint for dream pop because it incorporates all of the aspects of the genre really well. Fotzepolitic - When I first heard this song I wasn’t a big fan but I’m not sure what was wrong with me because this is just great. It creates this perfect dreamlike atmospheric vibe and it just feels good. When I listen to this song in my mind I think of spending time with the one you love and I just love it. Wolf in the Breast - This was the very first song I ever listened to by the Cocteau Twins and it really just drew me in. It made me want to listen to more so I did research on the band and when I saw they were dream pop I stopped listening. I don’t know why but for some reason I had this really negative perception of dream pop. There was still a part of me though that couldn’t help but me drawn in and later I went back to listen to the full song. I’m glad I did too because this song is amazing. It is very very good. Road, River, and Rail - I’ve spent a lot of time talking about Elizabeth Fraser but there are two other members of the band so lets talk about Robin Guthrie. He was and probably still is an incredible producer who handled much of the effects and let me just say the effects on this album and especially this song are great. I think that him never having any formal musical training made his guitar and compositions really interesting so thank you Robin Guthrie for not getting any sort of music education. Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires - That moment around the 2 minute mark where the song changes is simply incredible. Don’t get me wrong it is a good song before then but that moment makes it one of the best songs of all time. Simon Raymonde describes the way the band got together ad a beautiful accident and I’m glad it happened because Fraser’s vocals, Guthrie’s guitar, and Raymonde’s bass are all perfect. Raymonde is probably one of the best writers of all tile and really the whole band wrote some truly great music together. A perfect way to end the album on a song with what I feel is a very happy vibe. All in all I liked 10/10 songs. There isn’t much to say that I haven’t already so I’ll say this the Cocteau Twins are one of the three best groups or artists or whatever to come out of Europe.

Quite good, can get a little monotonous after a while

Didn't like

ETHEREAL CLASSIC

A cacophonous mass of trippy acrobatic vocals and thick looping feedback, guided along by relatively skeletal bass and beats. The band draws obvious comparisons to other Scots miserablists of the time, but Liz Fraser’s inventive, barely-verbal style is what makes it unique. Her voice is strange and beautiful, providing all of the hooks and serving as the key instrument in the mix (file next to: Björk, Enya, Bush). If you fancy being instantly overstimulated and a bit depressed by a record full of small, shimmering details and labyrinthine alien structures, you could do worse.

Can't stand Cocteau Twins droning pathetic pseudo-melancholy. It grates on my nerves. I'm not listening to this.

ethereal

Heaven or vegas and fotzepolitic are stand outs. Synthy, power balledy. Really good stuff. Reminds me of cranberries. Like if the cranberries, enya, and sythwave had a baby. Surreal, ethereal. Dreampop.

LOOOOOOVE omg

Really enjoying this. Very trippy indie rock. Definitely saved a few songs to my playlists.

👍🏽

Very dreamy music. The tunes are decent, but it's not entirely up my alley.

Not for me. 1/5

After seeing this band name pop up in different places I’m really glad this album appeared on the list. A really cool sound.

Enjoyable.

I still get butterflies within seconds of hearing this album. Lush and dreamy perfection.

Fabulous, liked it even more than previous times.

I liked Treasure, but this is a bit too dreamy, and I didn't notice any difference between some tracks. It is short before being boring, but it is just a soundscape in the background for me.

really cool

Dreamy record that I reckon I could really fall for in my youth when I had more time and less choice at my fingertips. Not an instant love though.

Vocals are too low in the mix most of the time- indistinct and flat; shitty 80s synthesizers are poured all over every song. Really unpleasant to listen to. the title track and closing track are tunes strong enough to stand out to me despite the production- so maybe if the whole thing was re-recorded by an actually decent band, even more songs would reveal themselves. but yeah, I profoundly dislike this.

an unintelligible classic

"Poppy" without being obnoxious, this album has a moodiness that bridges its goth forebears like Siouxsie and the Banshees and tThe CUre with - and I could be wrong about this - a new-wave influenced britpop. Vocals stand out, everything supports the song, high level musicianship, it's all very appealing. Cocteau twins have a unique sonic quality that isn't alienating, blending the novel with the familiar.

alright like

Underwent a bit of character development in 2022-23, and Cherry-coloured Funk could just about be on the first 5 tracks to the soundtrack of that period. I get misty-eyed and nostalgic at the opening riff of this tune, sometimes even now. What an opener. What a great song to listen to as you've just opened the cafe and the sun's coming up on a crisp early winter morning (as I did many times, fuck off Marko). This album, uninterrupted is going to be an absolute treat this morn- - Nevermind, my work phone's ringing. As for the rest of the album, I've had a couple tracks outside of the big 2 saved, but I can honestly appreciate it even more in sequence. I might grab this as a vinyl. As lame as this come across, this album is what I imagine the 90s did sound like. Heaven or Las Vegas even my Dad liked, and doesn't like anything I show him. Fifty-fifty clown is the only track here I'm not so big on.

Due to a personal traumatic event I encountered involving a 9 hour overnight Jetstar flight from Osaka Itami to Cairns Airport, alcohol induced delirium, snus, and a hallucinatory apparition of a female passenger next to me; I will be declining to review this one in detail, and instead give a rating accordingly. You know it's a phenomenal listen anyways. Listening to this a year on from that experience has made me had a pavlovian reaction to this album like a 30 years sober person picking up heroin again.

Wow, not a band I am really familiar with but this was an awesome little trip of an album. The ethereal, dream pop style really just works for me. You could maybe knock the style for being inherently a bit 'samey' but when the resulting quality is this good I can't complain. Big ups to Scotland for doing some heavy lifting while your counterparts fail to keep the British end up with their continuous output of the most irritating music known to man

A band synonymous in my mind with women who don’t wash their pubic region and the men that pursue them as if the smell of their body odour were a little cartoon man who had smelt a freshly baked pie. It was alright.

Today we’re diving into Heaven or Las Vegas, the seminal 1990 album from the Scottish dream pop pioneers, the Cocteau Twins. Now, when it comes to Heaven or Las Vegas, you’re talking about one of the most defining albums of the dream pop genre. The Cocteau Twins have been shaping ethereal, lush, and deeply atmospheric music for years by this point, but with Heaven or Las Vegas, they hit a high-water mark that’s still influencing artists to this day. Let’s talk about the sound first. This record has this otherworldly, almost celestial quality to it. It feels weightless but in a very immersive, enveloping kind of way. The production, courtesy of the band and their long-time collaborator, Robin Guthrie, is crystal clear, yet it still maintains that dreamlike haze, which is part of what makes this album so mesmerizing. The synths, the guitars, the reverb—it all swirls around like some kind of atmospheric cloud, and it just pulls you into its depths. Then there’s Elizabeth Fraser’s voice. Good grief. If you thought her vocal prowess was impressive before, she takes it to a whole new level here. The vocals on Heaven or Las Vegas are completely untethered from earthly constraints. They can go from serene and gentle to ferocious and emotional in a split second, and she delivers one of the most evocative and haunting performances I’ve ever heard. The way she sings, it almost feels like she’s in a completely different realm, floating above everything, casting these spellbinding vocal melodies over the mix. The songs themselves? Lush, emotive, and transcendental. Tracks like Cherry-Coloured Funk and Pitch the Baby are such perfect representations of the Cocteau Twins' ethereal style—there's a fluidity in the way the guitars weave around Fraser’s voice, and every note feels like it’s carrying some kind of emotion. Then you have a track like Iceblink Luck, which pairs a gorgeous, buoyant melody with Fraser's nearly indecipherable lyrics, creating this sense of ungraspable beauty that is the hallmark of the band’s sound. I mean, sure, a lot of these songs are not easy to pin down in terms of meaning. Elizabeth Fraser's lyrics are often abstract and impressionistic, and that’s kind of the point. It’s not about literal interpretation here—it’s about the emotions and feelings that these sounds evoke. Whether you're drifting through the sublime instrumental waves of Fotzepolitic or getting swept away by the intoxicating, dream-like state of Heaven or Las Vegas itself, the music communicates on a level that words can’t fully express. Now, there’s a slight shift on this album compared to some of the band's earlier works. There’s a poppier edge to the production here—more accessible, maybe—but it never compromises the band's signature atmosphere. The dreamy textures remain intact, but it’s a little more refined, a little more polished, and it feels like the Cocteau Twins are reaching out for something more universal, all while staying true to their unique voice. If there’s any downside to the record, it's that some of the tracks blend into each other a bit, and if you're not fully immersed in the mood, certain parts can feel a tad repetitive. But that’s really a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, especially considering how deeply emotional and immersive this album can be when you let it wash over you. Overall, Heaven or Las Vegas is an absolute classic. It's dream pop at its finest—elegant, atmospheric, haunting, and genuinely transcendent. Whether you’re a longtime Cocteau Twins fan or just getting into their music, this album is a must-listen. 10/10

I am an unapologetic dream pop fanatic and I will stand for no slander of Cocteau Twins. This album especially is something special to me, my first introduction to the genre. It's said that this is their most accessible and commercially friendly album, which may be true but I still love it both on its own merit and for opening me to albums like The Moon and the Melodies and Blue Bell Knoll. 2:50 and 4:16 during the title track are peak, it's like being carried away by a musical rip tide and peacefully drowning in torrential water. It's a musical triumph and perfectly captures for me the feeling of happily accepting powerlessness. There are no skips on this album, it's a full experience. Cocteau Twins poured their soul into this album, every note feels deliberate in constructing a dreamscape for you to get lost in, even the odd legible word feels like when you see a hyper-realistic familiar face in a dream that you know you've never seen in real life. God help whoever is around my house for the next few weeks because they're going to be hearing more Cocteau Twins than they ever should. Highlights: Cherry-coloured Funk, Pitch the Baby, Iceblink Luck, Heaven or Las Vegas, I Wear Your Ring, Fotzepolitic, Road, River and Rail, Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires

Not my favorite and honestly pretty boring to me. 2/5

Heard of this band never really listened to them I believe. Pretty cool. Not my style. 3-stars

Музичний Артефакт

Якщо ви ніколи не чули Cocteau Twins, то я щиро вам заздрю, бо перший досвід прослуховування їх робіт дарує неймовіре відчуття, що можна порівняти із першою закоханістю. І Heaven or Las Vegas, однозначно, є найкращим і найпростішим альбомом гурту з яким я радив би ознайомитись в першу чергу. Він є більш "повітряним" та теплішим ніж їх попередні роботи, а тексти пісень, майже, можливо розібрати та зрозуміти. (Примітка: Elizabeth Fraser завжди співала спираючись на те як слова звучать один з одним, а не на сенс, тому ви не знайдете текстів пісень - в них немає сенсу) У 1989-у, Elizabeth народила дитину від гітариста Robin Guthrie, та сподівалась, що це допоможе їм у боротьбі із залежністю Робіна від героїну. І відчуття цієї "енергії життя" просочує тут кожну пісню. Ще ніколи музика гурту, зокрема вокал Ліз, не були настільки світлими та сповненими надії. І якщо про якусь музику і можливо сказати "етерна", чи "мрійлива", то Heaven or Las Vegas це і є "етерність" та "мрійливість". Альбом, фактично, уособлює ці поняття, та є квінтесенцією dream pop та ethereal wave звучання. До речі про звучання. На цьому альбомі, як ви вже зрозуміли, гурт вирішив відійти від, звичної для них, концепції "темнуватої" та готичної атмосфери. Так, чисто музично, тут все ще відчувається натхнення Siouxsie and the Banshees та The Cure, але із іншим "емоційним забарвленням", що наче як, прийшло десь з The Dreaming (1982) від відомої Kate Bush. Головним досягненням цього альбому є симбіоз вокалу та гітарних партій. На перший погляд звучить банально, я розумію, але повірте, такого органічного їх поєднання як тут, я не зустрічав, напевно, ніколи. Вокал Ліз завжди був, в першу чергу, "ще одним повноцінним інструментом" і не особливо відокремлювався на рівні інших інструментів. Через це, не обмежуючись "текстовими умовностями", він завжди вдало, та в якійсь мірі, унікально вплітався в композицію. І в цей раз, вокал, ніби як, і бере на себе "головну роль" - гітара вміло під нього підлаштовується, створюючи "мерехтливе" та загадкове, але в той самий час, "турботливе" та "комфортне" звучання, що підкреслює вокал. Саме через свої автентичне звучання та атмосферу, цей альбом і стане джерелом натхнення, якщо не "примірником", для усього майбутнього дрім попу та шугейзу, тоа і в цілому, буде мати колосальний вплив на усю альтернативну музику майбутнього.

good vibes.

On paper (late 80s/early 90s ethereal, guitar-and-synth-heavy dream pop with female vocals, from Scotland no less) this should be absolutely my thing. And in a way I guess it is. But I've tried with this band and this album (which frequently appears near the top of various best-of lists) a couple of times now, and while I kind of like everything I'm hearing, I somehow fail to understand what it is that makes them so special to so many people. It's good for what it is, but nothing I'll be listening to all that much going forward probably... Although, who knows, maybe it would grow on me on repeat listens...? Rounding down.

Best prima. 3 sterren

One of my favorites. Best of dream pop and pioneer of shoegaze.

Very pleasant

dream pop perfection

Kinda vibey but could not understand a single lyric in the album. Is “dream pop” shoegaze? It kinda fell into the background and none of the tracks stood out or were memorable once the album was done.

The title track is quite stunning and the album at large is a bit warm, muddled and blurry. It’s a bit like listening to a cassette tape on a washing machine. I do like it.

Not much into dream pop. It was ok-ish background music. No standouts for me.

The best word I can think of that I would use to describe this album is "dreamy", this is a very calm and atmospheric album, the synths, and the guitar all work together in a majestic way, the lead singers vocals were faint and blended into the instrumentation in a way which sounded absolutely amazing. I can hear the inspiration it had on some of my favorite albums ever and I love it. Rating: Fantastic (Decent ☆☆☆☆☆) Favorite Tracks: Iceblink Luck, Heaven or Las Vegas, I Wear Your Ring, and Wolf In The Breast.

Classic album with an amazing soundscape.

The top review mentions that this album just feels like you're floating and that is absolutely spot on.

already listened to it, very much enjoy it

2.0 I was listening to this in the office and wasnt really loud enough to capture any sort of soundscape they were trying to accomplish. The vocals seemed annoying raspy/breathy. May or may not giver another go.

Harmiton, ehkä vähän tylsä abba.

Hated it when I came out - not gonna listen to this one

Sian : really like this one and will be looking up more of their music Deb : unable to listen

Wait, they’re not twins AND their names aren’t even Cocteau?! False advertising! Seriously, though, this is some solid dreamy alt pop.

It's really good, I'm surprised I haven't heard of this band before.

It starts pretty well, but then it devolves into blurry background noise, which I sadly don't care about.

I need to do more drugs apparently.

Great vibes even though the lyrics make zero sense.

A really fantastic album. It hit me halfway through that I would believe this album was put out last year, because it just holds up that well. Interesting, creative, dreamy, and perfect for a rainy day.

Gutes Album aber overrated

I LOVED this album. It was such a vibe. This was the first day of 2025 that was so nice and I was vibing with my windows down. Sooo fun. I liked literally every single song. "Road, River and Rail" was probably my least favorite, but this was a great album. It kinda all started to blend together and sound the same, which is why it misses a perfect 5, but I loved the vibes. Actual rating...4.5. Liked Songs: The entire album

liked songs: Fotzepolitic, Road, River and Rail, Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires Dreamy, floaty, Kate Bush vibes. I generally liked the sound, especially the vocals, but the album is very samey. I felt like I kept hearing the same chords and exact same guitar tone in every track. 3

That's not my taste in music - But ok

This is the definitive cocteau twins album. I'm jealous of those who get to experience this beauty for the first time. It is the perfect starting point for their sound. A lovely shoegazey, dreamy album. Favourite track by far is Heaven or Las Vegas. This was simply a listening exercise to remind myself how good the Cocteau Twins are. Heaven or Las Vegas isn't actually my favourite of their albums, but it does have some of their best songs.

голос, музыка превосходны

Not bad. I wasn't familiar with this one going in. I like the mix and arrangements a lot. I will need to keep this one in mind and revisit it later

Short lesson, but great album for background music while working.

Cocteau Twins to me seems to be a group who's all about creating an atmosphere and an aesthetic with their songs. Hypnotic and weird, with psychedelic reverbed non-sense created for a certain vibe. I have listened to the hits on this album many times, though I've never listened to it front to back. This should be a breeze to get through for my musical palatte. Cherry-coloured Funk One of my favourite songs of the era. Fantastic reverb, the repetitiveness of the guitar feels trippy. I think the vocals are really good, I enjoy how they sit differently in the mix. The vocal melodies are super catchy, and the non-sense lyrics add mystery to the track. The bass sound is so soft and comfy. There's also something strangely nostalgic about the song, sounds like a familiar reoccuring dream (probably where the term dream-pop comes from). Just magnificently produced. One of my all-time favourite songs. 5/5. Pitch the Baby Bouncy. Confrontational bass. The heavy reverb sort of makes the song "swirl" in the ear. Great chorus, the faster vocals tightens a very spacious sound grounding it. There's also a really nice energy to the vocal melody which caps off the chorus, releasing the tightness briefly. Unique and interesting. 5/5 Iceblink Luck Post-punky bassline. I think the vocals are mixed a bit too loudly to start. The chorus sounds like if you slowed down an ABBA song and played it backwards. Love the sound of the instrumental break. Is missing a bit of a kick, part of it feels like it never resolves its ideas. Like it. 4/5 Fifty-Fifty Clown Sounds atmospheric. Has very liquid synths. The drum beat is very of the era. I do enjoy how the chorus rises a lot. The singing in the background has a nice tingle to it. Extremely unique. 5/5 Heaven or Las Vegas The title track is probably the most cohesive song on the album structure-wise. Insanely catchy. Iconic bassline, iconic synth line as well. The chorus is so large and reverby, it's extremely warm and stimulating with all the stuff going on at once. I think the drum beat fits the vibe really well. Dreamy and psychedellic. Fantastic song. 5/5 I Wear Your Ring The synths at the start sound a bit dated. The "simlish" is especially noticable here. I think the vocal layering here is so fun. Winds down nicely into the bridge. Decent. 3.5/5 Fotzepolitic Another fantastic bassline. Drowning instrumental, and satisfying vocals. Meditative. Bursts out into some almost triumphant synths. The ending is a bit abrupt. Great. 4.5/5 Wolf in the Breast The guitar is a bit boring. The percussion adds an element of sharpness which contrasts well with the softness of the reverb. That's a cool drone. Not crazy about the vocals on this one, seem a bit unfocused. The "left ear" vocal is really catchy. Good song, warmed more up to it by the end. 4/5 Road, River and Road. The distant and cold guitar and the warm and fuzzy bass work surprisingly well together. Emotional performance even though the lyrics are just random gibberish. Satisfying. 4/5 Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires A darker moodier vibe, the eerie guitar drone in the background at the start creates an haunted vibe, only enhanced by the repeating piano. The shoegazy switchup with the ghostly background vocals is fantastic. Builds upon itself. Nice vibe, good closer. 4.5/5 It's a sound I expected to like and a sound I did like. I don't really have much to say about it that I haven't said in my reactions to the individual songs. Produced performed and arranged marvelously. Great to listen to in the dark, vivid and colourful. My only minor gripe with the album is that at times I think having actual lyrics would add a lot more direction to some of the songs, the gibberish does take a bit away from what could be some more powerful moments. It's not a real problem though, just an artistic choice. Really like it, will revisit more than just the hits. Fave song. Cherry-coloured Funk, fave new discovery: Fifty-Fifty Clown Least fave song. I Wear Your Ring

Nothing special. I mean it's nice and everything, but I won't be rushing to re-listen.

enjoyed more than i thought

Good but maybe I didn’t give it a detailed enough listen. No real thoughts on it, will probably go back

Listened to a couple tunes. Not my thing

Typical Cocteau Twins sound, with interesting melodies and ethereal unintelligible vocals. Worth a listen to every now and then.

Terrible

Every other dream pop album can go home, this is literally the peak of what the genre can do. Every song is so space-y, it makes you feel as though you are constantly hovering slightly above the ground so that you're still in touch with what is happening around you, yet you'll find yourself swaying with each and every track, in a trance like state that does not break until the album finishes with one of the greatest songs of all time. You may not always understand the lyrics, but you know every emotion behind them is real by the intensity of every instrument, along with the amazing, angelic delivery from Elizabeth Fraser. Drugs are not needed to get swept off your feet by the love and just general musicianship, and capturing every season of the year on top of that is truly expert song craftsmanship. In short, I love this album, its dreamy.

Not for me

Quite a hypnotic experience. This is one of those albums you can really drown away in and enjoy. As a result I can't really pick a favorite song here, but the entire album overall is a joy to listen to. There's plenty of variation on here as well. I can hardly make out the instruments but the overall album is just a pleasant 40 minute soundscape.

Almost like a pop version of Shoegaze. A bit dreary though

I'd not listened to this album for many, many years. It reminded me of a time when I was a lot younger! Liz's voice still comes across with its ethereal (and nonsense) qualities today, but my tastes have moved on. Overall, it's nice as background music, not something it really want to sit and analyse

Very talented, first impression is that it’s very not for me. Maybe worth a more “sit down and listen intentionally” session later on.

Love me some shoegaze

Grangemouth finest.

One of my favorite albums ever

Heaven or Las Vegas is where Cocteau Twins found their sweet spot, blending their signature dream pop sound with something that feels simultaneously ethereal and grounded. Fraser’s voice, more discernible yet as haunting as ever, weaves through lush, shimmering soundscapes, while Guthrie’s production creates an atmosphere that feels like floating through a dream you never want to wake up from. Tracks like "Iceblink Luck" and "Pitch the Baby" encapsulate the album’s delicate balance between personal turmoil and celestial beauty, all wrapped in melodies that somehow manage to be both elusive and instantly captivating. Its influence echoes through the work of artists like M83, Beach House, and Japanese Breakfast. Heaven or Las Vegas is a rare moment where experimentation and accessibility coexist in perfect harmony—proof that sometimes, the best music is the stuff that floats just above the surface, waiting to pull you in.

What stands out the most in this album is the incredible voice from Elizabeth and the catchy melodies, but it goes without saying that the instruments also are very good, and bend pretty well with the singing. A very dreamy experience

Booring

Kriege voll den Florence and the Machine Vibe und das gefiel mir sehr :) 4 Sterne

Ich versteh nix, könnte besser sein, aber da fehlt was. 2 Sternchen

Reminds me of Röyksopp.

The strawberries! Aka the cranberries 2.0…. Jokes aside album was pretty good

Is this the best Cocteau Twins album? It might be. How can you make such clever and intricate and beautiful melodies? I can’t get enough!

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS

semmi más nem vált ki olyan érzést belőlem mint amit egy cocteau twins dal. csodás album, nagyon különleges szerintem, hogy nem a dalszövegen van a fókusz, mégis olyan erős érzéseket vált ki. ezt is van szerencsém lemezen hallgatni:))))

5/10

Wasn’t sure where I was when I listened to this. It was either Heaven or Las Vegas.

Well made background music

A beautiful, ethereal album. I knew within the first two tracks that this was at least a 4/5. By the time it reached "Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer," I wasn't ready for it to end. If that doesn't say this is a great album, I don't know what does. This is what this app is for!

Cocteau Twins ≈ The Beatles

+ Influential to modern pop music I'm drawn to + Production stands out for the time period + No duds + Leaves me wanting more

Atmospheric electronica topped with Liz Frasers ethereal vocals. Beautiful sounding album although not my usual choice of music.

Pretty good stuff

Another band I've heard of but never listened to. Not what I expected. Dreamy, shoegazey layers with captivating vocals riding on top. I like this more than I expected I would.

very good, would like to listen some more, breezy.

Cerramos la semana volviendo con éste bandón, pioneros del shoegaze. Discazo, automáticamente los temones que tiene nos llevan por paisajes soñados, dejándonos durante las diez canciones en ése estado. Más que destacable la preciosa voz de Elizabeth Fraser, que magnifica todo lo anterior. Hasta el lunes.

Long live the ethereal choirs with an alternative sensibility.

Not my bag at this time. Some songs are fun but the sound is very dated. Not feeling the gibberish.

★★★★½

I don't know if some Valentine's Day melancholy suddenly enhanced it but, God, this is probably one of the most beautiful albums I've ever listened to. Like, damn. Also, "Cherry-Coloured Funk" is one of the best intros to any album ever.

10/10. This is such a beautiful album!!! The lyrics are unintelligible, but there is something really mystic about the music. It's gorgeous!!!

Mellow ABBA? A unique record with sweeping vocals. I wish I liked it more but damnit I respect it.

I liked it... pretty good

Not sure if this one can be topped - one of my favourite albums of all time. Every time I listen to it I notice something different it never gets boring. Elizabeth Fraser is the absolute GOAT. Wish there were more than 5 stars.

Not sure why this is on the list. It’s a fine example of 1990s music.

Nice enough.

Very "Cranberries" esque

There were a moments of this album that I really liked, but on the whole I think it was just OK.

I had heard the title song before and remember enjoying it, but wasnt otherwise familiar with the Cocteau Twins. I found myself really enjoying this album- it's very much mood music and goes for more of a vibe than a traditional song arrangement. I was most surprised by how ahead of its time the whole album sounded- I feel like it could come out today and fit in with a lot of modern music. Overall- really enjoyed it

A nice 'background noise' album, that couldn't be more indie 80's if it tried (and it did try!).

Eh. This pushed my limits and I didn’t really care for it at all.