Sébastien Tellier Kiss The Beast
Sébastien Tellier's Kiss The Beast stakes a theatrical, often extravagant claim on contemporary European pop, and critics are divided over whether its maximalism pays off. Across four professional reviews the record earned a 59.75/100 consensus score, with praise for its adventurous production and recurrent critiques of its excess and uneven songwriting. For listeners asking "is Kiss The Beast good," the critical consensus suggests the answer depends on tolerance for flamboyance and genre-mixing.
Reviewers consistently point to a handful of standout tracks as the clearest evidence of Tellier's strengths. “Thrill of the Night” emerges repeatedly as a highlight, lauded for Nile Rodgers-style clarity, big production and starry collaborations; “Loup” is another frequently cited moment where chanson, funk and dance-floor sophistication cohere; “Refresh” and “Kiss the Beast” receive nods for their electro-pop ambition while “Amnesia” is noted by some critics as a guest-driven high point. Critics agree that collaborators and production pedigree deliver the album's most compelling moments, answering searches for the best songs on Kiss The Beast with specific track names.
Yet the critical narratives balance enthusiasm with reservation. Some reviews celebrate this comeback's boldness and continental sexuality, praising Tellier's pop subversion and theatrical sensuality, while others find the record wandering into baffling or cheesy excess that undercuts its intentions. The split reception—ranging from restored mojo to frustrated bewilderment—frames Kiss The Beast as a polarizing, frequently rewarding listen for those drawn to maximalist, experimental European pop. Scroll down for the full reviews and deeper reads on what critics say about Kiss The Beast and whether it ranks among Tellier's best work.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Refresh
1 mention
"Lead single Refresh takes the right sort of risks"— Record Collector
Loup
2 mentions
"The best example what Tellier is trying to do might be "Loup", the penultimate track on Kiss The Beast ."— Beats Per Minute
Thrill of the Night
4 mentions
"Then there’s "Thrill of the Night", a recent single that featuring Slayyyter on vocals and Nile Rodgers on guitar."— Beats Per Minute
Lead single Refresh takes the right sort of risks
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Kiss the Beast
Naïf de Coeur
Refresh
Mouton
Thrill of the Night
Romantic
Parfum Diamant
Copycat
Animale
Amnesia
Loup
Un Dimanche en Famille
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 6 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Sébastien Tellier returns with Kiss The Beast, an album where the best songs - notably “Loup” and “Thrill of the Night” - exemplify his knack for pop subversion. The review voice admires how layered arrangements make apparently odd combinations cohere, praising the way “Kiss the Beast” and “Loup” switch moods yet hold together. There is an approving sense that these tracks prove Tellier can marry chanson, funk and dance-floor savvy without losing elegance. Overall the reviewer positions these as the album's standout moments and the clearest answers to queries about the best tracks on Kiss The Beast.
Key Points
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The best song, "Loup", is best because its dramatic genre switches and epic ending encapsulate Tellier's pop subversion.
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The album's core strengths are layered arrangements, genre-mixing, and sophisticated dance-floor sensibilities.
Themes
Critic's Take
Sébastien Tellier's Kiss The Beast rewards patience, and the best songs - notably “Thrill of the Night” and “Loup” - crystallise his risky charms. Melvin Boateng writes with relish about Tellier's theatrical maximalism, praising the clarity Nile Rodgers brings to “Thrill of the Night” while celebrating the unruly, fluid sweep of “Loup”. The record is intermittently overwhelming, but its standout moments prove why listeners asking "best tracks on Kiss The Beast" will find plenty to argue over. Ultimately, this is an album that favours momentum and daring over tidy resolution, and its best songs make that case convincingly.
Key Points
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The best song, “Thrill of the Night”, pairs Tellier's eccentricity with Nile Rodgers' guitar to create rare clarity and groove.
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The album's core strength is its fearless maximalism and theatrical experimentation, which produce compelling but sometimes unresolved moments.
Themes
Fa
Critic's Take
Listen, I am aware this is going to sound very small-minded of me, but on Kiss The Beast the best moments are the collaborators - “Thrill of the Night” and “Amnesia” - which at least steer Sébastien Tellier toward disco and R&B textures. Lauren Hunter's voice here is exasperated and mordant, noting that the titular “Kiss The Beast” is palatable if plain while much of the album wanders into baffling, overly sultry territory. The record's flashes of life come from those guest turns rather than Tellier's penchant for bizarre sound effects, which too often tip into cheesiness. In short, for listeners asking 'best songs on Kiss The Beast', hunt for the tracks with guests - they are the clearest payoffs on an otherwise messy record.
Key Points
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The best song moments are the collaborations - “Thrill of the Night” shines for its disco energy.
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The album's core strength is Tellier's adventurous experimentation, but it is undermined by inconsistency and gimmicks.
Themes
Re
Critic's Take
Sébastien Tellier sounds restored on Kiss The Beast, a welcome comeback after the disappointing vibes of 2020’s record. The reviewer praises the lead single “Refresh” as an exciting electro-pop number that takes risks and evokes Daft Punk, marking it among the best songs on Kiss The Beast. They also single out “Thrill of the Night” for its big, irresistible production and star turns, making it another top track. The overall tone is that Tellier has got his mojo back, largely thanks to bold production collaborations rather than timid songwriting.
Key Points
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The lead single “Refresh” is the album's best song because it takes risks and revives Tellier's electro-pop energy.
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The album's core strength is its bold production collaborations which restore Tellier's mojo.